Blue Reflection: Second Light (Blue Reflection: Tie (BLUE REFLECTION TIE/帝) is a 2021 is a role-playing video game developed by Gust and a sequel to both the 2017 game Blue Reflection and the anime Blue Reflection Ray. It was published by Koei Tecmo first in October 2021 in Japan for the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, and worldwide in November for the console market as well as Microsoft Windows via Steam.[1]
| Blue Reflection: Second Light | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Gust |
| Publisher(s) | Koei Tecmo |
| Director(s) |
|
| Producer(s) |
|
| Designer(s) | Yuichiro Kosako |
| Programmer(s) | Takaaki Ohta |
| Artist(s) | Mel Kishida |
| Writer(s) | Akiko Waba |
| Composer(s) | Hayato Asano |
| Series | Blue Reflection |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows |
| Release | PlayStation 4Nintendo SwitchMicrosoft Windows |
| Genre(s) | Role-playing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
It follows a young teenage girl named Ao Hoshizaki, who awakens with three other girls in a mysterious school surrounded by water. Having lost their memories, the girls begin their quest to uncover the mystery of who they are and why they are together in this place. As Ao, the player can craft items for use in combat and structures around the school to aid in game play, talk and interact with the cast of characters, and explore environments known as "heartscapes" to fight Demons using their newly-gained magical girl powers.
Synopsis
editAo Hoshizaki, a girl who regards herself as "normal," was on her way to summer classes when she suddenly vanished and awoke at an isolated high school surrounded by water, with no other people and no understanding of her situation. Ao meets three other girls who had been there for longer than her: Kokoro Utsubo, Rena Miyauchi, and Yuki Kinjou. All four girls had a ring appear on their finger when they arrived, and Ao is the only girl who was able to even vaguely retain her memories of the real world. The girls receive text messages from a person known as "ReSource" warning them to stay away from the entrance to a mysterious world called the Faraway. The girls enter and are attacked by a Demon, and ReSource instructs Ao, Kokoro, and Rena to use their rings and emotions to create weapons and become Reflectors.
Slowly, Ao and the other girls begin to recall their memories as they venture into parallel dimensions, dubbed heartscapes.
Gameplay
editThe player can have Ao walk around the school and talk with the other girls to take on side quests. Scenes occur during school, some of which involve questions from the other girls in the group, which affect their relationship to Ao depending on the player's answers. In a series of dates and bonding episodes, the player is rewarded with additional support benefits during battles. Using items obtained from heartscapes, Ao can craft new items that provide benefits and can build new attractions on the school grounds that increase character stats[2] and serve as new locations for dates. Similar to the first title, the player can also interact with characters by messaging them through an in-game mobile app for listening to crafting requests and to ask on a date.
When exploring a heartscape, battle is initiated when a player hits an enemy from behind or an enemy hits the player head on.[3] Operating on a turn based system, the characters cast spells by spending their own individual "ether" meters which build up over real time during combat. Spending ether points increases a character's Gears level for that battle, which increases the maximum amount of ether available to a character and the speed at which characters gain ether, in addition to granting the characters more powerful spells.[2]
Reception
edit| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | PS4: 77/100[4]
Switch: 78/100[5] PC: 78/100[6] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 4/5[8] |
| Nintendo Life | 9/10[7] |
| RPGFan | 90/100[2] |
| Digitally Downloaded | 5/5[9] |
Blue Reflection: Second Light received generally positive reception. Electronic Gaming Monthly noted that the game's difficulty was low, but that it suited the game.[8] Digitally Downloaded found and praised yuri elements in the dialogue between the girls.[9]
References
edit- ^ Lada, Jenni (29 July 2021). "Blue Reflection: Second Light Release Date Falls in November". Siliconera. Archived from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ a b c Miller, Des (2021-11-08). "Blue Reflection: Second Light Review". www.rpgfan.com. Archived from the original on 2023-07-19. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
- ^ Finley, Brittni (8 November 2021). "Blue Reflection: Second Light Combat Guide & Tips". Tech Raptor. Archived from the original on 2021-11-10. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
- ^ "Blue Reflection: Second Light for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on June 23, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
- ^ "Blue Reflection: Second Light for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on June 23, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
- ^ "Blue Reflection: Second Light for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on June 23, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
- ^ Cannon, Trent (9 November 2021). "BLUE REFLECTION: Second Light Review (Switch)". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 2021-11-09. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
- ^ a b Patterson, Mollie L. (November 17, 2021). "Blue Reflection: Second Light review". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Archived from the original on 2023-03-24. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ^ a b S., Matt (November 8, 2021). "Review: Blue Reflection: Second Light (Sony PlayStation 4)". Digitally Downloaded. Archived from the original on 2023-06-04. Retrieved 22 June 2023.