Developer: Atlus
Publisher: Atlus
Genre: Action, Role Playing Game
Format: Playstation 2
Released: April 27th 2007
Don’t let the massively long title keep you away, this is an solid action RPG. Let’s begin with the combat system. While the combos are limited you are given a variety of ways to attack. You can either slice your ways through zommers with your katana, penetrate your foes with some elemental bullets from your revolver or just casually summon a fiery whirlwind by harnessing the power of your demon companions. As mentioned the combos may seem a little simplistic but wielding your Katana is very fluid and having your character dart around the screen freely is always a plus. If you get hit, then it’s your fault. You can run to dodge or if it’s unavoidable then go for the block instead.
You can summon demons you have previously fought by slamming them in a tube or by fusing a couple together which create a stronger demon. If you have played a Shin Megami Tensei game before then you knew this already. Demon management is pretty easy, although it make take a lot of your time trying to get certain skills on demons that you are fusing. Get ready to mash confirm and then cancel until you do.
Unfortunately that is a common issue with the earlier Shin Megami Tensei games. I understand that certain demons are weak to elements and shouldn’t use them but randomising which skills they learn when fusing is a nightmare when you only want specific skills for that demon. Just grey out skills which demons can’t learn and let us pick from a menu, that’s all you need to do.
The story of Raidou Kuzunoha vs The Soulless Army starts as you would expect, a schoolgirl wants you to kill her….. wait what? As you are trying to process this request you are ambushed with the damsel being distressed and taken away. Job well done I say.
Now your mission is to rescue her and try to figure out why she wanted to die so badly. Navigating the world is pretty easy, get a train to far away places unless they are blocked off by a big burly man or just run around until a wall which only demons can enter blocks your path. These walls are a nightmare and honestly just pad the game out unnecessarily. The game is pretty long already and this is just annoying busy work.
Boss fights are pretty fun and require a bit of the old brainpower. Not to solve clues but to watch their patterns of attacks and to pay attention to what elements work best. Your demon AI isn’t head scratchingly poor either, which makes a nice change. They will get hit by the obvious attack and have you holding your head in shame but for the most part they aren’t useless. The characters are all incredibly likeable as well. There is plenty of humour in this game and a couple of the characters steal the scene whenever they appear. You want them too as well, they are just that cool.
Enough of me rambling. I will be giving Shin Megami Tensei Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs The Soulless Army an 8.5/10. there are a few flaws which irritate and irk me but this really is a special little game. Oh and you have a talking cat following you around everywhere sooooo go play this game.
Get in my tube hee-ho - Mamushi
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