Sep 2017
When you think about a magical girl, you might picture sparkles, fluffy fluffy bunnies, and epic battles against eldritch horrors. Picture the opposite: a girl grappling with the trauma of an injury that took away her beloved ballet. Now throw in some emotional demons for good measure, and you've got Blue Reflection. This game, part RPG and part therapy session, is an immersive experience where personal growth and friendships take center stage – and yes, there are still magical powers involved.
Blue Reflection immerses you in the daily life of high schooler Hinako Shirai, who can be best described as the reluctant superhero—think more Richard Clark than Clark Kent. With her ballet dreams dashed by a knee injury, she’s granted magical powers to fight monsters in a parallel world. School life packs plenty of activities, from attending classes to solving the problems of fellow students. Your decisions matter; every conversation you have influences your relationships and gameplay mechanics, leading to more intense battles and emotional results. The battle system is classic turn-based, but with a twist—you can call upon your classmates to provide support in a fashion that makes the best friend squad feel like an essential RPG mechanic. Not only do you get to crush monsters, but you get to bond with your classmates and discover their backstories. Each classmate comes with unique problems and drama—perfect for your own magic girl reality show spin-off. Explore the Other World, gather emotion fragments, and become the cherished hero your high school needs, even if your main goal is just to avoid homework.
Visually, Blue Reflection is like a pastel dream dipped in warm watercolors—ideal for those who put the "aesthetic" in "aesthetics." The art style is reminiscent of a high-end anime production yet remains spacious and inviting enough that you won't feel like you’re trapped in a brightly-colored claustrophobe’s nightmare. The character design plays a significant role here, courtesy of Mel Kishida, who successfully delivers a stunning cast that truly brings out the spirit of high school life and magical escapades—periods of whimsy interspersed with moments that will hit you right in the feels.
Blue Reflection is a unique blend of camaraderie, emotional exploration, and standard RPG action sequences. It may not revolutionize the genre, but it carves out its niche with a heartfelt narrative wrapped in a charmingly colorful package. In a world full of grimdark games and titanic battles, it's a refreshing whirlpool of feelings and fun that asks, "What if you leveraged your magic powers to be a better friend and not just a monster slayer?" Therefore, while you may not forget your high school days, at least you can cringe along with Hinako as she navigates heartache, magic, and the occasional ballet lesson. So grab a snack, and prepared to be enchanted, soothed, and occasionally puzzled by the mysteries of teenage life!
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