Lost Records: Bloom & Rage - Tape 2 Reviews
There's much less game in Tape 2, but a strong narrative conclusion is worth seeing. It won't take long, either.
Stronger emotional stakes and faster-paced drama promise an explosive climax that ultimately pulls its biggest punch.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage’s second and final episode is a mostly satisfying conclusion. I just wish it could have had space to do more than just wrap things up.
It's rough around the edges in parts, but the overall sentiment is clear. With the story complete, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is dazzling.
Lost Records is a visually gorgeous game and proves that the team who pioneered Life is Strange still have the aesthetic nailed down. Unfortunately this and some smart adaptations of mechanics do little to hide a story that tries in vain to recapture the same energy, managing to totally lose itself by the end. I can see what they were going for here, but that vision is lost in a game that doesn't know what it wants to commit to. A deeply personal story is subsumed by what feels like an obligation to the supernatural. A story about the supernatural is lost in a story about the personal. Neither is done justice and both feel like they deserved more.
The story gives satisfying resolutions to many of the complex, multilayered narrative threads, but some of the more ambitious supernatural elements fail to deliver a full payoff.
The second Tape of Lost Records is a big step up from the first tape with a great conclusion to this coming of age story of a group of friends. Some technical issues still linger here and there, while a very confusing sequel bait ending leaves us with more questions than answers.
But the greatest shortcoming ends up being the game’s fuzzy grasp of its own mythology and how the story should resolve. Lost Records: Bloom and Rage is a wonder of slice-of-life storytelling, but that’s in spite of its supernatural elements rather than because of them.
lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 2 completes a tale earnestly told, but falls back on some stale twists and turns in its final moments.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage - Tape 2 not only fails to conclude its story in a meaningful way, it highlights all the ways the entire story's structure doesn't really work.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is a beautifully directed, melancholy tale of friendships forged and lost. Resonant performances and strong visual direction across two vastly different time periods will immerse you in the stakes and drama of Velvet Cove. The journeys of the characters across both parts beautifully render the power of friendship in your youth, and the harsh reality of drifting apart. As is the case with all strong supernatural stories in the New Weird genre, the core story is relatable and human. While some minor narrative stumbles in the ending, with answers that may have better been left unsaid, do detract from the concluding moments, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is not a story to be missed.
A solid second part to a great experience
An emotional rollercoaster with an unforgettable story, stunning visuals, and a powerful soundtrack that leaves a lasting impact
If the first episode deserves an 8/10 for its intriguing plot and quite interesting gameplay, the second episode did not meet all the expectations and deserves more like a 6/10. All in all, the game gets a 7/10. It's decent enough, but not comparable to the original Life is Strange.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage - Tape 2 answers some questions and fails to deliver on other plot points. Although it provides a lot of optional endings and you learn more about Kat's life, the abundant glitches make it an only somewhat satisfying ending to the summer of '95. 📼
Once again, I enjoyed my time with Lost Records: Bloom & Rage and would recommend fans of Don’t Nod’s other work give it a try when they get a chance, but know that some of the questions you’ll likely have throughout this story won’t be meaningfully paid off. I’m glad to say that at least the character stories are paid off well in an ending which I found moving and satisfying at times, even as I thought about my other questions, which were largely ignored. That’s what this game does best anyway, and that doesn’t change in Tape 2.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is not a story-driven adventure game, but rather a visual novel that guides the player through several essential and complex themes very well. Its greatest strength remains its four main characters, with whom you will form a relationship through dialogue choices and, sometimes unknowingly, easily influence the plot. The title, however, not only fails to elevate the title's gameplay, which is even less present in the second chapter than in the first, but also fails to create any satisfying conclusion to the plot, which is, moreover, quite unnecessarily riddled with supernatural elements. While you won't regret playing it, you probably won't celebrate it.
Review in Czech | Read full review
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage just might be one of the worst games I’ve ever finished in a long time, but that might be due to the kind of person that I am. I love most of the Life is Strange games and a majority of games in the same vain that Don’t Nod is responsible for, but this was not one of them. I personally think women or just people who might relate more to Swann’s character will have a greater appreciation for what this game represents, but considering my struggles with how to shape the character, I feel like a lot of other people will have the same issues.
Lost Records: Bloom and Rage - Tape 2 is a solid continuation of Tape 1, offering emotional depth and an atmosphere that pulls you in. However, pacing issues and the underwhelming supernatural elements hold it back from being truly great.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage crafts an introspective journey through memory, friendship, and remorse. Though its art and music shine, the predictable narrative falls short of the studio's signature depth, delivering a weaker emotional impact. Still, narrative game enthusiasts will find value in this experience.
Review in Persian | Read full review