It has been 10 years since Don’t Nod Entertainment released the now legendary Life is Strange and now they are back with the release of Lost Records: Bloom & Rage. Is it another classic tale in the teen interactive drama space? Or should it be chalked down as a mistake?
Party Like it’s 1995
Life is Strange is one of my favourite ever games, due to its thoughtful narrative and coming of age story which blends supernatural with every day issues. I love it so much that when Don’t Nod announced Lost Records, I immediately knew I would play it; the draw of this developer lingers strong for me. Thankfully, I am pleased to say that this is another wonderful tale but it’s not without its faults. Set in two time periods (1995 and 2022), and released in two tapes, (episodes) Lost Records tells a story of four 16 year old girls who become friends over the summer in the small town of Velvet Cove, Michigan. Spliced into the tale of 1995 is the subsequent reunion the girls decide to participate in 27 years after they swore never to meet up again due to a mysterious event which took place. This immediate revelation of forced exile from each other’s friendship creates such mystery and intrigue, I was instantly hooked and wanted to discover what had happened over that fateful 90’s summer.
The tale of the four girls: Swann, (this is who you play as), along with Autumn, Kat and Nora, is a beautiful story of friendship, discovery, grief and the perils of growing up. It is certainly not a tale that’s brand new but the emphasis the game places on the developing relationships between these characters is so wholesome and special that it’s hard to put down the controller. Swann, in particular, is another superbly crafted lead protagonist and I’m now at the point where I am certain every game Don’t Nod releases will have a lead that is so interesting and memorable. Every character is so interesting and complex and is propelled by some of the best voice acting you’ll hear this decade.
The clear design of the game to jump back and forth between the two timelines is mostly handled well but can at times feel a little hectic and disjointed. Overall, however it succeeds in trying to deliberately confuse the player and intrigue them about what took place that summer. The use of first person for 2022 and third person for 1995 is a great way to make each part of the story stand on its own and feel truly unique.
The event that took place that summer I’ll leave for the players to discover but I did have some issues with how the event plays out and why it scarred the girls for 27 years. It’s a unique and interesting twist but I had fallen in love with these characters so much that it felt a little underwhelming. It feels as though the twist actually becomes secondary to the relationships of the girls. Overall, the narrative is thought-provoking, emotional and touching and ends powerfully and in an open ended way, leaving enough room for a sequel. If you love interactive dramas like Life is Strange, you will once again really enjoy this (12 hours or so) tale of friendship and the reconnecting and rekindling old relationships.
Capture The Moment
It’s important to understand the goals of Lost Records in gameplay. Like previous Don’t Nod titles, gameplay serves as an ancillary pillar to the main focus of the narrative. You can expect the majority of the game to involve a lot of walking and a lot of interacting with objects and environments. It’s a perfectly serviceable model but one that will bore some players to the bone who aren’t invested in the story. I am shocked that there are no quick time events included in a game like this as this could really have broken up the gameplay loop and injected some tension into playing as Swann. Like previous titles, the use of dialogue options is necessary but they are odd in their structure and design. They do alter the story to a certain extent but they mainly serve as a check meter for how much you have bonded to the other three girls. The decision to hide whether the chosen dialogue will hinder or help your relationships is a choice I personally like, as it gives more player freedom and lets you be truly in the moment. However, this will undoubtedly infuriate some players who wanted the guidance to know before selecting if it’s a positive or negative decision. Like other Don’t Nod games, the collectibles mode for replaying scenes returns and this is another welcome addition for players wanting to gather every item available in the game.
The new gimmick and addition to Lost Records that differs from other games is the use of Swann’s camcorder. Swann is an avid amateur filmmaker and the game does a superb job in making this a huge focus of the player’s gameplay loop. At almost any time, you can pull out the camcorder in the 90s timeline and film the area you are in or the characters you are with. From here, you can splice together the clips you have taken and make them into small films which you can watch upon completion of the game. This is also used for the game’s collectibles making it a big focus for the player to capture and record as much as you can find. This mechanic is so beautifully designed and then shown in a classic VHS style footage; it’s as if you have taken a time machine to the past. A truly innovative design from the developers which stole the show for me; I couldn’t stop recording and making cool little films!
What a Beautiful Summer We Had
Let’s get straight to it. Lost Records looks absolutely drop dead gorgeous. Every environment is dripping in colour, whether it’s the wonderful settings in the summer such as the forest, or the dark grungy looking areas of 2022. Everywhere feels alive thanks to the art design and faithfulness to each timeline. Lighting is also ridiculously good- when the sun sets in parts of the story it’s truly mesmerizing. Along with the beautiful environmental graphics are the astounding character models. The facial animations and design are some of the best available in modern gaming and they deserve countless praise. Swann and the other girls in both time periods convey their feelings so wonderfully it really helps propel their emotions to new heights. A true new standard. As previously mentioned, the 90s camera filter looks like I had got them straight from my old VHS recordings! They’re so good. Another feat in presentation from Don’t Nod.
Similarly, sound design and music are of a high quality. Everything sounds so crisp and clear and the camcorder sounds really authentic. Every sound feels like it has a true purpose and helps create atmosphere and mood for each scene. As mentioned before, the superb voice acting on display helps make every character come to life and the cast, spearheaded by Olivia Lepore as Swann, deserve endless praise for their performances. They are some of the best in recent memory. Along with great sound design, is the brilliant music in Lost Records. Described by the OST description as dream pop and punk, this soundtrack perfectly crafts an edgy punk rock score which aims to emulate the rebellious characters on display. Artists such as Milk & Bone and the Nora Kelly Band really help seal this soundtrack as one to remember. Every track perfectly encapsulates the scene in which they play and that’s exactly what I feel a soundtrack should aim to do.
Verdict
Lost Records Bloom & Rage is another gem in the now revered catalogue of Don’t Nod Entertainment. Sporting a set of characters that are so wonderful, and propelled by powerful voice acting, the tale will stay long in memory. Gorgeous visuals and a superb soundtrack help make this game a beauty to behold. The camcorder gameplay mechanic is a fantastic addition to an otherwise solid, if not spectacular gameplay design. Whilst the main plot can get bogged down by some minor issues, the characters themselves help seal this game as another memorable adventure. I can’t wait to see what Don’t Nod do next!
