Satan Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Military launched completely for PlayStation 2 in 2006 and, ever since then, has been left for lifeless there. It is an oddity within the Megami Tensei universe, and wasn’t notably well-received upon launch. However given the best way tastes have shifted, and given the these days mainstream success of the Persona collection, it is no shock that Atlus has exhumed it.
The excellent news is that with some fashionable touches—each mild and surprisingly heavyhanded—it holds up fairly effectively, and can really feel very acquainted to anybody who performed Persona 3 Reload, Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance and even Metaphor ReFantazio final 12 months. Thought you’d get via 2025 with out casting Zio or copping abuse from a Tsuchigumo? Not so quick!
Protagonist Raidou Kazunoha XIV is a “detective apprentice” for the Narumi Detective Company, however behind this humble actual world entrance hides larger standing: he is a Demon Summoner too, working for the mysterious “supranationalist organisation” Yatagarasu whose work entails defending Tokyo from scary supernatural forces. In his quest to do Yatagarasu’s bidding the detective stuff is a entrance, principally, however Raidou nonetheless wants to resolve mysteries to edge nearer to his grander plans.
Whether or not it issues to you or not, it is most likely price noting the place Raidou suits within the ceaselessly complicated Megami Tensei continuum. Not like most of its futuristic or current day stablemates, this entry is ready in early twentieth century Tokyo, which could make it all of the extra shocking that it belongs to the identical Satan Summoner offshoot collection because the neon-lit Soul Hackers video games. Satan Summoner video games are thematically related by their detective fiction trappings, and Raidou leans into this facet closely. However what makes Raidou actually uncommon within the Shin Megami world, then and now, is its real-time fight.
Sure: that is an SMT sport with real-time fight. Anybody aware of the fight within the 2006 model would possibly really feel inclined to pipe up with some caveats proper now, however probably the most putting factor about Raidou Remastered is that it adjustments an entire lot greater than the phrase “remaster” often implies. The fight has been utterly reworked. It kinda seems like a lightweight remake.
The unique PS2 model had real-time fight, sure, however it was considered from a static point-of-view and was fairly gradual going. By fashionable requirements it would as effectively have been turn-based. Now the fight takes place in arenas via which Raidou can run freely, issuing elemental magic assaults between blade-oriented wailing and gunfire missives. Raidou can leap and dodge as effectively, leading to a brand new fight system that rewards precision, not simply to remain alive however to feed varied meters in direction of particular assaults. One early sport boss, which within the authentic was only a easy warfare of elemental attrition, now requires deft leaping over waves of darkish magic, for instance. I additionally have to know when to protect my demon companions, which leads to some really frantic—generally even overwhelming—moments.
You will not be exploring the intense lit streets of Twenties Tokyo solely to be mobbed by a pack of Azumi anymore, as a result of random encounters are gone
This being a Megami Tensei sport, fight is all about exploiting elemental weaknesses, however as you would possibly count on, Atlus’ famed Press Flip system would not actually translate to real-time fight. As a substitute, hitting a foe’s elemental weak point stuns them, amplifying your bodily harm output and in addition the quantity of MAG you win again from attacking (MAG is principally mana). In different phrases, I nonetheless have to analyse my opponents for weaknesses, and it is nonetheless a waste of time to maintain hitting foes with assaults they don’t seem to be weak to.
The actual SMT hallmark is demon gathering and fusion, and issues are not any completely different in Raidou. Accumulating a demon is a matter of mashing a button of their neighborhood mid-combat, however it will not work except you are equal to their degree or stronger. In fight I can management whether or not my two demon companions are utilizing their elemental magic skills—and thus expending MAG—or simply their uncooked assaults, but when I need to command them to make use of a selected MAG assault I have to enter a menu. The identical holds true if I need to swap them out with different demons in my reserve. Consequently, a bit of little bit of tactical respiratory room continues to be accommodated for amid the hectic fight: you may nonetheless have to pause to realize the upper-hand.
Demons are utilized in intelligent methods outdoors of fight too. All demons include a few Investigative Expertise together with stuff like “sneak”, “fly”, and “ignite” which lends an virtually level ‘n’ click on journey dimension to proceedings. If I haven’t got a demon with the appropriate Investigative Talent, I’ll should go discover one or fuse one. I also can commandeeer demons for mild stealth-centric puzzle-solving, since Raidou is the one one who can see them.
Exploration can be much more enjoyable, for 2 causes: the environments are crisper and extra readable, albeit nonetheless navigated from a hard and fast digital camera perspective that may make the mini-map very complicated. The opposite, way more necessary purpose, is that random encounters are gone. Yep: you will not be exploring the intense lit streets of Twenties Tokyo solely to be mobbed by a pack of Azumi anymore. It’s quietly probably the most welcome change on this remaster.
It is stunning how effectively Raidou presents in 2025 general: the addition of voice appearing definitely helps, however the UI overhaul additionally does wonders in direction of making this kinda-lost basic really feel modern with Persona 3 Reload and Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance. I used to be initially a bit underwhelmed by the prospect of this PS2 remaster—why not do Digital Satan Saga as an alternative?—however now I am tremendous pumped for June 19 to roll round.
