Don’t Nod delivers an addictive new narrative adventure with Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 1. And after playing, I’m excited for Tape 2 even more.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage finally makes its way into the scene (you see what I just did there?), and it’s a game that many of us were itching to play. In case you didn’t know, the game was supposed to arrive last year, but due to last year’s release of Life Is Strange: Double Exposure, Don’t Nod felt it would be better to extend the release date to the next year to avoid the risk of both games being in fierce competition, which is a great idea.
Of course, Don’t Nod is also responsible for the iconic and critically acclaimed episodic adventure Life is Strange, which started a decade ago. Then, of course, you have its sequel, Life Is Strange 2, Tell Me Why, Vampyr, Twin Mirror, and more, not to mention last year’s Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, which we positively reviewed.
Now, with Lost Records: Bloom & Rage being their latest game, this is a 2-part adventure. Tape 1 is what we’re discussing now called Bloom, and Tape 2 Rage arrives on April 15, 2025. Although I was pretty excited to play this game, I hope that the reality is as good as the anticipation. But the question you’re probably wondering is – is it? Well, stick around, and I’ll have that answer for you right here.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane as we enter the hot mid-1990s summer. On July 7, 1995, in the fictional town of Velvet Cove in Michigan, four High School besties, Swann, Nora, Autumn, and Kat, meet for the first time.
They start getting to know each other, having fun talking about their hobbies, interests, hardships, smoking weed, enjoying their rock band, and more. As you play through the story, you’ll sense that nothing can tear them apart. But one mysterious event managed to change that and their lives forever.
Fast forward 27 years later (year 2022), and all 4 of them have reunited for the first time since that fateful day – but why? Why have 4 friends decided to abruptly end their relationship, and what drove them to make a pact to stop seeing each other for almost 3 decades?
Well, that’s for you to find out as you progress through Lost Records: Bloom & Rage‘s multiple scenes and transition and navigate through both narratives in 1995 and 2022. Connect the dots to unravel the deep secret that explains the reason for their reconciliation.
Now, you might think that you’ll be using multiple characters, but in Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, you’re only in control of a single character, Swann, as you play as her, with the real-life interactions and dialogues.
You have the opportunity to reconnect with your former friends and catch up on what you all have been up to for so many years. This also helps jog Swann’s memory of what happened on that day. The choices you make will ultimately factor in the strength of your relationships with Nora, Kat, and Autumn.
As I mentioned in the last paragraph, I have to commend Don’t Nod for implementing more life-like interactions and dialogues than ever. When playing Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, I feel like I’m in actual conversations, and it doesn’t necessarily feel like I’m speaking with NPCs.
Speaking of interactions, it’s very flexible. You’re regularly given choices for you to make. Some choices require you to answer within certain time limits, some don’t affect the story, and there are others where they don’t actually need to be answered at all.
In some cases, not making a choice is the best option. Just like in real life, I feel the need to be careful of the choices I make in an attempt to avoid regrettable outcomes. There are also choices that require you to look around to unlock them, which is pretty cool, like you see in real life when for example people do so to make up an answer on the spot. Also, yes, your choices do lead to consequences.
For example, you’ll know you’re probably making the right choice when the big heart animation appears. But if you see a heartbroken animation, that most likely means you made the wrong choice, and it leads to a negative reaction or impact.
Also, you can interact with interests and examine them while having fluid conversations with people, which makes it more authentic. There are interests that allow you to use the ‘reminisce’ feature to recount certain dialogues, flashbacks, and so on.
Another thing I like at the beginning is that you’ll be roaming around Swann’s room; it’s full of interactions. You can go through Swann’s closet and pick out her outfit. Although the selection is very limited, beggars can’t be choosers.
Having to know and learn more about each character in both narratives made me like them more than I expected. Moreover, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage brilliantly portrays a number of different real-life experiences a High School girl would usually go through, including insecurities, anxieties, isolation, and more. It also explores homosexuality, especially among the four friends, which is what this game is heavy on.
The story begins with a happy and relaxing vibe, albeit a little tedious. But as the story progresses, it becomes much more interesting. It features a darker, mysterious, and dramatic turn as you learn more about the eventful day, making you intrigued as to what’ll happen next and more careful of your choices. There’s also the fact that Swann’s trusted camcorder is a huge addition to the action on this adventure.
Swann takes her camcorder everywhere she travels to film footage for her memoirs. You even have a camcorder menu where you can edit, watch, and check statuses of her memoirs. Review footage that was made for memoirs, and of course, watch them. You can reorder footage in your memoirs to fit your preferences.
Most recordings only have a few seconds to capture, but there are some subjects that can be recorded for as long as you wish, as long as you see the unlimited symbol on them. Moreover, there are subjects that you must capture to advance in the story. And the camcorder has a built-in flashlight.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage’s visuals also deserve a mention. The fictional town in Michigan has some very eye-catching environments and locations, making me wish to visit there myself. Plus, some rooms looked liveable, and the designs and color choices were very fitting to the game’s concept and situation.
I had a great time playing Lost Records: Bloom & Rage. The storytelling kept my attention for the majority of the play, and it definitely has great replay value to unlock different outcomes, endings, and rewards. Also, it helped me develop a deep connection with not only Swann but also the three other characters.
I also developed a strong addiction to the Lost Records: Bloom & Rage’s storyline, which had me going through a rollercoaster of emotions, especially when learning of the deep secret that held this great friendship back for so long. I’m definitely excited for more craziness in Tape 2, and I’ll surely let you know how I feel about that as well. Moreover, if you have a PlayStation 5 Plus subscription, you can simply download and try Tape 1 out for yourself.