The primary Blue Reflection sport comprises a constantly good OST, stuffed with chilled electronics and a breezy vibe. It’s undoubtedly up there as one in all my favorite online game soundtracks regardless of the sport being a really patchy expertise. The sequel, Blue Reflection: Second Gentle (or Blue Reflection: TIE in Japan), shook up a few of the components from the primary sport, capitalising on a few of the options that introduced success to the newer Atelier video games (particularly Ryza), while nonetheless retaining that beautiful summertime really feel that’s quintessentially Blue Reflection. The soundtrack brings again composer Hayato Asano and options new collaborator Toshihiko Watanabe, however how does it stack as much as the primary sport?
Issues begin off very sturdy with the observe “Glitter”—an attention-grabbing mixture of breathy vocals and a contemporary tackle metropolis pop and jazz. Positively a change in sound over the primary sport’s OST, eschewing electronics for smooth acoustics and precise drums, however nonetheless very becoming for the ambiance the collection is creating. That is adopted up by “TIE,” a brand new model of probably the most iconic and fairly tracks from the unique sport’s soundtrack, “Blue Reflection,” constructing upon it and layering extra devices to create a very nice, light expertise.
As observe three hits, it turns into obvious that Second Gentle might be revisiting lots of the compositions from its predecessor, however remixing and reimagining them, with “Piercing Blue” being a brand new model of “I (Solar).” I don’t essentially have a difficulty with this, as that feeling of nostalgia is an enormous a part of what makes these video games have such a novel emotional high quality to them—I simply don’t wish to hear it overused. Second Gentle deserves its personal identification too.
What this collection’ music typically does properly is fuse light electronics with strings and piano to create music that sounds recent and modern. Blue Reflection: Second Gentle actually follows that custom, although a few of the first examples of that right here are literally heavier than I used to be anticipating. Tracks like “W-P Neurons,” which introduces massive beats that merge properly with the strings. Then, “My REAL” and “Our REAL” are pounding and have way more stress within the sound than I’d count on from a Blue Reflection observe, which is nice to listen to.
That newly discovered stress carries over into “There’s Nothing We Can’t Do, Proper,” which has an important construct, together with glitchy repeating synths over a propulsive beat that sound pressing and but in some way restrained too. “Daydream” is glossy, shiny and fashionable and “A Hopeful Astraea” is basically stunning, that includes swelling strings in a decrease register that sound so deep and wealthy over the sparkly electronics—undoubtedly an intriguing pay attention. These tracks spotlight a few of the greatest examples of how the digital and acoustic mix so properly within the OST, a high quality I’m glad wasn’t misplaced between the 2 video games.
The primary sport’s OST gave glimpses right into a extra experimental method on a small handful of tracks, a tantalising second when the composers tried one thing totally different or surprising within the context of the complete physique of labor. In Blue Reflection: Second Gentle, that experimental nature is way more current throughout the next variety of items, and it’s one my favorite issues about this OST.
“Clear Shelter” is unsettling with its mixture of digital noise and a wierd wobbly synth that sounds straight out of Last Fantasy VII, as Uematsu’s “Hearken to the Cries of the Planet” immediately got here to thoughts. “Non-Linear Reliance” options samples from radio chatter and sounds that mimic busy metropolis life to create an expertise virtually just like the music is fading out and in of actuality—weird however very efficient. The relatively sinister “Aquarium Brains” makes use of sounds performed in reverse, and an virtually industrial bass to provide it chew.
On the lighter facet there’re tracks like “Milk Espresso on a Wet Afternoon,” which was such a nice shock with its trip-hop beat and a slight nod to ‘90s RnB. Tracks like these actually stand out as one thing totally different, while the usual breezy digital pop items are nice it’s good to have a wider vary of genres and sounds explored in Second Gentle.
Having these breaks and adjustments within the observe record is essential right here, primarily due to my essential criticism with the OST for Blue Reflection: Second Gentle—an abundance of overly lengthy tracks. I believe an enormous a part of why the primary sport’s soundtrack labored so properly was that lots of the tracks had been saved beneath 3 minutes, supplying you with quick, shimmery bursts that rapidly received to the purpose. Second Gentle is made up of many four-minute-plus tracks, with some even over 5, however the prolonged size is mostly not value it because the tracks don’t evolve a lot over the period and lose their impression.
“Bottled Message within the Sky” is just too sparse for its size and “Antinomy of the Golden Rule” simply appears like it’s dragging on. Many of those are piano-led, slow-tempo tracks which overstay their welcome—“A Glum Face on the Water” is nearly six minutes lengthy and it simply feels pointless.
It turns into much more irritating when an extended observe comes alongside which does use that point actually successfully, although that is uncommon. “Solemn Casket” is a pleasant instance—regardless of being over 5 minutes lengthy this piece takes you on a journey full of assorted sounds, intrigue, and atmospherics. “Returning Dwelling With no Key” is one other observe that provides me Last Fantasy VII vibes (that sport is so influential) and it makes use of its longer run time rather well with distinct sections, melodies and devices coming and going to weave one thing fairly mystical.
Because the OST attracts to an in depth, it reveals a few of the assortment’s greatest tracks. “Discontinuity of Existence” threatens to blow up into an all-out banger however by no means fairly makes it, utilizing that deep beat to construct up some anticipation and distinction with the sparer moments between. “Genesis” is loud and abrasive in one of the simplest ways, and “Afterschool Ariette” closes issues with one other ethereal vocal track, stuffed with that nostalgic high quality that works so properly for this collection.
My general emotions concerning the soundtrack for Blue Reflection: Second Gentle are constructive. It takes what made the unique sport’s music so sturdy and develops it with extra experimentation and selection while additionally revisiting a few of the compositions from the primary sport. Its temper may be very a lot one in all positivity, lightness and memory—you’d take heed to it whereas taking it simple on a summer season night, reflecting on previous reminiscences and having fun with some calm area to your self.
While a few of the tracks undoubtedly may achieve from a shorter size, that isn’t sufficient for me to assume too negatively about this assortment of songs as an entire. The 2 mainline/console Blue Reflection video games are singular of their capacity to create a selected ambiance, and their accompanying music is an important element of that.
