Nintendo Switch 2 Critic Reviews

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.

A four-in-one deal of three amazing games and one poor game to drag it down. While Blue Reflection Quartet, for the most part, tells compelling stories about growing up, the unfortunate black sheep makes the uncomfortable camera angles of the other games impossible to write off as flukes. Despite its questionable fan service, it is hard not to fall in love, as Blue Reflection Quartet offers great characters and combat systems that will keep fans of the genre stuck to their Switch 2s through the rest of the summer.

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.

BLUE REFLECTION Quartet is a collection that is less than the sum of its parts, with the adaptations for Ray and Sun being extremely lackluster. Additionally, the new and improved visuals are still quite dated and also unimpressive from a performance standpoint, especially on the Switch 2. Despite its phenomenal audio design, which significantly elevates the experience and all its other elements, the collection feels more like a missed opportunity, much like its overall narrative that wasted its potential.