Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Review – A Spellbinding Coming of Age

As a devoted admirer of the Life is Strange series over the years, I approached Lost Records: Bloom & Rage with lofty anticipation. After diving into this captivating new creation by Michel Koch and his talented team at DON’T NOD, I must share that my experience was mostly wonderful… yet not without its flaws.

This signifies that DON’T NOD has launched a new original work following their departure from the Life is Strange series. Instead of focusing on high school indie drama, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage delves into a supernatural tale of adolescence, drawing inspiration from David Lynch’s Twin Peaks, Andrew Fleming’s The Craft, and a hint of Stephen King’s It.

From the outset, it’s clear that the game draws heavily on past influences, as Lost Records sets a more mature atmosphere compared to the teenage drama of the initial Life is Strange series.

Swann’s Song

In the story, you take on the role of Swann, a person who prefers solitude, unexpectedly drawn into a mystery when your long-lost childhood friend Autumn reappears. She discloses that something they did 27 years ago has led to unanticipated repercussions. The trailers suggest a dark supernatural occurrence on that fateful night, but the truth of what transpired is left for us to uncover.

In this game, Swann serves as the only playable character. The narrative unfolds primarily from her point of view, as she reconstructs her past by reflecting on old times and discovering lost memories.

Dual Timelines

One key element that makes the game stand out is its two-timeline narrative, which is where the story really comes alive. We get to know Swann, Kat, Nora, and Autumn’s stories from 27 years ago (1995) as well as their present (2022) situation. This setup creates an air of intrigue about what events in the past might have led to the current drama unfolding.

Instead of Life is Strange, where you can rewind time, Lost Records follows a consistent timeline. However, decisions made now can influence the past in this game, unlike real life where the past typically affects the present. This unique setup gives each choice significant importance.

As a gamer immersed in the world of Tape 1, I find myself hooked by the adult Swann’s personal struggles that unfold in the 2022 timeline. Playing from her perspective in the present-day sequences gives a sense of intimacy when interacting with characters, and it’s evident that DONTNOD has made significant strides in facial animations compared to the third-person gameplay in 1995.

27 Years Ago

Approximately 70-80% of Tape 1 submerges players in the world of Swann’s 1995 life, providing an opportunity to traverse the imaginary Velvet Cove, engage with characters, and even spend time with Swann’s pet cat, which players can name themselves.

In this game, although Swann is the central character we control, there’s a balance given to Kat, Nora, and Autumn in terms of narrative importance. No single character dominates or monopolizes the attention, allowing for each character’s distinct personality to emerge. This lends authenticity and engagement to their friendship portrayed within the game.

One aspect that truly won me over with Lost Records was its superior writing compared to Life is Strange, which tended to use Gen Z vernacular. Lost Records manages to convey the conversational tone of the ’90s without resorting to forced slang, and as a child of the ’90s, I found the dialogue incredibly nostalgic – it brought a smile to my face.

Lights, Camera, Action!

As a gamer immersed in the world of Lost Records, one of the elements I find incredibly rewarding is the camera feature. With its pivotal impact on the game’s narrative, it’s hardly unexpected that it holds such significance.

During the course of the game, prior to the fateful ‘one night,’ Swann tends to converse with her companions more often than not, and also documents various scenes from their brief journeys through the woods and town.

Swann perceives the world as a continuous movie production, recording brief moments from her environment using her camcorder. These recordings are then assembled into a unique playlist, allowing players to pick and choose 10 to 30-second clips from Swann’s footage. Fans of Max’s photography collectibles from the original Life is Strange game will find this offering significantly distinct. The pleasure lies in discovering the ideal clip to include in the compilation.

1) The game actively promotes the regular usage of video cameras, offering players a more profound understanding of Swann’s life and connections as reward. It captivates creative minds and boosts immersion, making the virtual world of Velvet Cove seem vibrant and real.

Choices

During moments when Swann isn’t filming or exploring, she engages in spontaneous chats with her friends, similar to the real-time dialogue style found in Night School Studios’ Oxenfree. Unlike scripted conversations, there are no pauses; instead, dialogue flows naturally and dynamically, with multiple characters speaking at once, generating a feeling of social urgency. For instance, a scene inside Nora’s garage in the game presents everyone talking simultaneously, leaving Swann momentarily confused about who to address first. Swann can either participate or stay quiet, reflecting her reserved personality.

In the course of these casual exchanges, the decisions made will have significant impact on Lost Record’s situation.

The decisions you make play a crucial role in shaping the tale. In the game “Lost Records,” each decision carries two distinct outcomes: romantic entanglements or plot advancement. Affectionate choices are denoted by a symbol of love (heart), while a blossoming leaf signifies substantial story developments.

Making romantic decisions could sometimes be tricky, as they may bring both joy and pain. It’s wise to anticipate the ‘Regretful’ outcome when selecting an option that contradicts someone else’s preference. Nora might disapprove of Swann choosing ‘Option A’, preferring ‘Option B’ more instead.

Despite finding this feature appealing, I got perplexed by the absence of a user interface showing which characters were fond or displeased with my selections. Fingers crossed, DONT NOD enhances the UI similar to Fallout games, displaying messages like “Kat loved that” or “Kat hated that.” I yearn for a return of Life is Strange’s notification reminding us that “Our choices will shape the outcome.

After approximately 7-8 hours on Tape 1, my inability to assess my decisions was due to the offline servers, however, I eagerly anticipate evaluating them when the game goes live.

Soundtrack

In the past, DON’T NOD has consistently created captivating soundtracks that stand out. The original Life is Strange series featured compositions by Syd Matters and Angus & Julia Stone which left a lasting impression on us.

Just like other works, Lost Records doesn’t fall behind. Its dream-pop and synth-wave soundtracks beautifully embody the 90s vibe. If you’re deeply into artists such as Beach House, Mazzy Star, Cocteau Twins, or Slowdive, the music of Lost Records is sure to enchant you.

It came as quite a shock to me that several songs were by the Canadian electronic pop duo Milk & Bone, who had earlier contributed a track to Life is Strange 2.

Issues

Although Lost Records possesses some impressive aspects, there are technical glitches that interrupt the immersive experience. The game’s performance on PlayStation 5 leaves room for improvement, and I’m uncertain if the issues are more pronounced on PC. During Tape 1’s 25 chapters, the frame rate can dip occasionally in free-roaming areas and during transitions. While these instances didn’t significantly mar my overall enjoyment, they were certainly noticeable.

As a passionate admirer of Don’t Nod’s creations, I found it surprising that they didn’t include a ‘Performance’ or ‘Resolution’ mode in the graphics settings of their game. It would have been beneficial for smoother gameplay and higher-quality visuals, respectively.

The game often has technical issues too. For example, during play, Autumn’s character model got stuck and moved awkwardly, sliding rather than walking, which was amusing initially but took away from the overall experience for me. It spoiled that particular instance.

Thankfully, DON’T NOD has recognized these problems and is diligently preparing fixes for them prior to the game’s launch.

Episode 1: Bloom launches powerfully into this two-part narrative, culminating in an unexpected finale. Similar to past Life is Strange installments, this sequence promises lively debate among enthusiasts, which I’m grateful for, as it allows us ample time – approximately a month and a half – to absorb all the events unfolding. I can hardly wait to engage in the conversation!

Despite having only experienced Tape 1 so far, I’ve truly enjoyed my time with Lost Records: Bloom & Rage. The game’s strong points have been captivating, although there are areas where performance could be refined for a smoother experience. However, these issues haven’t detracted significantly from the overall enjoyment of the game.

The experience offered is rich and engrossing, mirroring the feeling of growing up during the rapid transformations of the 90s. Characters such as Swann, Kat, Nora, and Autumn seem remarkably familiar, as if we’ve encountered them in our own lives at some point.

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage” is an exceptional narrative journey crafted by DON’T NOD, seamlessly combining supernatural aspects with a profound tale of self-discovery and growth.

“Lost Records: Bloom & Rage” is a fascinating adventure game made by DON’T NOD that beautifully mixes mystery and magic with a personal journey about growing up.

Tape 2: Rage will be released on April 15, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.

2025-02-18 13:43