Lost Records: Bloom & Rage - Tape 1 Reviews
A 90s coming of age adventure for those that praise characterisation over action
Also, how the story continues and ends will be crucial. Such an emotional and powerful ending needs a lot of care and attention , because the theme is anything but banal or nostalgic.
Review in Italian | Read full review
In returning to its narrative adventure roots, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage feels like a retreat for Don't Nod. Draped in nostalgia for both the 90s and Life is Strange, Bloom & Rage struggles to find itself among uneven pacing, tonal inconsistencies, and an uninteresting cast of characters. Despite some neat visual tricks with its VHS overlays, there's little on this first tape worth a rental.
The first part of Lost Records does a great job of building anticipation for the second, thanks to its well-written characters and slow-paced yet engaging story. While there are some issues, both big and small, that need to be addressed, the overall experience remains promising.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Amazing story-driven experience on PS5
A lot depends on the second episode. At this point Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is terribly boring and tiresome to play.
Review in Polish | Read full review
It's hard to say for sure that the old Don't Nod from the Life is Strange days is back, but Lost Records seems like a good start to a heartwarming and memorable adventure. The first episode is dragged out and doesn't reveal the most important things, but there's a chance that the second will answer a lot of questions.
Review in Russian | Read full review
The first part of Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is a disappointing Don’t Nod experience, with a disappointing narrative, characters with vague goals, and a problematic dialogue system. Technical issues and poor animations further compound its weaknesses. However, the eye-catching environment design, 1990s-style cinematic mechanics, and catchy music are some of the few strengths that cannot be ignored. If you’re a big fan of Don’t Nod’s story-driven titles, it’s worth checking out on PlayStation Plus, but it’s not worth buying at full price.
Review in Persian | Read full review
A solid start to this narrative adventure
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is a game that should be enjoyed in the right "vibe". It brings back a sense of nostalgia for the 90s, while also having a plot that manages to hook us in. The character development is solid and creates bonds with the player. There are some technical issues that patches could fix, as well as some slow moments in the narrative. But, in other words, if you liked the other DON'T NOD narrative games, it's hard not to like this one. [Review based on TAPE 1: BLOOM].
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage - Tape 1 is a fun nostalgic trip back to the '90s and the mechanic of making short clips on Swann's camcorder is a clever gameplay element that adds another welcoming layer to the mostly narrative experience. 📼
I am afraid to say that Don’t Nod simply dropped the ball with half of the first chapter of Lost Records: Bloom & Rage. Luckily, they caught themselves, sparing the other half from being a complete disaster. Much of the game was great and had me re-experiencing my youth in ways I had forgotten. The story of four girls wanting to reimagine the world they are in and escape together was compelling and the way it was presented through the eyes of an awkward teen with a love for movies and the best technology on the planet for capturing the paranormal made it all the better. While playing in the past was strong, the present story kept taking me out of the experience as it slowed everything to a halt and filled in the empty space with near-meaningless conversation of older women who just wouldn’t get to the point.
For the start of the Lost Records universe, “Bloom” presents incredible scenery amidst a lukewarm story driven by self-discovery and mystery. In the end, the game doesn’t capture the full sunset of what is to come but sets up a story that has the potential to show its true colors.
I’m genuinely excited for the second tape of Lost Records: Bloom & Rage. The first part delivered a captivating mix of mystery, friendship, and atmosphere, wrapped in a beautiful audiovisual package—proving once again that DON’T NOD knows how to tell heartfelt, immersive stories.
Review in German | Read full review
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage shows strong potential, but Tape 1 alone feels incomplete—its true value may only emerge once the full story unfolds.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 1 is a fantastic and immersive narrative adventure that's filled with drama, happiness, and spooks to pump you up for Tape 2. A great time playing Lost Records: Bloom & Rage. The storytelling kept the player's attention for the majority of the play, and it definitely has great replay value to unlock different outcomes, endings, and rewards.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 1 is commendable for its world-setting and character introductions, which work well in getting players to feel for them despite dialogue that can be sub-par. I wouldn't say you need to rush to play it, especially without having Tape 2 to serve as context and closure for the whole narrative.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage can be considered a spiritual and successful successor to Life is Strange. Thanks to its outstanding story and narrative, it successfully delivers an experience similar to what fans have been seeking for over a decade in the best possible way. If you are a fan of interactive adventure games, especially the Life is Strange series, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage will provide you with a highly satisfying experience.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 1 brings Don't Nod back to their narrative roots, offering a griping story that seizes your heart with the raw intensity of friendship, the relentless sweep of time, and the nostalgia of a frightful summer that defined a lifetime.
Lost Records Part 1 is a half-successful graphic adventure that combines intriguing elements with aspects that don’t fully convince. While the story and narrative are of high quality, the pacing slows down in the second half, choices feel less impactful than expected, and the camera mechanics can sometimes feel forced.
Review in Italian | Read full review