Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army
Encyclopedia
is an action role-playing game
in the Megami Tensei
franchise published by Atlus
for the PlayStation 2
in 2006. It differs from the two previous Devil Summoner titles (and most MegaTen games in general) in having real-time battles and a named protagonist and is first in the entire franchise to be set in the past – specifically the year 1931, the fictional twentieth year of the Taishō period
of Japan (大正二十年) , wherein it deals with historical figures such as Grigori Rasputin
in addition to the MegaTen series' traditional use of real-world mythological
figures. Though somewhat criticised for being the shortest of recent Shin Megami Tensei games, it generally received favourable responses from players and reviewers alike.
On July 30, 2008, it was announced that there would be a sequel titled Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon
. Demon conversations make a comeback as well as Raidou being able to summon two demons simultaneously in battle. The limited edition will be packaged with a new version of Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
titled Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax Chronicle Edition in which Raidou will appear. The game was released in Japan on October 23, 2008 and in North America on May 12, 2009.
is somehow still alive and also that the strongest of Devil Summoners is no match for a Dark Summoner.
titles which used turn-based battle systems, the battle system in this game is action-based. The main character can attack with either his close range sword
or his long range gun
(provided he has enough bullets). He can also summon one of the demons from his collection to assist him in battle. Battles themselves take place in small enclosed "arenas" similar to Namco's "Tales" series and can generally be escaped from, though this takes a random amount of time.
feature which includes:
and was released as a 2-disc Original Soundtrack on April 7, 2006 by Five records. However, the soundtrack is missing several tracks.
The Japanese version of the game came with a bonus CD containing all the missing tracks from the OST plus arrangements from the first two Devil Summoner games.
On the other hand, the game received some high praises. For instance, Netjak rated it 9.1 out of 10. It praised the use of demons with the game's battle system and a good story. digital entertainment news rated it 8.5 out of 10, critiquing the use of demons as the game's central point in playing Raido Kuzunoha vs the Soulless Army.
Action role-playing game
Action role-playing games form a loosely defined sub-genre of role-playing video games that incorporate elements of action or action-adventure games, emphasizing real-time action where the player has direct control over characters, instead of turn-based or menu-based combat...
in the Megami Tensei
Megami Tensei
, commonly abbreviated as , is a Japanese console role-playing game metaseries which was originally based on the novel series Digital Devil Story by Aya Nishitani and has gone to become one of the major franchises of the genre in its native country...
franchise published by Atlus
Atlus
is a Japanese computer and video game developer, publisher, and distributor based in Tokyo, Japan, best known for developing the console role-playing game franchise Megami Tensei. The first Megami Tensei was a Nintendo Entertainment System video game published by Namco based on a trilogy of...
for the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
in 2006. It differs from the two previous Devil Summoner titles (and most MegaTen games in general) in having real-time battles and a named protagonist and is first in the entire franchise to be set in the past – specifically the year 1931, the fictional twentieth year of the Taishō period
Taisho period
The , or Taishō era, is a period in the history of Japan dating from July 30, 1912 to December 25, 1926, coinciding with the reign of the Taishō Emperor. The health of the new emperor was weak, which prompted the shift in political power from the old oligarchic group of elder statesmen to the Diet...
of Japan (大正二十年) , wherein it deals with historical figures such as Grigori Rasputin
Grigori Rasputin
Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin was a Russian Orthodox Christian and mystic who is perceived as having influenced the latter days of the Russian Emperor Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra, and their only son Alexei...
in addition to the MegaTen series' traditional use of real-world mythological
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
figures. Though somewhat criticised for being the shortest of recent Shin Megami Tensei games, it generally received favourable responses from players and reviewers alike.
On July 30, 2008, it was announced that there would be a sequel titled Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon, simply known as in Japan, is an action role-playing game in the Megami Tensei franchise. Along with the previous game Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army and the official derivative novel Devil Summoner:...
. Demon conversations make a comeback as well as Raidou being able to summon two demons simultaneously in battle. The limited edition will be packaged with a new version of Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
is a role-playing game for the PlayStation 2. It is the third main game in the Megami Tensei series. Shin Megami Tensei III was released nine years after Shin Megami Tensei II, and was the first Megami Tensei game in the series to be released into the United States using the "Megami Tensei" name...
titled Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax Chronicle Edition in which Raidou will appear. The game was released in Japan on October 23, 2008 and in North America on May 12, 2009.
Prologue
During a routine investigation by the Narumi Detective Agency, Shohei and his teenaged apprentice Raidou Kuzunoha respond to a call for help from a client. When the client reveals herself to be Kaya Daidōji, she requests them to kill her. The two are baffled but before they can ask why, mysterious men wearing red armored suits and capes kidnap Kaya while they attack Raido to halt his pursuit.Episode 1: The Missing Girl
Raidō investigates the Daidōji manor for clues before learning he must rescue Rin, a close friend of Kaya Daidōji. Raidou traverses into the Dark Realm and battles for the return of Rin. Once Rin is rescued she in turn relinquishes information about a curse within the Daidōji family. This curse causes spiritual possession that effects only females near their sixteenth birthday. Raidō then returns to the Daidōji manor to search its secret basement which is knowingly inhabited by demons only to find Kaya’s diary detailing her abduction and imprisonment by her uncle shortly before her birthday. Raidō reports back to Shouhei Narumi with detail about his investigation thus far before returning to the manor one last time to confront Kaya's uncle Kiyoshi but Kiyoshi morphs into a demon and runs away. Afterwards, the mansion gets pulled into the dark realm and Ichimokuren appears. After the battle ends Raidō is taunted by an unnamed and unseen Devil Summoner. Upon returning to headquarters Narumi and Raidou strategize on what to do next. They decide to investigate their only lead: “The Red Caped Monster”.Episode 2: The Red Cape
Tae Asakura (a local reporter and friend of Narumi) stops by the Narumi Detective Agency to report a sighting of The Red Cape in Ginza-Cho and gives Raidō a photo as proof to help with his investigation. Raidō arrives at a café looking for witnesses when the owner recommends that he search out a carrier named Denpachi. Upon arriving in Fukagawa-Cho he is greeted by unfriendly thugs who suggest he enter the nearby bathhouse to request permission to search the village. After a nude showdown with two yakuza thugs the boss Satake authorizes the search but warns to that the Red Cape has been frequently sighted. Raidō is confronted at Denpachis’ home by four Soldiers and pulled into the Dark Realm where he meets an imprisoned mad he must help escape. After helping Denpachi escape he refuses to give information about the Red Cape unless Raido finds his sister Shizu. Raido then goes to Satake who informs him that Shizu is working in the Red-Light District in order to accumulate the funds to pay for his medical expenses after being attacked by The Red Cape. Raido then travels back to Ginza for clues when he’s confronted by a demonic car who accuses Raido of being Red Cape that attacked him; after the battle the car gives him a ricksaw knob that according to Shizu belongs to her brother. Afterwards Raido travels to Dark Ginza to battle The Red Cape only to find that it’s in fact Denpachi. Denpachi's parting words are of the Daidouji Factory operated by Kaya's uncle Kiyoshi Daidouji. Tae then reports sighting allover the capitol of the Red Cape.Episode 3: Dark Summoner
Raido reports back what he has learned thus far and Narumi informs him that Tae was also heading for the Daidouji Factory. Once Raido arrives he finds a cane that belongs to Kiyoshi Daidouji, then meets Tae before being greeted once more by the ominous unseen enemy from before. Six matryoshka begin to levitate in the room as the voice informs Raido that unless he can retrieve the three colored shards from the Matrix Labyrinth he will not see Daidouji. Once the Matrix Labyrinth is done the seal on the door confining Kiyoshi breaks. Kiyoshi prepares to divulge all information on the Daidouji family, only to begin morphing back into The Red Cape, but dies as the entity disconnects from his body and escapes. Out of the shadows steps a figure identifying himself as the Dark Summoner Rasputin. He then informs Raido that the entity he just saw was Hiruku, a demon that feeds on its hosts fear and anxiety and that Kaya is part of the next phase in his plan. Before leaving he summons one last demon from a matryoshka. Back at the detective agency the Herald of Yatagarasu stops in to warn Raido about Rasputin saying the he was thought to have died fifteen years prior andis somehow still alive and also that the strongest of Devil Summoners is no match for a Dark Summoner.
Combat
Unlike previous Megami TenseiMegami Tensei
, commonly abbreviated as , is a Japanese console role-playing game metaseries which was originally based on the novel series Digital Devil Story by Aya Nishitani and has gone to become one of the major franchises of the genre in its native country...
titles which used turn-based battle systems, the battle system in this game is action-based. The main character can attack with either his close range sword
Sword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
or his long range gun
Gun
A gun is a muzzle or breech-loaded projectile-firing weapon. There are various definitions depending on the nation and branch of service. A "gun" may be distinguished from other firearms in being a crew-served weapon such as a howitzer or mortar, as opposed to a small arm like a rifle or pistol,...
(provided he has enough bullets). He can also summon one of the demons from his collection to assist him in battle. Battles themselves take place in small enclosed "arenas" similar to Namco's "Tales" series and can generally be escaped from, though this takes a random amount of time.
Fusion
Like other Megami Tensei games, Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army allows fusion between demons. Aside from the basic "two-for-one" fusion, a demon can also be fused into Raidou's sword, thus making the weapon more powerful.New Game Plus
This game contains a New Game PlusNew Game Plus
A New Game Plus is an unlockable video game mode that allows the player to start a new game after they finish the game at least once, where certain aspects of the finished game, such as experience or items, affect the newly started game...
feature which includes:
- Access to a harder difficulty.
- Shop rank being carried over.
- Infinite normal ammunition.
- A new side-questQuest (gaming)A quest in role-playing video games — including massively multiplayer online role-playing games and their predecessors, MUDs — is a task that a player-controlled character or group of characters may complete in order to gain a reward...
becomes available.
Characters
- Raidou Kuzunoha the XIV: (Age: late teens (According to the official fanbook)) The player characterPlayer characterA player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
, a high school student of Yumizuki High School turned Devil Summoner of the Kuzunoha family. He can confine demons in tubes called kuda (similar to the kankoKuda-gitsuneis a creature supposedly employed by Japanese kitsune-tsukai, those who use foxes as spirit familiars. Its use is described in various books, as follows:In the the kuda-gitsune is described as a rat-sized fox which can be kept in a pipe....
of Japanese folklore), and use them to battle and to do detective work. Like other Shin Megami Tensei protagonists, he rarely, if ever, speaks. In Toumon Boogey's prequel novel, Devil Summoner: Kuzunoha Raidō tai Shibito Ekishi, his real first name is given as . - Gōto: (Age: Unknown) A black cat with green eyes; he is Raidō's partner and though he sounds a little smug at first, he is actually very concerned about Raidō and his mission. Apparently he has worked with every other Raidō since the second. It is revealed later on that Gōto is the first Raidō Kuzunoha, who placed his soul into a cat's body, after which he made it his duty to keep an eye on all those who inherit his name.
- Shōhei Narumi: (Age: 32 (According to the official fanbook)) Owner of the Narumi Detective Agency and Raidō's boss. He is a little lazy and generally lets Raidō do all the hard work. For some reason, he seems to have a large connection of contacts in the Japanese military. He also seems to know Gen. Munataka well. In Japanese version of the game his first name was never revealed.
- Tae Asakura: (Age: 22 (According to the official fanbook)) A reporter from newspaper "Capital Daily" (Tokyo is simply referred as "Capital" in the game; the name Tokyo itself translates into English as "Eastern Capital") , Tae is desperately trying to prove to everyone that women have a place in the modern society as working people. Her pen-name "Kichō" comes from Raicho HiratsukaRaicho Hiratsukawas a writer, journalist, political activist and pioneering Japanese feminist.- Life :Born Haru Hiratsuka in Tokyo in 1886, the second daughter of a high ranking civil servant...
, a feminist crusader. She hired Narumi and Raidō's talents to investigate the bizarre events in the Capital. - Victor: (Age: Unknown) Researcher of "Gōma-Den" a secret lab in the Tokyo that works on demons and demon-related sciences. He is in charge of fusing and recording the demons. He seems to have been modelled after Victor FrankensteinVictor FrankensteinVictor Frankenstein was born in Napoli, is a Swiss fictional character and the protagonist of the 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, written by Mary Shelley...
. - Kaya Daidōji: (Age: 15) Sole heiress of famous and wealthy Daidōji family and a high school student of Ōran High School. She is popular among her friends and servants of her house because of her kind demeanor. She became the key of the recent bizarre incidents that occurred at the Capital after calling Narumi Detective Agency and asking them to kill her. She is kidnapped in the games opening scene by the "Red Guard".
- Rasputin: (Age: Unknown) The famous "Mad Monk" who was assassinated in 1916 in Russia. Rasputin somehow returned to life and involved himself with the recent events in the Capital. His reasons for causing trouble to Raidō are unknown, as he seems to be only interested in his own profit. His skills in devil summoning are second only to Raidō himself, and he uses matryoshka dolls as his weapons. It is reveled that Rasputin is from the future. He is either an android or a cyborg.
Music
The soundtrack was entirely composed by Shōji MeguroShoji Meguro
is a Japanese video game composer and director who joined Atlus in 1996 and has composed music for many of their games, mainly those in the Megami Tensei series.-Biography:...
and was released as a 2-disc Original Soundtrack on April 7, 2006 by Five records. However, the soundtrack is missing several tracks.
The Japanese version of the game came with a bonus CD containing all the missing tracks from the OST plus arrangements from the first two Devil Summoner games.
Reception
Reception towards the game was generally positive. Gamespot rated it 7.3 out of 10, saying that it "definitely delivers on the unique storyline front, serving up a dark narrative filled with a variety of personable and powerful demons to recruit, control, and fuse." even though it was "not as polished as previous games in the series.". IGN UK rated it 7.2 out of 10, pointing out that the only flaw is with the visuals and they were "rather unappealing and the lack of strong plot to begin with could easily turn some people away.", praising the use of multiple demons with the historical Japanese setting.On the other hand, the game received some high praises. For instance, Netjak rated it 9.1 out of 10. It praised the use of demons with the game's battle system and a good story. digital entertainment news rated it 8.5 out of 10, critiquing the use of demons as the game's central point in playing Raido Kuzunoha vs the Soulless Army.
External links
- Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army Official Website at Atlus Japan
- Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army Official Website at Atlus USA
- Devil Summoner: Kuzunoha Raidou vs. The Soulless Army at Digital Devil Database