Blue Reflection

 PlayStation 4
Metascore
66

Mixed or average reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 25 out of 35
  3. Negative: 2 out of 35
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  1. Digitally Downloaded
    Sep 26, 2017
    100
    The story at the heart of it all is one of the most moving and heartfelt tales I’ve ever seen in a game, and that’s a huge achievement. The best part is that Mel Kishida is just getting started—if this is his directorial debut, I can’t wait to see what the future has in store.
  2. PlaySense
    Nov 2, 2017
    85
    Blue Reflection looks and feels a lot like Persona. It's not flawless, but its beautiful environments, decent gameplay and outstanding soundtrack will keep you immersed for a long time to come.
  3. GameCritics
    Oct 4, 2017
    85
    Blue Reflection is incredibly upfront about what it’s trying to accomplish here — it’s explicitly about the real dangers to life and limb that can be caused by depression and negative emotional states, and it’s also about the importance of reaching out to those who are suffering and trying to make their lives better. I can’t say that I’ve seen many games with the same goal, but I enjoyed making the world a better place. The experience is sweet, funny, intense, and one of the most fundamentally good-hearted titles I’ve seen in ages.
  5. Game Revolution
    Sep 26, 2017
    80
    Blue Reflection is a hidden gem that any anime and JRPG fan will not want to miss this year.
  6. Attack of the Fanboy
    Sep 26, 2017
    80
    Blue Reflection is lacking in a few areas, but it still has enough going for it to offer an overall enjoyable experience that fans of the magical girl sub genre will enjoy.
  7. God is a Geek
    Sep 26, 2017
    80
    Blue Reflection is Gust’s best new IP and one that would’ve been a better game had Koei Tecmo put some actual effort into localization wise.
  8. COGconnected
    Sep 26, 2017
    77
    Gust’s attempt at creating a brand new world with Blue Reflection shows. The development team brought innovation to the table demonstrating they can step outside their comfort zone. However, production value and time may have hurt the project as the game suffers from random graphical stutters, a lack of rich animation, and a failure to utilize the entire cast of characters. Nonetheless, the party customization, character interactions, art style, and overall design is admirable and keeps things entertaining.
  9. Meristation
    Sep 27, 2017
    75
    Blue Reflection is an interesting mix which makes a step beyond the regular "Atelier series" games. Its story seems common from a regular "shojo manga" with fantasy but after each chapter it becomes more interesting until the end. The combat system in battles it's simple but also fun to play and with every other things to do in the game and the notable soundtrack, with really good themes, make it an option to take into account for the genre fans.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 57 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 57
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 57
  3. Negative: 11 out of 57
  1. vahn
    Oct 2, 2017
    7
    I'm a Gust fan - together with Atlus and IF - so I was legitimately hyped for this game: alongside Atelier, most of their games tend to beI'm a Gust fan - together with Atlus and IF - so I was legitimately hyped for this game: alongside Atelier, most of their games tend to be rough around the edges but enough quality to make it shine. This means that while their games are good, it will only interest a very small amount of players.

    And this game is no different than the rest of them I'm afraid

    Let's start with the basics: this game is a turn based rpg set in a high school for girls and the protagonists can turn into magical girls who can with magic in a world named Common, where every feeling is unbound and materialized. By using fragments from other girls they get stronger and the school is your general hub where you can quest and interact with said girls.

    The setting is very similar to Persona 5 (and Akiba's Beat too) but unlike that game, Blue Reflection also focuses on the simple things of a girl's life: the main protagonist, Hinako, is struggling to live a normal life after the loss of her ability to dance, due to an injured knee that doesn't let her dance anymore. The game has some dark parts too but the game is also about slice of life storytelling, and that's not always a bad thing...if you're into girl talk. Granted I'm a guy but I've lived with only a mother and sister for many years, so their chat doesn't really bother me.

    On the other hand, I can see most people bored to death about hearing girls talking about making friends, boyfriends, and other stuff. Not that the dialogues are badly written: it's just not for everyone.

    Another big thing is the combat: it's turn-based which means only a few will like it. Granted the combat is actually very good due to its similarities to another classic: Grandia. Basically, by using knockbacks you can delay the enemy attack and you can potentially never get hit once this way - even though you recover hp and mp at the end of every battle.

    The dungeons in the Common are extremely small and that's a big shame considering they're incredibly well done in style: the graphics in this game are very clean and "realistic", but not "too realistic" and the dungeons are instead brimming with color. It feels I'm watching a 3d anime so to speak

    And one last thing that I usually don't bring up in my reviews: the music is AMAZING. If you're into trance or dance music, this game will be a treat: the combat track ("OVERDOSE") it's so good, so cheerful and so full of energy, I never got tired of listening to it while fighting. Or another example of greatness is the track called (and I'm not kidding) "DNF FW15C -II-". It starts odd but once I listen to it, I feel I'm listening to one of my old dance music tracks. I simply love it and it's why I love Gust's soundtracks: so full of energy.

    Well that's all I can say about the pros...let's go to the cons now:

    For starters combat grants no exp
    Yep you read it right, combat grants no exp. It's nothing new of course since Mana Khemia also did the same and some of the crappy final fantasy games I guess. Anyway, with the lack of exp from combat, which is VERY good, it makes the only fun thing of the game redundant. It's not AS bad as, say, Paper Mario Sticker Star since you still get items from enemies, but this makes combat completely and utterly pointless in most case scenarios.

    In other to level up you basically finish dungeons OR do "missions" at school which aren't bad honestly and requires to do specific things, it's definitely not a bad system but I'd like it to be AN OPTION and not the only way. It's also sad because leveling up is kind of interesting since you upgrade 4 stats and depending on the level of each you gain different skills. It's similar to Dragon Quest 8 in that regard...except it actually shows you what you're learning!

    You will only control 3 characters and that's it: the other girls you might get are only supports, which occasionally get into the fight by pressing a button. They grant different effects and they can be useful...but besides them, you'll be stuck with the 3 main girls, which is a little of a shame but they clearly went for quality over quantity.

    Not sure what else I can say honestly because it's a very interesting game, it has pros but also cons, but the cons can become more or less depending on your mood. It's definitely an acquired taste: I personally love it and I can't wait to play more but even a game like Neptunia, filled with girls and other things, it's much better because it's more straightforward and simpler in terms of gaming control.

    So do I recommend it? Honestly no, at least not when there are much better games around, BUT if you're into these niche kind of games I'd highly recommend to at least look at some videos. The game has a lot of flaws, but also a lot of pros!    … Full Review »
  2. Prrgangsta
    Sep 26, 2017
    6
    After playing this for several hours I have to say that I am kind of disappointed in this game. Blue Reflection is a game that tries hard toAfter playing this for several hours I have to say that I am kind of disappointed in this game. Blue Reflection is a game that tries hard to be a little bit like Persona but falls flat on its face.

    The world of Common is a beautiful and bright setting for this game and the soundtrack is pretty good too. Sadly these things are the only things I liked about the game. The area you will be spending the most time is the school area where you can talk to other classmates to strengthen your character.

    Battles in the Common do not yield you any EXP so talking to the other classmates and getting their emotion fragments give you growth points which is used to level up your character. This is an interesting way to strengthen a character but I would much rather battles do that. The battles are not all that difficult and are easy to get through and after each one your health and energy is replenished to full making it even easier between battles. The Common is easy to traverse since it is usually a small area.

    The game's characters feel real in the sense they are regular school girls going through everyday issues while your character is coming to terms that she has joined a magical girl group.

    The game is a good pick up for those into the magical girl genre but it feels like a jrpg that wants to hold my hand through the entire game with how easy it is.    … Full Review »
  3. NexusTsunami
    Oct 3, 2017
    9
    __1. Story:
    Blue Reflection erzählt mal eine etwas andere Geschichte. Hinako Shirai (unsere Protagonistin) ist nach einem schweren Unfall    __1. Story:
    Blue Reflection erzählt mal eine etwas andere Geschichte. Hinako Shirai (unsere Protagonistin) ist nach einem schweren Unfall nicht mehr in der Lage ihrer Leidenschaft nachzugehen: dem Ballet. Als sie sich entschließt gebrochen und ohne Lebenssinn wieder die Schule zu besuchen, nehmen die Dinge ihren Lauf. Es erwartet einen eine emotionale und berührende Geschichte von Freundschaft und der Selbstreflektion welche gerade zum Ende hin ganz großes Kino ist.

    __2. Gameplay - Spielmechaniken:
    Hier verpasst das Spiel meiner Meinung nach den "Meisterwerk" Titel. Das Spiel ist vorab, sehr textlastig. Circa 70% des Spiels sind Dialoge im gut verständlichen Englisch... dies ist natürlich kein Kritikpunkt. Allerdings die Art und Weise wie diese aufgebaut sind - nähmlich repetiv! Im ersten Viertel des Spiels ist es durchaus kurzweilig und mal was anderes. Man erlebt den Schulalltag Japans aus der Sicht Hinako's... man lernt, nimmt am Schwimmuntericht teil, plant das Kulturfestival und redet mit seinen Schulkammeradinen (Mädchenschule ;-)). Vorallem letzteres ist das Zweischneidige Schwert... dieses Spiel besitzt ein erfrischendes und inovatives Charaktersystem - man levelt nicht durch Kämpfe, sondern durch Bonding (Aufbauen von Beziehungen)!! Und so neuartig mir dieses System vorkam, so repetiv wird es in den letzten 75% des Spiels! Damit meine ich nicht die Cutscenes mit den Kammeradinen, die erste Sahne umgesetzt sind, sondern dass eigentliche Prinzip dahinter. Beispiel: Eine neue Kammeradin "schließt" sich an. Diese hat wie jede andere im Cast eine Skala die durch "Unternehmungen" (Kinobesuch etc.) oder durch das Beantworten von Fragen (die besagten Cutscenes) steigt. Und gerade diese Unternehmungen wurden bei mir mehr zur Fleißaufgabe als zum Genuss. Man besucht immer die gleichen Locations (vll 9 unterschiedliche), man geht immer das gleiche Prozedere durch... auch wenn die Dialoge natürlich von Person zu Person unterschiedlich ausfallen, so waren diese für mich sehr Langatmig gestaltet. Man nehme dies nun mal 12 und man findet sich in der Repetivkanone wieder.

    Das Charaktersystem ist wie gesagt innovativ. Man bekommt im Laufe des Spiels Fragmente die unterschiedliche Effekte aufweisen und sich grob in drei Kategorien unterteilen (Angriff, Verteidigung/Support und Sonstige). Jeder Skill den man im Spiel erlernt hat eine unterschiedliche Anzahl an Slots. Man kann diese Fragmente nun in den gewünschten Skillslot einfügen und überträgt somit den Effekt auf die Fähigkeit... Damit ergeben sich eine schier endlose Variationsmöglichkeit und das tüfteln macht Laune.

    __3. Gameplay - Kampfsystem:
    Das Kampfsystem ist absolut genial! Der Kampf läuft Rundenbasiert ab, wobei man an einer Leiste am oberen Bildschirmrand (ähnlich einen ATB System aus FF) die Züge ermitteln kann. Auch die Skills sind schön bis teilweise bombastisch anzusehen... von Single bis Multitarget... von Heilung, Buff bis Debuff... von Delay bis Damagebasiert ist alles dabei was in ein gutes JRPG gehört. Und eines hat mich am Kampfsystem wirklich gefesselt... Sobald es zu den Kämpfen mit den Sephira (den Bossen) kam, blieb mir teilweise der Atem weg. Diese Kämpfe gegen teilweise Hochhaus hohe Monster, sind für mich neben der Charakterdarstellung und der Story das Highlight des Spiels gewesen.

    __4. Charaktere:
    Eine große Stärke des Spiels sind seine Charaktere... und obwohl es eigentlich nur drei Protagonisten gibt (welche direkt an den Kämpfen teilnehmen) so besteht der Cast der Nebencharaktere aus 12 Schülerinnen welche bei Bosskämpfen indirekt zum Einsatz kommen. Nun verkommen diese 12 aber nicht zu seelenlosen NPC's mit denen man nur aus Spielgründen Kontakt aufnimmt (Leveling) sondern hinter ihnen verbergen sich richtig gut geschriebene Charaktere. Ganz großes Lob an die Regie... ALLE Charaktere sind sympatisch, tiefgründig und liebenswert..

    __5. Sound:
    Eigentlich bin ich kein Fan von Elektro... aber dieses Spiel schafft es tatsächlich damit kleine Meisterwerke zu erschaffen. Natürlich ist nicht alles darauf getrimmt aber diese Lieder sind durchaus nett anzuhören. Vorherrschend ist klar das Klavier und die Violine. Auch die BGE sind passend und wirken der Immersion zu gute... vom Geschreie aus Richtung Sportplatz bis zum Schulhofgeflüstere.

    __6. Grafik
    Auf visueller Ebene kann das Spiel absolut überzeugen. Es gibt wenige JRPG's die bisher den Sprung auf Next Gen geschafft haben (wobei mir das persönlich gar nicht so wichtig ist - aber dennoch nice to have :-)). Blue Reflection gehört definitv dazu! Von den Charaktermodellen bis zur Umgebungsgrafik ist alles in einem Hochaufgelösten und wunderschönen Animelook dargestellt!

    __7. Fazit:
    Wäre da nicht das Zweischneidige Schwert von Innovation so vorherrschend. Ich MUSS die Bonding Skala nach oben treiben sonst levele ich nicht... Wenn man davon absieht, ist dieses Spiel für mich ein kleines Highlight.    … Full Review »
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