A Mind-Blowing 2017 Gem That Easily Outshines Persona

Highlights

Blue Reflection draws inspiration from the Persona franchise, incorporating similar themes and gameplay mechanics, making it a worthwhile experience for Persona fans.

Blue Reflection offers a narrative that focuses on women and incorporates the dynamic of Persona by delving into school life and cultivating relationships.

Although Blue Reflection has a smaller playable party compared to Persona, support characters and relationship statistics assume a significant role in battles, enhancing the gameplay with added complexity.

The Persona franchise has revolutionized JRPGs, garnering immense popularity worldwide through its captivating storytelling and dynamic party combat mechanics. With numerous critically acclaimed titles and an impressive collection of spin-offs, it's no wonder that developers draw inspiration from Persona's elements in hopes of emulating Atlus' success. Whether through the deep backstories of the Phantom Thieves or the combat mechanics, the franchise's influence is widespread. Blue Reflection, released by Gust in 2017, has been heralded as sharing many similarities with Persona and has attracted attention for its innovative narrative approach.

While JRPGs often incorporate cliches inspired by anime, featuring young characters with absent parents and formidable final bosses, Persona includes some of these themes. The franchise's gameplay also includes the day-to-day activities of the Phantom Thieves, which players find enjoyable as they accompany the characters to school, attend classes, study at the library, or take on part-time jobs for extra income. Blue Reflection introduces its unique narrative twist to keep players engaged, drawing comparisons to a blend of anime Magical Girls and Persona, and shares common themes with the renowned Atlus franchise.

Blue Reflection's Female Focus Starkly Contrasts Persona 3 Reload's Kotone Removal

The JRPG genre has many lesser-known titles that don't receive the same level of attention as the popular Persona series. Blue Reflection, however, manages to incorporate some of Persona's themes into its magical girl experience. Persona 3 is credited with modernizing the Persona series, and Persona 3 Portable's inclusion of a female protagonist played a significant role in its success.

Unfortunately, Persona 3 Reload faced criticism for not including the female character from the original game. While the announcement of Persona 3 Reload generated excitement among fans eager for a remake, the absence of the female protagonist dampened their anticipation. Considering that Persona 3 Portable is the only modern Persona game with a female lead, Atlus's decision to exclude her is seen as a missed opportunity that could have guaranteed Reload's success.

School Life Elements Dominate Blue Reflection's Gameplay

Blue Reflection takes a different approach compared to Persona 3 Reload, embracing the female-centric aspect of Persona 3 Portable instead. The game features an all-female cast and incorporates the iconic Persona classroom setting. Players will navigate Hoshinomiya Girls School, viewing the world through the eyes of Hinako Shirai, a first-year student. The narrative style in Blue Reflection mirrors that of the Persona series, with Hinako initially portraying a reserved character who lacks interest in her fellow classmates. However, as the story unfolds, the reason behind her withdrawn nature becomes evident when she encounters an old friend who shares insight into her past.

Prior to a leg injury that shattered her aspirations, Hinako aspired to become an Etoile. However, an unexpected reunion with an old friend transports her to an entirely different realm, much akin to the setting of the forthcoming Persona 5 Tactica. Similar to the Phantom Thieves' teleportation from Cafe Leblanc into a parallel dimension called the Kingdom, Hinako finds herself in a world where her incapacitated leg regains its functionality, courtesy of Yuzuki and Lime Shijou. Introduced to magical abilities, she assumes the role of a reflector—a determined warrior driven by the depths of her own heart. This evolution of her character resonates with the overarching themes of the Persona franchise, where staying true to oneself and unwavering determination are paramount.

Dealing with a difficult past is a common theme in the Persona franchise. Similarly, in Blue Reflection, Hinako overcomes her own struggles and finds the courage to pursue her ballet-dancing dreams once again. Building friendships and forming relationships is a significant aspect of the game, with episodic moments that resemble a visual novel. These moments are reminiscent of Persona's romance elements, where players can go on dates and hang out with characters, similar to the Social Links.

In terms of the playable party, Blue Reflection's options are more limited compared to Persona. Players can only control Hinako, Suzuki, and Lime, whereas Persona 5 offers a larger team of impressive Phantom Thieves. However, in Blue Reflection, support characters can still participate in battles, and developing stronger relationships with them can make a difference between victory and defeat. For example, the tennis girl can launch a ball at enemies for additional damage. Additionally, Hinako's base stats can be improved through activities at home, such as studying and taking a bath.

Blue Reflection offers a school simulator experience, allowing players to engage in activities such as shopping and makeup that have minimal influence on the game's main storyline. In contrast to Persona, where nearly every cutscene advances the overarching plot, Blue Reflection's Magical Girl theme is portrayed through character transformations from school uniforms and swimwear to combat-ready frilly outfits. Although its combat gameplay may not be the most extensive, Blue Reflection's charming slice-of-life atmosphere and heartwarming narrative make it a worthwhile choice for fans of the Persona series. The game is currently available on PC, PS4, and PS Vita.