WHEN IT comes to Japanese RPGs, fans would oftentimes associate SEGA Atlus with the Persona series given its immense popularity, but there have been other attempts that the developers did to experiment on the genre.
Persona was derived from the Shin Megami Tensei series, and it seems the former has overtaken the latter in terms of overall impact.
But there has been another game under the Megami Tensei series that fans may overlook. Enter Devil Summoner. If the other Megami Ten games primarily focused on a turn-based approach, the Devil Summoner series opted to go for more action with their hack-and-slash route through Raidou: The Mystery of the Soulless Army.
Recently, SEGA Atlus has once again revitalized one of their classic video game titles with the remastered version of Raidou.
So how does it fare compared to other of SEGA Atlus’ specials?
A unique twist on the hack-and-slash RPG genre
Imagine Persona or Shin Megami Tensei but with more emphasis on action based combat and that’s what you get with the Raidou series.
Players can slash their way against hordes of demons, but they can also summon them to aid them in combat.
And similar to the Shin Megami Tensei series, players are required to tame demons, but unlike the former, players aren’t severely punished for failing to convince demons to join their cause.
But this doesn’t mean that the game doesn’t have its own share of challenges as the overall emphasis on action combat would require players to master the game’s hack-and-slash mechanics.
In the game players need to balance both basic and heavy attacks. Basic attacks offer weak damage output, but they boost Raidou and his demon’s ability to constantly cast magic spells. Most enemies have weaknesses against these spells.
Heavy attacks tend to weaken the opponent’s HP but they wouldn’t fill up the magic bar meter, that players need to cast abilities. This system offers a dilemma that encourages players to juggle and balance their attacks.
But the overall depth isn't just limited to Raidou as the combat mechanics likewise translate to his foes.
Certain enemies will have abilities that could overwhelm Raidou and his demons, ranging from AOE attacks, and even insta-kill abilities.
In addition, players are required to perfectly time their dodging maneuvers and they need to unleash a flawless barrage of combos that would unleash Raidou's special abilities that are necessary in boss encounters. Failure to do so will pose a challenge for players who will be forced in prolonged encounters that would drain the player’s magic bar and HP.
While it was certainly fun to slash our way against demons, there are some flaws in terms of the overall combat. Dodging attacks might force players to switch to another target which could be a frustrating experience.
But overall, there’s a lot of depth in the game’s combat system which can be further enhanced when players start tweaking through a set of demons and weapons in the game. Players can customize their choice of weapon, ranging from axes, spears, and swords.
SEGA Atlus charm
Playing as Raidou, fans will experience what it means to be a supernatural detective in which he uses his pet demons to solve puzzles and mysteries.
It was indeed fun to see demons roam around the physical realm where they could secretly interact with human beings and force them to share their deepest desires or emotions, which in turn adds to the typical comedic charm that is associated with a SEGA Atlus game.
And there are other instances when the Atlus charm can be seen in the game from how demons reacted upon being a part of some fusion as well as the conversations Raidou has with the numerous characters in the game, such as the mafia boss, the journalist, and even your fellow cat detective, Gouto.
With so much of the charm, one may experience a light-hearted approach as they dig deep into the game’s narrative.
Now speaking about that.
A worthy detective experience?
When it comes to the overall narrative, the game offers a level of intrigue and mystery that’s worth uncovering. From our encounters with a historical figure, all the way to that cryptic opening scene where we encountered a helpless highschool girl, there are so many question marks that would spark a ton of interest.
Overall the game heavily relies on its narrative to showcase Raidou and his peers' detective work, and I wish the developers could have done more especially when it comes to the game’s puzzles.
Given that the game's narrative revolves around a mystery that deserves to be solved, I was expecting more of a challenge where Raidou could completely stand out compared to the SEGA Atlus games.
Now don’t get me wrong as I notice that Raidou does have its own identity when comparing it to other Atlus titles especially since players can summon demons and ask them to roam around the human world to solve puzzles.
However it seems that this one of the few instances that made Raidou unique as it can be argued that the remaster is a replica of other Atlus titles. Had the remastered version introduced challenging puzzles or scenes that would force us to solve crimes, then perhaps Raidou might end up as the detective RPG game that fans should further investigate.
CONCLUSION
After spending hours grinding my way, solving every supernatural incident in Japan, I realized that SEGA Atlus could’ve done much more when it comes to the remake of Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha.
It isn’t the best when it comes to SEGA Atlus revivals, nor would I say that it is the worst as the game's improved combat system has really elevated its status. It made me wonder if the developers have been investing more of its resources towards the remake of Persona 4.
Plus I also wondered if Raidou's remaster could be a sign that the devs are teasing on an upcoming project. Being one of the most overlooked titles, will Raidou experience a renaissance as SEGA Atlus will spend more time on remastering the other Raidou titles?
Will Raidou make a surprise guest appearance in future SEGA Atlus games? He did manage to show up in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne, challenging the demi-fiend.
But going back, the latest Devil Summoner is worth playing especially if you’re a huge fan of action RPG games and especially if you grew up with the PS2 classic. It's definitely an upgrade compared to the original.
Personally I would give this a 7.5/10.
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