- System: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch
- Publisher: Koei Tecmo Games
- Developer: Gust, Koei Tecmo Games
- Release Date: November 8, 2021
- Pricing: $59.99
- Rating: T
- Genre: Action, Adventure, RPG
- Players: 1
- Official Website: https://blue-reflection.com/secondlight/us/
Blue Reflection: Second Light Launch Trailer
Who it Caters to
What to Expect
Ao is the only one who still remembers some things about her life before appearing in this school. Kokoro, Reina, and Yuki, however, are still amnesiac. Why are these high school girls here? Why did they lose their memories, and how can they regain them? And, more importantly, why can they transform into magical girls?! All these mysteries will be solved, not without several RPG mechanics like turn-based battles, bonding events, and a lot of crafting!
Visuals
As for the enemies and how the Heartscape looks, most of them have simple designs that appeal—maybe too much—to symbolism. Don't get us wrong, the level design is okay for the most part, but it's so linear that it leaves very little room for creativity. All in all, Blue Reflection: Second Light is an okay anime RPG from a visual perspective. Just don't expect anything over the top.
Sound, Music
In our "What to Expect" section, we talked about how Blue Reflection: Second Light is a very Gust game. Well, that also goes to the OST! If you're a fan of the music of, for example, the Atelier series, then you'll love how Blue Reflection: Second Light sounds.
Gameplay
All these girls have been added to a group chat by a strange entity called ReSource. In this chat group, ReSource tells the girls to stay in the school for safety reasons...but this wouldn't be a fun RPG if they were to just sit there and do nothing, right?
Soon enough, Ao and her new friends will learn that the only way to regain their memories is to explore a place they call Heartscape that appears next to the island. The Heartscape basically represents someone's memories, and that's how you can learn more about these girls and their lives. The thing is, all of them have something in common: they are Reflectors!
When exploring the Heartscape, you can go the stealth route and just gather resources while avoiding the demons or fight them in turn-based battles. Battles are not that hard, but they can get quite challenging if you don't know what you're doing or are underleveled. Battle mechanics are interesting, though. Every turn, you earn Ether Points that allow you to use different skills. The first turn, you're limited to 1000ep, then 2000ep, etc. It's up to you how to use your Ether, or if you rather control the whole party or just your main unit. After a few turns, your party members can automatically transform into their Reflector versions, becoming more powerful but also gaining access to more powerful skills. There's also a fourth party member that acts as a supporting character, entering the battle if someone dies, as well as a One-on-One system and a Knockdown mechanic. Of course, it's not the most complex battle system in the history of RPGs, but it works.
Honey's Gameplay Consensus:
With challenging turn-based battles, dates with adorable girls for all tastes, and some mysteries regarding the end of the world and the tragic lives of the heroines destined to save it... Blue Reflection: Second Light is definitely an interesting choice for all anime gamers!
Honey's Pros:
- A beautiful sequel to Blue reflection.
- You can either dedicate yourself to become more powerful, or just chill with your girl friends on a lonely island.
Honey's Cons:
- Jack of all trades, master of none... that sums up how some will feel about the combination of genres.
Honey's Final Verdict:
If you too want to give this one a try, just go for it! Blue Reflection: Second Light is now available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC (via Steam) and Nintendo Switch.