Blue Reflection: Second Light

Blue Reflection: Second Light provides an intriguing story and challenging battles despite its derivative gameplay. As such, I’d easily recommend it to fans of both anime and JRPGs.

I had a lot of fun during my time with Blue Reflection: Second Light. A colorful world filled with interesting characters and some of my favorite JRPG combat in a long time makes for a consistently entertaining play. I just wish the main story ever really became interesting. As a slice of life RPG, Second Light succeeds. As an apocalyptic epic, though, it falls short. This leaves a total package that lies somewhere in the middle.

A slower-paced J-RPG but which offers a calm and soothing experience that will especially appeal to fans of Japanese productions.

Blue Reflection Second Light is not a game that will suit everyone, but it remains interesting on several aspects. Whether it is for the diversity of its environments, or the improvements compared to the previous game, which allow our heroines to evolve a little as we want. This second opus brings a bit of freshness with its new fighting system and it's encouraging for the future. And if you are interested, we advise you to test the demo.

Blue Reflection: Second Light is a good sequel. It improves many aspects of the original game while being entertaining and a cool JRPG. Despite a few shortcomings, any Gust fan will have a blast with it.

If you enjoy cozy games, Second Light is a no-brainer to recommend; just don't go into it expecting anything demanding or super innovative. [Issue #57 – January/February 2022, p. 73]

Blue Reflection: Second Light improves on almost every aspect of the original, with a mystery that feels more personal as the characters become closer. The relationship between the girls as they seek to discover why they were brought to this strange world is the star of the show; though the combat is fun, it is always a vehicle to get you more story rather than the driving force of the game. Second Light is a fantastic-looking anime adventure that you'll love, so long as you can accept that combat isn't the focus.

BLUE REFLECTION: Second Light is a surprisingly deep JRPG, both mechanics and story wise, without overwhelming the player in either area. The cast of characters are all unique and likeable, and alongside the interesting story, the attachment you gain for the cast aids you in your pursuit for answers. The battle system is fun and boss battles are especially tense. Despite the repetitiveness of some enemies, and the overuse of cutscenes, this is a great game that I’ll be diving back into the confirmed higher difficulty when released later this year.

Although it falls just short of the similar (but more intricate) Atelier games, those who enjoyed them will be entertained by Blue Reflection: Second Light. The fun characters, moving story, and familiar (albeit lighter) crafting / battle systems typical of Gust games are a great way to fill the time while we await the release of Atelier Sophie 2.

Blue Reflection: Second Light is pretty much exactly what I expected Blue Reflection 2 to be. It’s a very relaxed sort of RPG. Even though there are mysteries to solve and danger, I didn’t feel pressured. Rather, I felt encouraged to talk with people around me and take my time as I crafted, explored, and fought through its world. But also, I feel like I came into it with the best mindset. I played the original game and watched Blue Reflection Ray. People who aren’t as into Gust games and everything they entail—which can involve crafting, gathering, and perhaps sometimes a slower pace than other RPGs—might not be as into it. But those familiar with Gust’s work or perhaps looking for a new adventure after Atelier Ryza might want to, at the very least, check out the demo.

Blue Reflection: Second Light is a JRPG that brings us a very interesting experience and theme, as well as an addictive combat system, exquisite soundtrack and a captivating plot. Second Light is a very recommended work to fans of JRPGs who enjoy building bonds between characters and going into their plots to find out more and more, which makes this game a welcome arrival on the Nintendo Switch catalogue.

Despite visual cutbacks, Blue Reflection: Second Light on Nintendo Switch is a fine way to experience a very good and relaxing JRPG. The game itself has one annoying mechanic, but is still worth playing if you're a fan of Gust's output. Hopefully it does well enough to get a port of the original game for Nintendo Switch.

Ultimately, Blue Reflection: Second Light is another high-quality effort from Gust. Its unique setting, strong character work, and attractive presentation are the highlights here, but it doesn’t outright drop the ball in any categories. If you’re looking for a cozy, low-stress RPG to spend some time with, Blue Reflection: Second Light makes a compelling case. Those who, like me, caught on to Gust with the Atelier Ryza games will certainly want to check this game out. It has many of the same charms, but with enough differences to make it stand on its own.