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.
It's rough around the edges in parts, but the overall sentiment is clear. With the story complete, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is dazzling.
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.
Really, pretty much all of Lost Records: Bloom and Rage works so well for me. It’s the kind of story I would’ve wanted as a little girl who grew up playing videogames, and the kind of story I want to write someday as a woman who writes videogames.
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.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is a quality adventure game that, as a follow-up to the cult classic Life is Strange, perhaps suffers a little from over-expectation.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Lost Records is certainly enjoyable depending on whether you get the true ending or not. Its resolution is brief but wonderful, and despite a poorly executed second chapter that led to it, it’s a package of two episodes that waver greatly in their quality. Bloom did a great job at building the bonds between the girls, but Rage fumbles so much of its potential to get to its ending.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, Don't Nod's latest episodic game, delivers a moving two-part story in the spirit of Life is Strange. It follows four women reuniting in their hometown, weaving 1990s nostalgia with present-day reckoning and hints of magical realism. The first episode is warm and reflective, while the second takes a darker turn, confronting past trauma. Strong writing and an inventive dialogue system shine, though technical issues, especially on PC, slightly dampen the experience. Still, it’s a compelling narrative that sets a strong foundation for future entries.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
The second chapter of Lost Records: Bloom & Rage had a mix of high moments that made it worthwhile to play and low moments that made me wish Don’t Nod had returned to the drawing board. The first chapter, despite its major flaws, introduces the player to an interesting story and a unique mechanic that allows you to record your adventures and relive the 90s era. Unfortunately, the second chapter does little to improve upon what the narrative team set up in the first chapter and leads the player off a narrative cliff into an abyssal void.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage (Tape 2) delivers a moving and carefully crafted continuation of its story, building on the emotional groundwork of Tape 1 while refining its mechanics. Though the unanswered mysteries may leave some players wanting more, the character growth, visual callbacks, and emotional weight offer a satisfying, immersive journey. It’s a must-play for anyone who loves character-driven storytelling, rich atmosphere, and narrative games that aren’t afraid to challenge your expectations.
Stronger emotional stakes and faster-paced drama promise an explosive climax that ultimately pulls its biggest punch.
DONTNOD flexes its narrative muscles with an interesting offering that, without any major gameplay innovations, is engaging. While the first film drags on revealing all the cards, the second seems in a hurry to wrap things up quickly (it's half the length). That doesn't stop it from being a game DONTNOD fans will enjoy. The rest...
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Lost Records: Bloom and Rage pays tribute to 90s angst and the riot grrrl rock in a deeply moving coming of age story.
Well, at least I'll still remember this game for the friends made along the way.
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.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 2: Rage delivers a ton of power in its exploration of fear, death, and friendship. It doesn’t always bring its elements together smoothly, but when it does, it delivers a summer that you will never forget.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage captures its dual eras perfectly while delivering an emotional story with new elements, even if bugs and poor writing decisions drag it down in the second half.
In the deep well of narrative-driven adventure games, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is a beacon of shining light that can never be snuffed out. Thank you for this.