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Again in 2021 when Blue Reflection: Second Gentle was introduced for consoles and PC, I hoped Koei Tecmo would port the unique recreation to Change with the sequel arriving, however it appeared like that might by no means occur. I loved Blue Reflection quite a bit on PS4 again in 2017 regardless of its flaws. The soundtrack and UI had been high tier, and I have been having fun with revisiting it by way of Blue Reflection Quartet throughout PS5, PS5 Professional, Change, Change 2, and PC handhelds. I’ve solely had Blue Reflection Quartet for a few week to date, and I’ve targeted my comparability function on Blue Reflection and Blue Reflection: Second Gentle throughout totally different platforms.

For this comparability function, I additionally revisited the PS4, PC, and Change 1 variations of Blue Reflection: Second Gentle and the unique PS4 and PC variations of Blue Reflection. I needed to see if Blue Reflection Quartet delivered any enhancements when performed on the identical platforms, whether or not the brand new variations had different technical enhancements, and in addition enable you discover which model of Blue Reflection Quartet you should purchase.

Since there are quite a lot of matters and comparisons past the conventional ones I do for this launch, you need to use the hyperlinks under to get to the particular elements you are considering.

• Blue Reflection collection launch timeline
• Blue Reflection 1 authentic vs Quartet model
• Blue Reflection: Second Gentle authentic vs Quartet model
• Blue Reflection Quartet for Change 1 vs Change 2 variations
• Blue Reflection Quartet visuals in contrast throughout PS5, Change 2, Change 1, and PC
• Blue Reflection Quartet efficiency in contrast throughout PS5, Change 2, Change 1, and PC variations
• Blue Reflection Quartet transportable impressions: Change 2, Change, Steam Deck, AYN Thor, and ROG Ally
• Blue Reflection Quartet load instances throughout PS5, Change 2, Change 1, and PC
• Which model of Blue Reflection Quartet is one of the best?
• Which model of Blue Reflection Quartet do you have to purchase?
• Blue Reflection Quartet points that want fixing in patches

Blue Reflection collection launch timeline

Blue Reflection as a collection has had an attention-grabbing launch timeline throughout platforms, ports, localizations, and extra.

• March 2017: Blue Reflection launches in Japan on PS4 and PS Vita
• September 2017: Blue Reflection launches within the West for PS4 and PC
• April 2021: Blue Reflection Ray, the spin-off anime, airs. It’s a prelude for Blue Reflection: Second Gentle
• October 2021: Blue Reflection: Second Gentle launches in Japan on PS4 and Change
• November 2021: Blue Reflection: Second Gentle launches within the West for PS4 and Change with a world PC launch.
• February 2023: Blue Reflection Solar launches as a cell recreation in Japan. 
• July 2026: Blue Reflection Quartet launches worldwide for PS5, Change 2, Change, and PC bringing the primary recreation, Solar (cell recreation’s notable battles that includes Second Gentle’s fight) redone , Ray (anime story with new 3D visuals), and Second Gentle to fashionable platforms. The primary recreation and Second Gentle see some high quality of life enhancements and some visible enhancements in comparison with their authentic releases.

Blue Reflection PS4 and PC vs Blue Reflection Quartet on PS5 and PC

The unique Blue Reflection was by no means on a Nintendo platform till the brand new Quartet launch. It was out there on PS4 and PS Vita in Japan with the Western launch on PS4 and PC solely. The unique PC port of Blue Reflection is fairly terrible. It makes use of a type of previous launchers that you might want to use a mouse to navigate, dated menus, and principally has no graphics choices of word. It additionally upscaled from a decrease decision than the PS4 model.

When performed on Steam Deck and Linux, it has cut-scene points with the colour bar sample or skipping cut-scenes. Blue Reflection’s authentic PC port additionally can’t deal with 16:10 and 21:9 facet ratios accurately generally stretching the picture. The unique 2017 port additionally has no Steam Cloud assist even right this moment.

The brand new Blue Reflection model in Quartet is extra like a contemporary Koei Tecmo and Gust PC port with a number of graphics choices and assist for contemporary working techniques together with SteamOS. It additionally has no bother working on Steam Deck with cut-scenes working accurately, Steam Cloud assist, and it principally is one of the simplest ways to expertise Blue Reflection on PC proper now. For those who, like me, personal all of the Blue Reflection authentic recreation DLC on PS4 and PC by way of the Season Go, Blue Reflection Quartet doesn’t embrace most DLC from the unique recreation and Second Gentle.

Shifting over to PS4, Blue Reflection’s authentic port may run at 60fps, however when performed on a base PS4 it wasn’t a constant 60fps expertise. It was quite a bit higher on PS4 Professional. The PS5 model of Blue Reflection Quartet runs completely at 60fps in my testing. I spent most of my time with it on PS5 Professional, however after I checked some elements on base PS5, it was additionally 60fps there. Notice that there’s some upscaling within the PS4 model when performed on a PS4 Professional/PS5 at 4K that isn’t current on PS5.

It oddly sufficient finally ends up wanting like it’s working at a decrease decision for one axis on PS5 in comparison with the upscaled PS4 model. Total, they each look very related although when performed on a 4K monitor or TV. There are some cases the place digital camera motion whereas working snaps the angle making it really feel prefer it is not working at 60fps, however it solely occurs in a couple of indoor areas and it’s the digital camera motion and never the precise body price. One final thing I need to word for the PS4 and PS5 variations of Blue Reflection (the primary recreation) is that each sadly use Sony’s default save system with the clunky menus as an alternative of an in-game answer like in Second Gentle. This simply provides a little bit of time to saving and loading.

Blue Reflection: Second Gentle authentic vs Quartet model

Blue Reflection: Second Gentle was capped at 30fps on PS4 (and PS4 Professional) and Nintendo Change. The brand new Blue Reflection Quartet launch of Second Gentle, would not embrace most DLC as I discussed, however it does elevate the body price cap on PS5 to 60fps. The Change 2 model remains to be capped at 30fps sadly. The Change 2 model of Blue Reflection: Second Gentle (and the Change 1 model) each have enhancements to fashions and a few textures, however Blue Reflection: Second Gentle from the Quartet Change 1 model runs quite a bit worse than the unique Change 1 recreation when performed on Change 1. 

Notice: The 2 pictures with out the Quartet identify talked about on the fitting are for Second Gentle’s authentic PC port.

The PC port of Second Gentle has seen some modifications within the Quartet launch. Not solely are the graphics choices totally different, however the lowest settings on PC in Quartet’s Second Gentle look worse than the bottom settings within the authentic PC Second Gentle. The efficiency when utilizing related visuals is kind of identical although. I am a bit confused as to why the sport defaults to the bottom settings on Steam Deck in relation to filtering and texture high quality since these give a really unhealthy first impression.

Past visuals and technical variations, each Blue Reflection and Blue Reflection: Second Gentle embrace high quality of life options together with the power to skip some cut-scenes you could not skip earlier than in Blue Reflection, quicker motion, and even added content material. You may examine that in our full evaluation. One factor to notice is that as of this writing (July 29 within the morning PT), you can’t disable movement blur in Quartet’s Second Gentle, however can within the authentic. I hope that is patched.

Blue Reflection Quartet for Change 1 and Change 2

Earlier than attending to the comparisons and impressions for every platform, I need to word that Blue Reflection Quartet on Change 1 and Change 2 are handled as fully totally different video games with no save knowledge compatibility or improve path on the eShop. DLC or pre-order bonuses additionally solely work on the particular model you purchase as effectively (that is for these importing a bodily copy).

With that out of the best way, Blue Reflection Quartet on Change 1 and Change 2, like Blue Reflection: Second Gentle on Change 1, is capped at 30fps. Sure, even Blue Reflection, the primary recreation, is capped at 30fps on Change 2 each docked and handheld when it was uncapped on PS4. The Change 2 model seems to run on the identical decision because the Change 1 model when performed on Change 2 docked, however the Change 2 model of Blue Reflection Quartet gives improved visuals in some areas like shadows and degree of element. 

I did discover that enjoying Blue Reflection Quartet’s Change 1 model through Change 2 handheld enhance mode resulted in higher visuals in some areas like distant foliage than the native Change 2 model handheld. It is a bit complicated as I assumed the Change 2 model would simply be higher throughout the board. 

When testing Blue Reflection: Second Gentle from the gathering, the Change 1 model of Quartet has some visible enhancements in comparison with the unique Change 1 recreation, however the greater upgrades are to textures and filtering on Change 2 in comparison with the unique. Past visuals, Quartet’s model of Second Gentle additionally has new characters from Solar and Ray included with some high quality of life enhancements making it the model to play if you have not performed so but. As for efficiency, I’ll cowl that later within the function.

Blue Reflection Quartet visuals throughout PS5, Change 2, Change 1, PC, Steam Deck, and PS5 Professional

When how Quartet scales throughout platforms, the Steam launch is the one model that helps body charges above 60fps. I could not truly take a look at this myself since my Steam Decks and ROG Ally barely made it to the excessive 50s when utilizing the bottom settings I may. The PS5 model delivers one of the best visible expertise on console, which occurs very often (alongside Xbox Sequence X when relevant), however I am shocked on the gulf between the PS5 and Change 2 model on this case. It undoubtedly seems like Koei Tecmo did not do as a lot because it ought to have for Change 2 contemplating its personal web site mentions the Change 2 higher restrict for decision and body price is 1080p at 30fps whereas the PS5 model’s higher limits are 4K at 60fps.

Blue Reflection and Second Gentle are greatest performed on a excessive finish PC and PS5 proper now. I hoped to see the Change 2 model ship so I may get a strong transportable and docked expertise, however this very a lot seems like how some Koei Tecmo early PS5 releases had been, however worse in some methods. It is not unhealthy by any means, however simply disappointing in comparison with the PS5 launch. 

Blue Reflection Quartet efficiency throughout PS5, Change 2, Change 1, PC, Steam Deck, and PS5 Professional

Efficiency is the place the PS5 and PC variations (not handhelds) ship the most important improve in comparison with Change and Change 2. The Change 1 model of Quartet performed on Change 1 (together with OLED mannequin) runs quite a bit worse than the unique Blue Reflection: Second Gentle launch. It’s because it has new post-processing choices and visible enhancements you can’t disable in comparison with the missing Change 1 authentic recreation.

The PS4 model of Blue Reflection: Second Gentle was capped at 30fps and Blue Reflection Quartet delivers a 60fps expertise on PS5 in addition to PS5 Professional in my testing. I did discover some areas the place I believed it was freezing or hitching initially, however it was simply how the digital camera snapping is dealt with. The PC model can do body charges above 60fps, however none of my handhelds had been in a position to do this even utilizing turbo mode. I’ll revisit this when I’ve knowledge for greater body charges.

Blue Reflection Quartet on Change 2 vs Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and Change 1 

In its present state, no handheld I personal can ship a 60fps expertise in Blue Reflection Quartet. Even the ROG Ally working on Turbo Mode (Z1 Excessive mannequin) drops to the excessive 30s or 40s in elements. With that out of the best way, you may get a greater visible expertise on ROG Ally than Change 2. In case you are enjoying completely in handheld mode on Change 2, it is likely to be price contemplating the Change 1 model because you get handheld enhance mode and can purchase it bodily. You miss out on some visible upgrades on the Change 2 native launch like shadows, however there are some areas the place the Change 1 model in handheld enhance mode on Change 2 finally ends up wanting higher than the native Change 2 launch like distant foliage.

As for Steam Deck, Blue Reflection Quartet is Steam Deck Verified, and it truly features on Steam Deck with correct controller assist, cloud saves, and video playable. The unique Blue Reflection had points on all three fronts. For those who do plan on enjoying this on Steam Deck, I like to recommend turning the feel high quality and filtering from the bottom settings for the reason that default settings look unhealthy on Steam Deck. The Steam model struggles on AYN Thor proper now. I am going to revisit this sooner or later, however proper now you might want to play it on the bottom settings and 720p to get it even above 20fps in elements. That is pre-release so issues would possibly enhance over time on that entrance. 

Blue Reflection Quartet load instances throughout PS5, Change 2, Change 1, PC, Steam Deck, and PS5 Professional

To check load instances, I put in Blue Reflection Quartet’s PS5 launch on each PS5 and PS5 Professional, the Steam model (Steam Deck, ROG Ally, AYN Thor), the Change 1 model on each Change 1 and Change 2 inside storage, and the Change 2 model on Change 2 inside storage. Given the menu used in-game, I examined the time taken to load the primary recreation choose menu, then to load Blue Reflection, a save in Blue Reflection, then going from the identical important recreation choose menu to loading Blue Reflection: Second Gentle, and loading the identical save in Second Gentle on all gadgets together with backward compatibility. The outcomes under are in seconds.

The load instances aren’t unhealthy in any model apart from the Change 1 and Steam launch performed on AYN Thor or ROG Ally to a point. The Change 1 model performed on Change 2 delivers quicker loading than the native Change 2 launch when performed off the identical inside storage. The Change 1 model of Second Gentle’s authentic launch was additionally actually unhealthy with load instances so this is not too shocking. 

Which is one of the best model of Blue Reflection Quartet?

For enjoying on TV or a monitor, the PC model adopted by the PS5 launch are one of the best methods to play it. This is not shocking, however I’m upset within the docked Change 2 expertise in comparison with PS5 regardless of having half the body price goal. For enjoying on the go, the ROG Ally delivers one of the best transportable expertise. The Change 2 is missing in comparison with ROG Ally and you may even go for greater graphics on Steam Deck whereas working at a decrease decision (720p on the Deck’s display screen). 

Which model of Blue Reflection Quartet do you have to purchase?

Blue Reflection Quartet on PS5 – If you wish to play in your TV, care about trophy assist, and do not care about transportable play (except you stream to a PlayStation Portal or cellphone), that is the model to get. Additionally it is the quickest model in relation to load instances and is the one console model with 60fps assist. A bodily copy with English assist can be out there in Japan when you care about that. The PS5 model additionally has exercise card monitoring.
Blue Reflection Quartet on Steam – For those who play on Steam Deck or PC generally, that is the one model it’s best to take into account for the reason that Steam model delivers greater body charges than all consoles. It performs effectively on Steam Deck and ROG Ally and is a significantly better PC expertise than the older releases.
Blue Reflection Quartet on Change – It’s exhausting to suggest Blue Reflection Quartet for Change when you play on a Change 1 system with the efficiency points. For those who play it on Change 2 or simply desire a Change bodily launch, that is the one to get. 
Blue Reflection Quartet on Change 2 – It is a digital-only launch with no improve path or save switch from the Change 1 launch. It delivers visible enhancements over Change 1 in some areas docked, however is an total missing expertise in comparison with what I anticipated given Koei Tecmo’s different ports to Change 2. I solely suggest this model when you can’t play it anyplace else. 

Blue Reflection Quartet points that want fixing in patches

Apart from including a toggle to disable movement blur, I hope Gust and Koei Tecmo enhance the Change 2 model. If it will be a 30fps expertise, the visuals should be higher. Barring that, I hope we see some CPU optimization on the PC port since it’s fairly heavy to run on PC handhelds. 

Blue Reflection Quartet launches on July 30 for PS5, Change 2, Change, and PC (Steam).