Blue Reflection is a game I really enjoy; certain elements of it I’d say are even best-in-class of the genre. It is definitely a game of two halves, though, with other elements really letting the game down. On the positive side, you have the beautiful, nostalgic, summery yet minimal aesthetic of the game as a whole, the fantastic magical-girl designs of the three main characters, the simple yet effective turn-based combat, and the stellar music, composed by Hayato Asano (also known for his work on many of the more recent Atelier games).
On the opposite side there’s the very poor translation, to the point where whole item and skill descriptions make absolutely no sense: the distinct lack of variety in explorable locations, the lack of any real challenge, and the often out-of-place fan service. I do think despite the obvious lack of budget, Blue Reflection is an intriguing game that isn’t without merit and I’ve had a pretty great, chill time with it. A big part of what draws me into the game is the dreamy atmosphere, and the music plays a big part in what makes that so effective.
The Blue Reflection Official Soundtrack is split across three discs and contains remixes and unreleased demo versions, so it’s a nice, expanded full package with a range of tracks to get into. “Reflect” is a mellow vocal pop song that kicks the whole thing off in a manner fitting the overall sound palette of this OST. It’s modern and fresh, yet plays it quite safe in that it’s very inoffensive both lyrically and sonically.
Following this is one of my favourites—“Blue Reflection,” the title track of the game, has such a subtle build and is a perfect example of that more atmospheric quality I mentioned earlier. It’s a quite simple composition but really effective and evocative of the game’s style and mood. We get a few other versions of this track in this package too. Nostalgic is the word here, and it continues through the rest of the OST in tracks like “I (Sun)” and “A Small Distance,” where gentle piano and soft electronics combine to create something lush and dream-like. There’s even a track called “Talking Until Sunset Under That Same Fateful Sky”—need I say more?
The chilled, nostalgic sound is only one side of Blue Reflection‘s OST. You’ll also find several more upbeat, electronic pop tracks. I wouldn’t necessarily call them “bangers” because they’re still quite soft in comparison to something like the harder, electronic Stellar Blade soundtrack. “Albireo Lake” features a solid, pulsing bassline behind elegant strings and airy synths, and “Overdose” is full-blown electro-pop, containing all the fizzy energy you’d want in a battle theme. The amazingly titled “KOSUICHINOKAKUSURANAKIKU.EXE” is a wild, multi-layered track, bursting with joy that sounds just like a 00s Perfume or Capsule track. There’s certainly a lot to enjoy here if you’re in a more upbeat, energetic frame of mind.
The Blue Reflection Official Soundtrack does occasionally try the unusual or unexpected. “Selectivity Filter” features off-kilter electronics, popping in and out, looped, reversed and juxtaposed with piano. It’s certainly interesting and works really well. Taking things one step further, the short “Violent Panda” contains whole layers which sound like tracks played in reverse, while the melody plays forward—a really interesting and effective combination. This minor experimentation is quite rare though, as the OST overall stays in its lane rather consistently. Whilst this isn’t a bad thing per se, these unexpected or more left-field elements work so well I found myself wanting more of them.
The first two discs of the soundtrack offer up Blue Reflection’s main tracks, with disc three compiling the remixed, demos and alternate versions. “Goodbye, Lovingly” is a pleasant enough vocal track which I feel could use a bit more bite, especially as it is almost six minutes long. Including a version of this track without the vocals feels like an odd choice to me, considering the track doesn’t feel like a standout with them.
This bite is certainly found later on, though, with the fantastic “All Phase Mix” versions of five tracks. That Stellar Blade reference from earlier is more apt here. Rounding out disc three are a small number of demo pieces, giving some insight to the development of this OST. These are more rough around the edges, but showcase some great beats in particular.
The Blue Reflection Official Soundtrack is great—I listen to it often, particularly in summer, and it never fails to brighten my mood. Whether you’re looking for something calmer and more introspective, or something effervescent with a good beat, this OST has got you covered. Whilst the music here could take a few more risks (because when it does, they’re pretty successful) and step outside of its comfort zone a little more, it doesn’t detract from the fact that the music is strong even outside of the context of the game. Whilst Blue Reflection, the game, doesn’t hit all the marks, the OST does and is well worth your time. Dive In!
