The second videogame chapter of the saga is finally coming. In our review of Blue Reflection: Second Light we will tell you about the new game released by Tecmo Koei and developed by Gust that you can have the pleasure of playing on PS4, Nintendo Switch and PC. The saga, born after the great successes of Firis Atelier And Nights of Azure 2, was conceived by the Japanese studio with the intention of ending the videogame parenthesis dedicated to female characters. The success of the first game, however, allowed us to conceive and develop a second one and, even more, to create a real franchise.
In our editorial we have already talked to you in detail about how Gust Studio has scored a winning move, making its particular product evolve in the eastern and then in the western market, while finding some negative feedback from the videogame criticism. In today’s review we will talk about the interesting – and very sweet – Blue Reflection: Second Light, which we tested in its PlayStation 4 version in the wonderful new graphic design by Mel Kishida, much more captivating than the first video game. Making space between some obvious gaps and many points of interest – gameplay, history and aesthetics – we begin this journey in the new JRPG.
The premises of Blue Reflection: Second Light
The beginning of the second video game is perfectly in line with what was shown in the first: a very young protagonist – in full adolescence – it is torn from its normality and taken to a different reality where he will find himself fighting against frightening entities, equipped with magical powers that he did not even imagine he had.
If in the first Blue Reflection the protagonist was the sweet Hinako, then accompanied by Yuzu and Lime, in the new chapter we will find ourselves backing up (initially) Ao, transported in the middle of the water and protected by a huge school building to live in. The girl, however, will soon discover that she is not alone in this reality far from everyone: her travel companions are other girls exactly like her, lost and far from their everyday life, but above all lacking the memory that reminds them of “real life”.
In fact, the young woman is the only one to remember her existence first of all, and will try in every way to help the others to do the same, in an attempt to find out how to find their way home while defeating demons of all forms. In this world – where teenagers are the only human beings present – everything appears too strange: the Heartscapes, which already mean a lot from the name, are places that represent the character and emotions of each of the girls; it will be essential to carefully explore e look for the very important memories scattered all over the map, with the aim of unraveling the mystery that imprisons the girls.
These are the main premises of the game, in perfect continuity with the first Blue Reflection, but able to be understood even by those who approach it for the first time. A particular, interesting story, profoundly similar to the typical narrative of graphic novels. To underline the side of the dialogues – written and spoken – very present, fundamental to fully understand everything and to better develop the relationships between the protagonists. Of course, perhaps they are a bit too long, but still appreciable.
Magical protagonists: between food crafting and fighting against demons
The new title developed by Gust Studio has undoubtedly tried to overcome the limitations of the previous product by adding different gameplay dynamics, in order to improve itself as much as possible. Let’s start with one of the most interesting additions: the giant school structure can be changed over time adding areas that brighten the stay of the young women. You can add a kiosk, a swimming pool, you can customize the structure in the way we think is most appropriate. The communication between the girls is fundamental for the purposes of the gameplay and the growth of the characters. You can improve their relationship – and consequently their skills – by listening to the requests they have to make, finding their memories, spending time with them.
But it doesn’t end there: exploration remains one of the most interesting elements of a JRPG, and albeit in a more contained way than other titles it is also present here. The maps are large enough and the objects to be recovered are always many: the resources will be our best friends for the duration of the run and making sure we have recovered everything will allow us to increase our powers very quickly, or to have many objects to heal us, equipped and ready to be used against the most skilled enemies . Too bad that generally the maps are quite sparse, a little empty apart from the resources and demons to defeat that swarm the game world.
Obviously it is through exploration that the narrative is carried forward: Ao and her new friends will travel nonstop, looking for new clues, new images to remember and new paths to follow. As a last element we decided to leave the fight, one of the most appreciated features by videogame critics, who in the first chapter saw as a weak point the ease of the clashes and the narration in a graphic novel style. Real-time combat has become “harder”, or at least more challenging than Blue Reflection. The pace is undoubtedly more pressing, which causes a huge frenzy in an attempt to balance skill, duo and so on and so forth. Furthermore, considering all the features that distinguish the title, it is absolutely fascinating to see how much balance there is between the simulation of a normal life – between food to prepare, outfits to change, small secondary missions, outings in company – and strategic side-by-side combat. from stealth phases.
Little details
In addition to the new graphics – more graceful and sweet – signed by Mel Kishida, from an aesthetic point of view, an attempt was made to create even more hype towards the young protagonists. If the outfits to choose for the whole game are already different and very beautiful to look at, the possibility of observe the real transformation of the girls during the fights creates an even higher level of satisfaction. And among other things it is worth mentioning the attention to detail for clothes and animations during this phase of “enhancement”, which took us back in time: with your mouth wide open in front of the TV while the Winx were transformed, becoming more competitive than before. .
By and large Blue Reflection: Second Light is a relaxing title for its atmosphere and pleasant in the colorful and fantasy setting it brings to the screen. The soundtrack – already memorable in the first – remains incisive also in this video game and accompanies the player in an exceptional way along the path alongside Ao. A well-made, interesting and particular product, with an even more dynamic combat and of which we have absolutely immediately the fascination. Too bad for the overly discursive dialogues and for the maps on which you could spend more time.
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