Games Happy

Final week, RPG Website was given the chance to attempt Raidou Remastered: The Thriller of the Soulless Military, Atlus’ newest revisit to their PS2 catalogue. Whereas they’re actually calling this a remaster in its title, my takeaway is that this feels far more akin to a remake. The excellence between each phrases has been closely blurred in recent times, however what’s essential is how a lot of a revamp that is in comparison with different HD remasters they’ve put out. This isn’t a cleaned up PS2 recreation like Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster, however as an alternative a floor up recreation of the unique Satan Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Military. 

I used to be given entry to a pre-release construct of the Steam model of the sport, ranging from the prologue and persevering with till the tip of Chapter 2. If you would like to know extra in regards to the technical points of the sport on Steam Deck, take a look at Mikhail’s impressions piece right here. I used to be given free rein to mess around with the techniques and discover within the opening areas of the sport, however I wasn’t capable of proceed previous this designated level. I did most, if not all, of the facet content material accessible for each of those chapters, with my complete playtime reaching round seven hours. I additionally took the prospect to revisit the opening hours of the unique PS2 model of the sport, which I hadn’t performed since I first began entering into this collection within the early 2010s. 

The thought of a “trustworthy” remake appears contradictory, however from what I’ve seen, that is taking part in issues fairly near the unique expertise. Occasions performed out near the unique, with minor script additions to work across the new techniques launched. You’ll nonetheless go to the identical spots, do the identical issues, struggle the identical goons in bathhouses. The brand new voice performing can also be a welcome inclusion, and I discovered the English solid significantly charming. I’m uncertain how issues will play out within the full model, however Raidou Remastered appears dedicated to remaking the precise occasions of the unique recreation.

The small particulars between these occasions have been fully modified, nevertheless, making Raidou Remastered really feel like a model new recreation carrying the garments of the unique. After ending the allotted preview content material, I spent about an additional hour totally noting all of the small mechanical variations between the unique model and the re-release. I don’t suppose I even caught all of them, nevertheless it’s fascinating how what I performed nonetheless felt authentically “Raidou”. The “remaster” blends techniques from the unique “Soulless Military” in addition to the “King Abaddon” sequel, whereas additionally giving it a contemporary makeover, which leaves me with one thing not like any ATLUS re-release I’ve ever performed.

In each chapters I performed, Raidou and his speaking cat Gouto go round fixing supernatural mysteries in Taishō Period Tokyo. Raidou is a Satan Summoner, and may use the demons you seize in battles to assist resolve circumstances. Sure NPCs can have their thoughts learn, their spirits ignited, or mood cooled down relying on the fashion of demon you will have summoned. Within the remaster, you probably have the proper kind of demon in your arsenal that coincides with the motion for that NPC, the sport will routinely summon it. Stored intact is the power to ship your Demon out on a Solo Investigation, essential for ADV-inspired puzzle-solving. Getting a flying demon to go fetch me a ship caught on the finish of a river received a giant grin out of me.

Within the PS2 model, map screens have been represented by pre-rendered backgrounds with set digital camera angles. Suppose traditional survival horror, like the unique Resident Evil trilogy. The crew engaged on this remaster has remade each map display screen in full 3D, with a surprising consideration to element. Whereas the final lighting has been modified, with extra of an emphasis on purple hues over inexperienced, the brand new 3D presentation manages to strongly evoke the PS2 authentic. I’m unsure how intentional this was, however the best way they shade the buildings had me considering they have been intentionally making an attempt to recreate the look of outdated pre-rendered 3D, however cleaned up. I spent chunk of my accessible time merely hanging out on the streets of Tsukudo-cho and appreciating the surroundings. This has been made simpler by the removing of random encounters, which triggered reasonably typically in the true world earlier than. 

The fight is the place issues have actually been expanded, as there’s virtually nothing from the unique recreation’s battle system left in Remastered. They’ve overhauled all the things to make it a lot nearer to Satan Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon. As a substitute of getting one assault button and a gun with elemental bullets, Raidou Remastered has mild and heavy assaults, with the previous used to revive your MAG meter. Your summoned demons want this to assault in battle, so that you’ll want to keep up stress with these weaker assaults so your demons can have a gradual pool of MAG to remain helpful in battle. Fights are quicker than ever, however nonetheless lots harmful.

Your gun nonetheless has a use, permitting you to fireside off a barrage of bullets at demons to stun them in place. This appears largely essential for small and fast-moving demons, like Pixies, who would possibly transfer too quick to catch with regular assaults. The fundamental facet of this weapon has been changed by particular abilities working on cool downs, and these abilities are mapped to your face buttons when you maintain in the appropriate set off. Afterward in Chapter 2, you’ll be able to make the most of the Sword Alchemy mechanic from the Goumaden, and even craft your sword right into a weapon tree to show your heavy assaults into both a Spear or an Axe. Included with a few of these are new particular strikes, and I’m actually curious how versatile Raidou’s elemental harm capabilities will probably be by the tip.

Mixing up elegant and flashy-looking regular combos with blocks, dodges, and particular assaults elevates the move of Raidou 1’s battles to a contemporary commonplace. I’m genuinely impressed with how easy it comes collectively, contemplating this isn’t a method of recreation ATLUS has dabbled in not too long ago. Metaphor had a easy motion system to provoke turn-based fight, however this goals to be nearer to a status motion recreation. Raidou’s sword slashes carry him throughout the world with ease, making it simple to place your self the place you should be always. Talents like Satan’s Bane, typically popping up as a reward for an ideal dodge or to complete off a demon, and a particular meter assault known as Spirit Slash totally develop your package out to satisfy fashionable requirements. You even have a particularly satisfying transfer to dodge out of hurt’s approach and again round an enemy. The sport feels leaps and bounds above what I might have ever dreamed.

What I feel makes this stand out amongst your regular Motion video games, and retains it inline with the Megami Tensei collection it exists in, is demon summoning. I discovered myself holding one demon for therapeutic/help and one to deal with attacking, however often cycled them out relying on my wants. My fast fear when seeing how succesful Raidou has develop into was feeling like the sport can be too simple, however I feel the shift to an ever-draining useful resource of MAG stored my consideration balanced between a number of completely different points of fight without delay. That is preferrred for me in the case of motion video games, and it feels even higher throughout boss battles, which now really feel like they’re borrowing from MMO design. 

Raidou can pull his demons again to provide them invincibility throughout unblockable assaults with the Safeguarding mechanic. It is a helpful system to maintain them from hurt, with the apparent trade-off that they received’t be collaborating in battle. Their participation is all the time essential in fight, however extra so throughout boss encounters, due to elemental spells weakening boss shields quicker. You don’t have any concept how blissful I used to be to wrestle throughout the recreation’s first boss. Dodging and leaping over AOE assaults is exhilarating, and it gave me hope that future boss fights can be much more demanding. I’d must rigorously select when my demons would have to be out to maintain regular quantities of DPS to whittle down the boss’s well being, however they’d rapidly die if unnoticed throughout aggro phases. It took me 4 makes an attempt, and every time I felt like I used to be studying just a bit bit extra about how battles have been meant to play out.

With no extra random encounters within the recreation and the addition of goal markers, progress has been streamlined fairly a bit. I spent much less time general within the first two circumstances this time round, however I doubt that’ll essentially be seen as a adverse for anybody on the lookout for a lean RPG. Random encounters have been changed by Aril Rifts, spots on the map in the true world the place you’ll be able to battle distinctive encounters. Whereas the sicko in me missed random encounters, I can perceive why they have been eliminated. Raidou’s battle system has gotten such a facelift that it feels extra consistent with a status motion recreation, and fixed battles would possibly develop stale over time. The fight encounters in these rifts are effectively designed, rewarding you 4X expertise and 8X cash than regular discipline battles in dungeon areas. Demons are out within the open in dungeons, and also you’re capable of strike them to achieve initiative. I’d say the one awkward a part of this course of is the character artwork of Raidou and Gouto sliding throughout the display screen to transition into fights.

I’m a bit dissatisfied that there’s seemingly no technique to flip off goal markers. I’ve no problem in any respect with them being within the recreation as an choice, for the reason that authentic recreation might really feel reasonably obtuse at occasions. Nevertheless, greater than any traditional ATLUS recreation, determining the best way ahead feels deliberately a part of the sport design. Raidou is a detective, and he must roam the streets to search out clues to assist him make progress in his circumstances. Within the first case, for instance, as quickly as you get the premise, you might be set free in Tsukudo-cho and instructed to ask round to discover a lacking woman named Kaya. Within the authentic recreation, there are a handful of NPCs to work together with, all ultimately pushing you within the course of a manor to the north. This may ultimately lead you again to city, permitting you to intuit that you should ask some women in the identical uniform as Kaya for data by displaying them a photograph you bought within the manor. 

Within the Remaster, you might be given an goal marker of each plot-critical NPC to speak to. I’m glad these are right here for brand new gamers, as a result of again within the day, I generally consulted a information to assist me make progress. The unique’s distinctive combination of ADV development and ARPG battles is what makes it so memorable, so being instructed straight the place to go all the time was reasonably deflating. You possibly can flip off Auto Save within the system settings, so I hope the dev crew considers permitting the choice for gamers to show off goal markers in the event that they wish to do the detective work themselves. The builders have painstakingly recreated this stunning setting in full 3D, and I wish to immerse myself within the position of a younger detective as a lot as I can. 

Exterior of that foremost gripe, I’m left fairly happy with how Raidou Remastered is shaping up. This fashion of “Remaster” is a fairly distinctive strategy for the corporate, and my gripes don’t detract too closely from all of the elements I’m impressed by. I’d like to see them revisit an Atlus recreation the place they don’t really feel the necessity to make such large overhauls to the battle system, like maybe the Digital Satan Saga video games. Hell, make a status “Remaster” of the unique Satan Summoner! It is a fascinating lens to view outdated RPGs with, and I’m wanting to see how the total model sticks the touchdown. Mechanically, in all however title, that is what I imagined a Raidou 3 might be.