>>528507996
Raidou 2 is definitely the better GAME but I always thought 1 had the best story by far.
Its not just because the SMT1/2 connection at the end made me pog, but because the moment you realise it IS connected it clicks how well realised raidous themes are because of HOW they're the budding sprout of SMT1's themes.
The growing discomfort with the inception of western industrialisation and changing of traditional japanese cultural norms is a direct thread to SMT1's western intervention vs japanese nationislm schism.
I also just think the writing of the twist in the original PS2 release is done super well because they treat you with enough respect to give you extremely impactful lines as you go throughout the corridor without shoving massive exposition down your throat and repeating the same thing multiple times over and over.
I love that one npc near the end of the corridor who says something along the lines of:
"Your name is raidou? I knew a raidou too. Worked with me in the center, day after day, toiling away. One day they just said "i have a purpose greater than this" and i never saw them again"
Almost gives me chills, you don't need a massive lore dump to understand the implications, you're an SMT fan whos played SMT2, you instantly understand the total domination of spirit and despair that XL felt being a kuzunoha forced into being a working dog in the center and you know how horrible that world is in general
Unfortunately it seems like the remaster butchered literally every single aspect of the writing surrounding the twist and the endgame that I enjoyed the most lmao. Not that I expected any less. But it still hurts a little. Alas