After 19 years, ATLUS has officially released the HD remaster of “Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army” titled “RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army”!
This remaster faithfully preserves the beloved story and characters while fully optimizing the graphics and gameplay. It also adds full voice acting to the main storyline, allowing both longtime fans and new players to freely enjoy the tale of Raidou Kuzunoha investigating cases with demons in the fictional “Taisho 20th Year”.
We had the opportunity to interview the game’s producer and director, Kazuchika Yamai, who joined ATLUS in 1998 and has extensive experience, having supervised the “Devil Summoner Raidou Kuzunoha” series and parts of the “Shin Megami Tensei” franchise.
Q: The game shows clear evolution, but the art style still feels like the PS2 era. Was this a tribute to the original? Yamai: After the original release, the world and story were highly praised by players. We aimed to preserve the original art style as much as possible in this remaster. Also, since the original platform is quite old, many players couldn’t access it, so reviving the game was important to let everyone experience it. We wanted new players to feel the original atmosphere, reflecting our deep respect for the original work.
Q: Having worked on multiple “Megami Tensei” titles, is this remaster a step toward rebooting the Raidou series? Are there plans to remaster “Abaddon King” or develop new sequels if the market responds well? Yamai: This is an independent project, but the team doesn’t want the story to end here. If the remaster is well received and the timing is right, remastering “Abaddon King” or developing new titles is possible. Currently, the “Abaddon King” remaster is just an idea in my mind.
Q: The remaster adds over 50 new demons, totaling more than 120. Some demons appeared in “Raidou Kuzunoha vs. Abaddon King” and “Shin Megami Tensei V.” Do these demons have unique stories or investigation skills? Yamai: The new demons mainly expand combat and nurturing options to enrich the demon summoner experience. We didn’t prepare unique skills or stories for each demon, but if there are sequels, we might add those features.
Q: Why was the title changed to “RAIDOU” in English instead of “Devil Summoner”? Yamai: There are two reasons. First, the remaster is not just a simple HD upgrade; it incorporates systems from “Abaddon King” and various optimizations. Keeping the original title might imply erasing the original version, which we wanted to avoid. Second, fans worldwide recognize the name “RAIDOU” more, so we let the character name take the lead in the title. We always intended to develop the Raidou series independently, focusing on “Raidou style” rather than “SMT style” or “Devil Summoner style.” This remaster better showcases Raidou’s charm.
Q: What inspired Raidou Kuzunoha’s character design? Yamai: The Taisho era evokes a sense of “beauty” and “decadence.” Raidou’s design is based on original art by Kazuma Kaneko, capturing these feelings. We added heroic elements like guns and swords to create the current design. Raidou is the 14th generation of the Kuzunoha clan, a demon summoner and protector of the capital. Despite his silent and efficient demeanor, he has a childlike love for sweet potato snacks.
Q: Were there any regrets from the original development that this remaster addresses? What details should players notice? Yamai: After “Abaddon King,” fans wanted the “Soulless Army” game system. The original had good characters and story but lacked in gameplay. We fulfilled this wish by adopting “Abaddon King’s” system, with thorough improvements and modern features.
Q: Any message for Chinese fans and players? Yamai: I’m truly happy to bring “Raidou” to everyone. China is a very influential market with discerning players. I’m excited and a bit nervous about the feedback. Please try the game and share your thoughts on social media. Thank you very much!
