Many JRPGs follow a set of similar tropes and mechanics. Many protagonists are orphans, or parents are otherwise absent, playable characters are rarely ever adults, and the final boss is something akin to God. And then there's the Persona series and, most iconically, Persona 5, which takes inspiration from anime as well. Likewise, it also exhibits tropes classic to high school anime, such as the protagonist sitting at a desk in the back left corner of the classroom, an obligatory beach segment, and there's an array of damsels in distress.
Blue Reflection: Second Light also has its own healthy dose of anime tropes, inspired by magical girl anime such as Tokyo Mew Mew and Cardcaptor Sakura, where the female protagonist transforms into power-wielding heroin, a concept made famous by Sailor Moon. And there's a lot showcased in Blue Reflection: Second Light that makes it comparable to the Persona series as well, though it may not be for everyone and it can be difficult to pit any JRPG against Persona 5 thanks to its colossal reputation not just in the East, but in Western countries now as well.
Blue Reflection: Second Light's Intriguing Combat
Second Light is actually the sequel to the original Blue Reflection, however, it's been widely agreed upon that it improves many of the combat mechanics from the first game. It's not quite like most other JRPGs. Though it's turn-based, combat more so flows on a timeline that can change with the tide of battle. Furthermore, all skills, including magical abilities and healing in addition to regular attacks, all pull from the same pool of energy called Ether, which recharges constantly. Characters can only attack once they've accrued a minimum of 1,000 EP, but this also means that they can heal as often as they'd like. Much like games such as Bravely Default, the system changes up the normal JRPG turn-based combat substantially while keeping the main elements present.
When the speed at which the girls regain Ether Points becomes fast enough, they transform into Reflectors, where the magical girl aspect comes from. Looking a bit like pop idols, each of them even has their own brief transformation sequence, but they also gain access to additional, more powerful abilities as well.
But that's not why Blue Reflection could be seen as similar to the myriad of Persona games. Second Light encompasses a group of teenagers dealing with a number of personal problems that young women and girls would be familiar with. Much like Persona 5's metaverse, Ao and her companions tackle these issues by entering and exploring Heartscapes, or worlds made from someone's feelings and memories of the past, typically surrounding some kind of trauma. While beating the Heartscape's final boss doesn't solve the problem, it helps the girls remember who they are, why they're here, and what's really going on in the world outside of the school.
Blue Reflection is also known for being part visual novel, much like the dating aspects of Persona that have been around since the beginning. But regarding this mechanic specifically, there are parts of it that may put off some players while enticing others.
Blue Reflection: Second Light Isn't For Everyone
Because Blue Reflection and its counterpart Second Light are so heavily inspired by anime, it also takes after some of the more lewd and risque attributes of some genres in the way of fanservice. The dating-sim aspect of Second Light is a perfect example. Even though finding the best waifu in Persona 5 is a beloved part of the game, players shouldn't expect to find it here. The dating mechanic was heavily emphasized in marketing, but this is a bit misleading as "dates" here simply means hanging out with Ao's teammates. Like Persona, these sequences occur in between trips to the Heartscapes, and further along in their friendship with Ao, they may hold hands. There is, actually, a bit of non-protagonist queer romance to be found down the line, but Persona fans and general JRPG gamers should know what they're walking into isn't actually romance.
It's not enough to ruin how great of a game Blue Reflection: Second Light has been, according to critics. But additionally, prospective players should know that there's also a gratuitous number of suggestive shots and general queerbating otherwise. Because Persona 5 has become such a big phenomenon worldwide, Western gamers may not be acclimated to this style that is well-received in Japan.
Blue Reflection: Second Light is out now for PC, PS4, and Switch.