February 19th 2025.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 1 - The Irritations of Life
The creators of the beloved game Life Is Strange are back with a new franchise that bears striking similarities to the story of Max and Chloe. For those who may not know, Life Is Strange celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, with the first game taking the gaming world by storm and offering a refreshing take on interactive storytelling. But despite the success and popularity of main characters Max Caulfield and Chloe Price, the French developer Don't Nod made the bold decision to not feature them in the sequel.
Instead, Life Is Strange 2 introduced a whole new story with a new cast of characters. However, it did not receive the same level of success as its predecessor, leading Don't Nod to part ways with publisher Square Enix. The other games in the series have been developed by American studio Deck Nine, but unfortunately, last year's release, Life Is Strange: Double Exposure, was a disappointment as it brought back Max but inexplicably left out Chloe.
We may never know if Don't Nod would have chosen to bring back Max or Chloe if given the chance, but what we have now is Lost Record: Bloom & Rage. This game can be seen as a spiritual successor to the series, as it is created by one of the original co-directors and several others who were involved in the first two games. While there are no superpowers in this one, it still captures the essence of teenage angst and mysterious supernatural elements. However, one thing it lacks at the moment is a clear sense of direction.
Technically, Bloom & Rage is an episodic game, but it only consists of two parts. The second part is set to be released on April 15 as a free download if you purchase the first part. This means that we are left in the dark about how the story will unfold, and there is a chance that it could take an unexpected turn in the middle. The game starts off with four former friends, Nora, Kat, Autumn, and Swann, meeting again after 27 years in the rural town they used to call home.
Although they had all agreed to never see each other again, none of them can seem to remember why. Whether this is due to repressed memories or simply convenient plot development is unclear. This, coupled with the lack of progression in the story, can be quite frustrating as the game refuses to provide information that your character should already know.
You play as Swann, a character who shares many traits with Max, but with a more exaggerated personality. She is introverted and has no real friends, preferring to view the world through her camcorder, creating a physical barrier between herself and others. Her situation improves when she is saved from a bully by the other three girls, but unfortunately, she is set to move to Canada soon, leaving them with only one summer together.
Some sort of calamity occurs that leads the friends to make a vow to never see each other again, until one of them receives a mysterious package addressed to their old punk band. However, frustratingly, no one decides to open the package, adding to the already slow plot development.
The game is set in both 1995 and 2022, but the present-day setting is quite dull, with the four estranged friends mostly just sitting around and talking, but never about the things you want to know. The 90s setting is more interesting, especially with the effective use of the camcorder. In the absence of traditional gameplay, the camcorder adds an interactive element, especially with the motion controls on the DualSense controller.
The grainy, low-resolution view looks great, but the need to record scenes and objects to progress can feel forced. The same can be said for the dialogue and voice acting, which are not bad but can feel inauthentic and clunky at times. One thing that is well done is the overlapping dialogue and the ability to make choices during a conversation, rather than waiting for someone to finish talking. This was clearly inspired by the game Oxenfree, which is something we wish more games would do, considering how old it is now.
As for the characters, it is hard to imagine them becoming as beloved as Max and Chloe. Swann may come across as a second version of Max, and the other characters are disappointingly one-dimensional. Nora is the older girl who dreams of fame, Kat is the sensible one, and Autumn is the one most interested in the supernatural elements of the story. However, her backstory and voice acting make her the most compelling character in the group.
In terms of the branching narrative, it is hard to say how complex the full game will be, but so far, it seems to revolve around the relationships between the four women. Your decisions and responses will affect your friendships throughout the game, which is a good aspect, but we have yet to see anything as impressive as the multiple plot strands in Life Is Strange.
Bloom & Rage is a well-made game with a lot of thought and love poured into it, but the slow pacing and vague storytelling make it hard to engage with. Perhaps the second part will provide more clarity, but at the moment, we have no idea where the story is going or if the journey will be worth the effort.
In summary, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 1 is a disappointing follow-up to Life Is Strange, with a frustrating storytelling approach. However, there are some signs that the second part could turn things around. The dialogue system is impressive, and the use of the camcorder adds a fun 90s feel to the game. On the other hand, the slow pacing and awkward storytelling can be a letdown, and the script and voice acting are not outstanding.
Overall, we would give Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 1 a score of 5/10. It is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC for £32.99. The publisher is Don't Nod, and the developer is Don't Nod Montréal. The game was released on February 18, 2025, and is rated 18+. Do you remember what happened to these four friends? Let us know by sending an email, leaving a comment, following us on Twitter, or signing up for our newsletter.
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