BLUE REFLECTION Quartet is at its best when it reminds you why Gust's magical girl RPGs earned such a devoted following. While the revised versions of RAY and SUN still contain compromises and some superfluous self-censorship is present, this is the most complete way to experience the Blue Reflection saga.

Blue Reflection Quartet is an attempt to bring this whole series together, across previously disparate formats. It’s not entirely successful, as you’re better off just watching the anime instead of trudging through this version of Ray’s weird recap slideshow gimmick. Sun’s impossible to play in English otherwise (or at all, really), so this is going to be your only opportunity if you’re curious. Meanwhile, this is the most efficient and effective way to play the other two games anyway, rather than individually expensive (and in the first game’s case undercooked) PC ports. I wish the Switch 2 versions weren’t locked to 30 fps, but they do look nice in 1080p. All in all, I’d say if you’re jonesing for something new and interesting in the magical girl realm that isn’t just caked in gratuity, Blue Reflection is a must. Everything else is just an odd bonus.

Overall, the changes made to the four stories in this Blue Reflection collection don’t compromise the central thesis of the series (even with Sun and that pesky male character): These are truly, almost painfully ethereally beautiful magical girl JRPGs with a relentlessly wholesome message behind them. I have no idea if Koei Tecmo sees a future in something this niche, but even if this collection is the grand sum of the Blue Reflection vision, it’s an enormously heartwarming 100 hours that will linger with you long after you stop playing.