Lost Records: Bloom & Rage - Tape 1 Reviews
Lost Records’ opening chapter doesn’t quite provide enough of the mystery to have me excited for its next and final chapter. That said, the bonds created by these girls is a captivating experience that drew me in. While dialogue choices are the bread and butter of this experience, I do wish the reliance on the camcorder did something to flavor that story in ways that we just don’t see here. While Bloom is a fairly enjoyable chapter, here’s hoping that Rage can seal the deal.
Lost Records: Bloom and Rage Tape 1 is a stunning return to form, offering a great story and a bunch of wholesome, special characters. The choices feel more personal to you, and the camcorder mechanic adds more depth to Swann, allowing you to feel more in control of your own destiny than before.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage – Tape 1 is a beautifully crafted journey of friendship that’ll keep players hooked in with each emotional narrative beat. It captures the universal experience of growing up while celebrating the nostalgia of the 90s, with the traditional DON’T NOD style of storytelling ensuring that each character feels special, each decision you make feels significant, and each twist you unravel feels shocking. Add to that the wonderful soundtrack and visual presentation and it’ll be clear that this is another special experience that easily lives up the high standard of storytelling that the team set with the original Life is Strange. I simply cannot wait to see how the story ends… roll on April 15th.
Lost Records: Bloom and Rage lacks in the gameplay department but shines in the storytelling department as expected. There are times when our playthrough saw frame drops and more choppiness than we’d like to admit through gameplay. The conclusion of Tape 1 – Bloom has us wanting to dive into Tape 2 – Rage sooner.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is Don't Nod's new all-female graphic adventure, a ‘spiritual sequel’ to Life is Strange in atmosphere. In this first part, entitled ‘Tape 1: Bloom’, we discover how the friendship between four outsiders, the young Swann, Kat, Nora and Autumn, came about. What really happened in the summer of 1995? The title takes its time, giving us some juicy new clues only at the end of this first episode. Impossible to judge now, halfway through the adventure, we'll have to wait until 15 April to draw conclusions, but this first part has left us a little lukewarm: the more dynamic and realistic multiple-choice dialogues are a nice step forward, but will they be enough to make the title truly unforgettable? On the gameplay side there isn't much else, and even from a technical point of view the game has several smears. We'll have to see.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage (Tape 1) is a wonderful and exciting coming-of-age story that immediately draws you in. The game is a loving homage to the 90s, with an atmospheric atmosphere, authentic charm and a great soundtrack that adds to the immersion of the story.
Review in German | Read full review
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage - Tape 1 completely drew me into the mysteries of Velvet Cove and hasn’t let go even after finishing, with Swann, Kat, Nora, and Autumn’s friendships stealing the show despite some technical hiccups; while the story could have picked up the pace sooner and given more time between time jumps, its gripping start leaves me eagerly awaiting the next chapter in April, as the fate of the friend group remains a mystery.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Lost Records: Rage and Bloom delivers almost everything that Don’t Nod does best. However, its two-part format limits a nostalgic and resonant experience with a slow pace and few answers to its mysteries.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
I’m surely invested in the story, but it takes too long to get there. The fact that the second tape isn’t coming until mid-April doesn’t make it any easier. It just makes it hard to recommend the game right now, especially at $40. That’s a lot to pay for what’s essentially half a palette cleanser.
Don’t Nod has taken what they learned with Life is Strange and made something different, yet impressively better. It’ll make you think, both about your in-game actions and out of game life, and will stick with you long after you switch off. Most importantly, it goes to show games are an art form that can have a message, be fun and also still be unique and different to what we’ve seen before.
The first part of this game divided into two leaves us with a pleasant (and not so pleasant) taste in our mouths and wanting to know more. Despite some flaws in animations and textures, the story captures you shortly after starting and you immerse yourself fully in the story of these four friends who spent a very intense summer of 1995.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
I truly enjoyed playing through the Bloom section of the game. I have played the Life Is Strange games and I might prefer this, but perhaps that’s my 90’s nostalgia speaking! I will replay the game before the second half to get better relationship statuses as it turns out I wasn’t doing as well as I thought with my friendships (and possible relationships). If you are interested in story-driven games, some 90’s nostalgia, and paranormal magic vibes, then I do recommend you check out Lost Records.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage did well in describing aspects within a society such as bullying and friendship. Nevertheless, the product lacked key elements such as distinction in the narrative and the depth of choices that lowered its expectations and solidifies it as a casual experience for the players.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Lost Records: Bloom is a wonderful time that explores the past and present while presenting an intriguing mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat. Don't Nod somehow managed to capture the energy of the first two Life is Strange titles while giving something new and heartfelt.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 1 is a great start to the new series from Don't Nod. 90s charm and a really well-written group of characters form the heart of the game and, coupled with mysticism and some very serious themes, are really convincing. The new camera mechanics still have some room for improvement, but we are very looking forward to Tape 2 “Rage”
Review in German | Read full review
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage tells a coming-of-age tale that takes too long to get off the ground, spending far too much time on slow dialogue and not too engaging scenes. The nostalgic element and the general story are appealing, but we feel the lack of a greater element of interactivity or a different rhythm in the narrative. I suggest waiting for the release of the second part of the story, so as to better evaluate a possible purchase and enjoy the whole story without interruptions.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Don’t Nod is SO BACK with Lost Records: Bloom and Rage. Not only does Swann and the camcorder feel new and exciting, but with a location like Velvet Cove oozing that neon-soaked Twin Peaks realness, one can’t help but be along for the ride.