Lost Records Bloom and Rage Tape 1 Review

Don’t Nod, who are famously known for their Life is Strange games have created Lost Records Bloom and Rage, a brand new IP that seemingly looks like it delivers more of the Life is Strange formula. So, does it live up to its expectations, and is it worth playing ?

Lost Records Bloom and Rage Tape 1

Lost Records Bloom and Rage Tape 1 follows the tale of Swann and her pals Nora, Autumn and Kat in both 1995 and 2022. The game features dual timelines, and it’s up to the player to piece together the story, much like how Life is Strange does things. If you’ve played any of those titles before, you’ll be right at home here. This is effectively a “Walking simulator” but an extremely story-driven one. And boy, its story sure is something.

Strap yourselves in, folks, things are about to get quite hectic here. Playing as Swann, players will engage with her friends and really get to know them. The writing in Lost Records Bloom and Rage is extremely well done. Players will really feel as if they are bonding with the girls in the game, and each character has their own unique personality, which you’ll get to learn about. Unlike in the Life is Strange games, nobody has any powers here.

These are just normal girls, but the mystery and storytelling are still so well done that you’ll be left wanting more. Tape 2 isn’t out until April 15th 2025, but once you’ve finished Tape 1, you’ll be hooked.

Gameplay in Lost Records Bloom and Rage involves players making use of Swann’s camcorder. Using this device, you’ll record various things in the environment and this will allow you to discover more about the world that the characters inhabit. On top of this, Swann will reveal things, and you can even re-record footage if necessary. This is all essential for piecing together the story of the game.

In addition to this, one of the key aspects of Lost Records Bloom and Rage involves players speaking with Swann’s friends. Based on the replies you provide, conversations will evolve in a natural way that really makes it feel as if you’re talking to a real-life group of friends. Choose the “wrong” response,e and you might end up upsetting someone while growing your friendship with someone else. It all feels very intuitive and you’ll have to pay attention not only to the conversations but also the happenings in the environment. The only drawback to the game lies with the fact that it’s a slow burn.

Lost Records Bloom and Rage plays out like an interactive movie of sorts. Key events are broken down into Chapters and Scenes and each one has an effect on the game’s characters and their relationships with one another. 27 years ago, in 1995, something happened that led to the characters vowing to never see each other again. Yet now, in 2022, a phone call reunites the,m and it’s led to some extremely mysterious consequences.

Graphically, Lost Records Bloom and Rage is absolutely gorgeous. Every single scene in this game is teeming with detail,l and you’ll want to just walk around and soak up everything that you can see. It’s flat out beautiful, and thankfully, the game runs without any hiccups. Using the camcorder to record the environment as well as various objects also allows you to really soak up the gorgeous visuals. The attention to detail is fantastic here and it really does feel as if the 1995 timeline is actually peak 90s. You’ll find so many iconic things from that era and if you’re an older gamer, you’ll love this! I know I did.

Recording footage also allows you to mix and match content and edit together short clips, which Swann will then narrate over so you can learn more about the game’s backstory and lore. It’s quite fun reworking footage that you’ve recorded into these clips since it’s very easy to do in-game.

The soundtrack of Lost Records Bloom and Rage is also extremely good, with Don’t Nod really outdoing themselves here. The game’s music is fantastic and is perfectly suited for the storytelling. The voice acting is also very well done, and it really brings the characters to life. Both the younger and older characters are acted extremely well and since this is a game that’s heavily dependent on the storytelling, it’s great to hear in action.

Overall, Lost Records Bloom and Rage tape 1 is another Don’t Nod classic and gets a solid recommendation from me. Part 2 will be out soon and I’m eagerly awaiting it to continue the story. If you don’t enjoy walking simulators or highly story-driven games, this title might disappoint you, but if you enjoyed games like Life is Strange, Road 96, Firewatch or any games that rely heavily on character interactions and environmental storytelling, you’ll love Lost Records Bloom and Rage. Give it a try if you can; you might be pleasantly surprised by its content.

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The code was provided by the distributor.