Lost Records: Bloom & Rage
Release Date: February 18, 2025
Adventure, TPP, episodic, 90s, modern times, PS Plus Premium, PS Plus Extra, singleplayer
OpenCritic
Steam
A narrative adventure game by Don't Nod, known primarily thanks to the Life is Strange series. Lost Records: Bloom & Rage stars four friends, reuniting after 27 years to face a secret they've been hiding all this time. The game switches between scenes from 1995 and the reunion taking place in the present.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is a narrative adventure game, developed by Don’t Nod - a studio experienced in this genre. We're talking about a team that has such productions in their portfolio as Life is Strange, Tell Me Why, Twin Mirror or Harmony: The Fall of Reverie. The game was divided into two episodes - Bloom and Rage.
Story
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage takes us to the fictional town of Velvet Cove, located in a picturesque corner of the American state of Michigan. The story of the game begins in the summer of 1995, when the main character - Swann - and her three high school friends, namely Nora, Autumn, and Kat, make a peculiar pact of silence about the secret they discovered. 27 years later, the protagonists meet again to confront a hidden secret. Their fate is in our hands and largely depends on the choices we make.
Gameplay
In Lost Records: Bloom & Rage we view the events from a third-person perspective (TPP). The story takes place both in 1995 and 27 years later, and during it we make decisions that shape reality not only in the present, but also in the past (and also on both temporal planes simultaneously).
As we get to know the next elements of the plot, we gradually learn what secret was discovered by Swann and her friends, and why they decided to meet again and face the past.
Conversations that Swann has with the other girls are a driving force of the game. Each of them has an individual personality and their own problems they have to face. How our relationships with individual friends unfold depends on the words we choose and the actions we take.
The photo camera also constitutes an important element of the game. Although Swann can use it for fun, immortalizing people and nature, it is also an essential tool that allows her to uncover the dark secrets of Velvet Cove.
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Videos and Screens
[2:01] Lost Records: Bloom & Rage - Tape 1 Launch Trailer
[1:10] Lost Records: Bloom & Rage - Abyss Trailer
GameSpot: 9 / 10
With phenomenal character work, gorgeous visuals, and a compelling story, Lost Records is shaping up to be Don't Nod's greatest game to date.
Gamer Social Club: 7.5 / 10 by Dan Jackson
As I started this review I said it would be a tough one to do. Sitting here at the end it’s still tough. At its core Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 1 is a great game. The characters are easy to fall in love with, the world is gorgeous and the story is beginning to click. The problem is the payoff to all of this has to wait until April. If I had to predict it, my overall score for Lost Records will be higher once it’s complete and we do get all the payoffs. But for now, Tape 1s slow start keeps Bloom in the good category with Rage expected to tie it all together. The fact that I can’t wait for Rage though should at least tell you Bloom is worth a play, but maybe wait til April and play it all at once?
Xbox Tavern: 8.2 / 10 by Jamie Collyer
But really, it’s the tale we’re here for and this is Bloom & Rage - Tape 1 really is the old adage of being about the friends we made along the way. After a slow start, things pick up nicely, doing a great job of recreating that teenage feeling of the 90’s, with no mobiles or internet but more random happenstance that leads to unforgettable adventures. Bloom & Rage - Tape 1 ends at a point that I’m now chomping at the bit to see what’s next, and I just hope the big mystery gets the pay off it deserves.
The main pros of the game
- Character Development: The characters feel authentic and relatable, with unique personalities that resonate with players. Their relationships are well-developed, enhancing emotional engagement.
- Visuals and Atmosphere: The game features stunning graphics and a nostalgic 90s aesthetic, creating an immersive environment that captures the era beautifully.
- Soundtrack: The music is highly praised, with a strong emotional connection that complements the game's themes and scenes.
- Gameplay Mechanics: The camcorder feature allows for unique exploration and interaction, providing depth to the narrative and encouraging players to engage with their surroundings.
- Narrative Depth: The story is engaging, with a compelling setup that builds suspense and mystery, leaving players eager for the next installment.
The main cons of the game
- Pacing Issues: Many players feel the game has a slow pace, especially in the first tape, which can lead to moments of boredom as the story takes time to unfold.
- Dialogue Overlap: Some players noted that the dialogue can become confusing due to characters speaking over one another, which detracts from the immersion.
- Minor Technical Issues: There are reports of performance drops, particularly in certain scenes, and some visual bugs that may disrupt the experience.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- More Defined Themes: Some players miss the thematic structure of previous episodic games, feeling that the current format lacks distinct episode themes.
- Improved Choice Clarity: Users expressed frustration with misleading choices that can lead to unintended negative outcomes, making it difficult to navigate character relationships effectively.
- Optimization for Performance: There are calls for better optimization, especially for lower-end hardware, to enhance gameplay performance and stability.
Summary
- Overall, "Lost Records: Bloom & Rage" is praised for its emotional storytelling, character depth, and nostalgic atmosphere, while also facing criticism for pacing and technical issues. Players are eager to see how the story unfolds in the upcoming second tape.
Summary generated on:
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows
PlayStation 5
Xbox Series X/S
Developer: Don't Nod / Dontnod Entertainment
Publisher: Don't Nod / Dontnod Entertainment
Age restrictions: 16+
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: (720p, 30 fps) Intel Core i7-2700K / AMD FX-8350, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 4 GB GeForce GTX 1050 Ti / Radeon RX 560, 48 GB HDD, Windows 10
Recommended: (1080p, 60 fps) Intel Core i5-11400 / AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 10 GB GeForce RTX 3080 / 16 GB Radeon RX 6800 XT, 48 GB HDD, Windows 10
Ultra: (4K, 60 fps) Intel Core i5-12600K / AMD Ryzen 5 7600X, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 24 GB GeForce RTX 4090, 48 GB HDD, Windows 10
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