Developer – Atlus

Publisher – Sega

Platforms –   PlayStation 4/5, Nintendo Switch /Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S,PC (Reviewed)

Review copy given by Publisher

It all kicks off in Taisho 20, in the heart of the Capital , a stylish blend of 1930s Japan and supernatural noir. A young woman walks into the Narumi Detective Agency with a chilling request: she wants to be killed. Before you can blink, she’s kidnapped by mysterious red-coated soldiers. From that single jarring case file, “RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army” spins into one of the most bizarre, entertaining, and lore-packed stories Atlus has ever delivered. You play as Raidou Kuzunoha XIV, a high school student by day, devil summoner by trade, and detective in between. It’s a role that feels custom-built for chaos, and the story never stops escalating.

You’re not just chasing a missing persons case. Every clue spirals into something deeper military conspiracies, otherworldly technologies, and ritual experiments that reek of occult science. The titular “Soulless Army” aren’t just villains in cool armor , they’re walking products of hubris and a government messing with demonic forces it can’t control. The further you investigate, the more your detective work unveils a terrifying scope: this isn’t just about one girl or one crime, it’s about the very soul of Japan hanging by a thread. It’s gripping, it’s weird, and it plays with just enough restraint to make every twist feel earned.

What makes the story so addictive is how it perfectly marries detective drama with supernatural dread. Raidou doesn’t just ask questions ,he walks between worlds. You’ll pop into the Dark Realm frequently, a demon-soaked pocket dimension that overlays the city like a shadow. There’s something endlessly satisfying about interrogating humans by day and exorcising demons by night. And the way the game builds its mystery? Stellar pacing. It starts with whispers and ends in screams. The narrative structure smartly alternates between investigation, combat, and storytelling, always keeping you on your toes.

Characters carry the drama just as much as the plot. Raidou himself is silent, letting your decisions do the talking, but his supporting cast more than makes up for it. Detective Narumi brings a dry charm and sense of grit. Tae, the fearless journalist, injects heart and humanity into the case. Even Rasputin, shows up, oozing menace and charisma. This remaster gives them all full voice acting, and while not every performance hits gold, the added VO breathes much-needed life into the original’s text-heavy presentation.

Combat’s undergone a serious glow-up. Originally a clunky real-time system, it’s been fine-tuned to match the smoother mechanics seen in its sequel. Now, you control Raidou directly in combat, dealing out light and heavy attacks, mixing gunfire with swordplay, and bringing two demons to the field instead of one. The result? It feels like you’re orchestrating a brawl with purpose. Every demon has elemental affinities and support skills, and summoning the right duo can mean the difference between wiping out a room of ghosts or getting flattened by a cursed puppet.

Even outside of battle, demons are more than just fighters. Some are crucial to investigations. Want to get information from a dog? Summon a beast demon. Need to open a cursed lock? Maybe a ghost-type will do. It turns each ally into a puzzle piece. You’ll find over 120 demons to summon, fuse, and experiment with. They’re not just useful — they ooze personality, with some taunting you, others begging to tag along, and all feeling like part of your twisted detective squad.

Visually, the remaster is an elegant upgrade. The 1930s Tokyo environments now stretch out in explorable 3D, replacing the static backgrounds of the original. While it doesn’t hit modern AAA fidelity, the art direction is bold ,shadowy alleys, gaslit districts, and eerie ruins make this Capital feel drenched in mood. The new UI makes menus easier to read, battle stats pop, and navigating the world no longer feels like digging through dusty filing cabinets. It’s sleek, it’s modern, but still stylishly retro.

Sound design is a killer feature here. The soundtrack blends jazzy horns, smoky piano riffs, and foreboding ambient tones. It’s equal parts detective drama and gothic horror, and it works brilliantly. From tense interrogation themes to explosive boss music, the score carries emotion and urgency. And now that characters speak, the audio has more depth ,you hear their fear, their conviction, their secrets. Even Raidou’s cat, Gouto, sounds cooler than he has any right to.

Accessibility has taken steps forward too. You’ll find fast travel options, adjustable difficulty settings, clearer objective markers, and even a toggle for auto-saving. While it’s not the most feature-rich remaster in terms of assistive options, it’s far easier to approach now than it was back in its PS2 days. Whether you’re here for the story or the systems, the game does more to accommodate how you want to play it.

If there’s one real gripe, it’s that some of the older design DNA still lingers, things like backtracking through older areas or slightly stiff character movement. And while the combat feels more responsive now, some enemies still lean on old habits like HP-sponge design or status-effect spam. But honestly? None of it derails the core experience. This is a game that grabs you with its atmosphere, charms you with its cast, and keeps you engaged with its ever-escalating mystery.

RAIDOU Remastered is what a detective noir JRPG should be: strange, stylish, and loaded with secrets. It’s a cult classic polished to a modern shine, one that drags you into its smoky streets and refuses to let go until the last case is closed. Whether you’re a long-time fan or totally new to the Devil Summoner series, this is one case you don’t want to leave unsolved. Step into the fedora, summon a demon or two, and prepare to lose yourself in a murder mystery with a pulse made of thunder and shadows.