Lost Records: Bloom & Rage

Dontnod’s biggest strengths have always been atmosphere, soundtrack, and the ability to make you feel nostalgic for places you’ve never been to. And they hit it out of the ballpark once again. I can definitely see why people call it the spiritual successor to lis1 (though I’m not sure they will ever reach those heights again). The game is visually absolutely stunning, and, more importantly, it truly captures the feeling of a hot summer day during school holidays, when you were just lounging around with your friends and time passed so slowly. That’s why I didn’t really mind the slow pacing, although I can definitely see how it could be a drawback for some. The story does pick up towards the end of Tape 1, but don’t expect much of a thrilling gameplay. It’s just not that kind of game. Now, the overall theme? A 90s teen mystery plot?? Sign me tf up. It’s giving first season of [i]Stranger Things[/i] and [i]I Know What You Did Last Summer[/i], and I’m here for it!! I really enjoyed the supernatural elements, and I appreciate that they left the ending quite ambiguous and open to interpretation, though I’m not a huge fan of the post-credit scene and its implications. As for some of the reservations that I have, I was prepared for cringe teenagers since I’ve played (and loved) lis1 and lis2, but my god, if I had to hear Swann say “geez-o” one more time... I get that it’s their trademark, and maybe I’m no longer the target audience, but I really wish they would retire the shy, socially awkward main character trope. That being said, she did grow on me in Tape 2, and Nora, Katt and Autumn were absolutely amazing, I love them to death. They all felt so natural and unique in their personalities, they actually felt like real people. My other gripe is the sort of illusion of choice. You can choose to “pursue” any of the girls, but the game keeps subtly nudging you toward the “right” choice. I hated this in lis2 as well, where they basically went, “Yeah, you can be gay, but just know that it’s the morally wrong path, and you only get one kiss as opposed to the other option” (I’m still bitter about that). All in all, though, this is just me nitpicking. The game is lovely and absolutely made me cry!

I like it at the start, social interaction and how realistic and unique the choice system time limit were. but after a while the writing and game design kinda falling flat and I kinda lost my connection to the main character. gameplay wise there is too much annoying task that required me to do. like finding things among the dark and messy room and the other characters just sitting doing nothing but complain while Im going thru stuff. I swear I know its normal that npc just waiting for you to do things, but normally they will be waiting for you off screen or visually busy doing something. but in this game, they just sitting next to you, chilling, and tease/ jokingly complain that you took too long. this plus the annoyance I got from the pointless task get me to the point i started to feel like im just an errands girl of the group. even worst in more serious situation nobody doing anything except yelling at me what do things. that's the point where I feel so disconnected. the story is not believable for me anymore. writing wise, at the beginning I'm very invest with the character. everything is good up until tape 2 the main character changed so much that I can't relate to her any more. there are a lot of times the game forced me to pick thing i don't want to do without other choices to the point i want to quit. playing their previous game and like a lot of them especially LIS2 has special place in my heart, I give it a lot of faith and push through till I finished but nothing changes. I really despise how things resolved. I don't know how to put it without spoilers but it's the only dontnod games i played that didn't leave me with satisfaction. I tried checking the alternate scenario I case I just picking bad choices and missed something along the way but I assume that won't change things. the art, the lighting especially is good and magical.

So I finally finished this game! Having played all previous Life is Strange games mulitiple times with all outcomes and 100%, here's my review for Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, Spoiler Free. I’m an absolute fan of these games, having played the first Life is Strange at release. Up until the somewhat disappointing Double Exposure, Lost Records felt like an escape back to the true roots and soul of Life is Strange. Everyone has their own opinion about Double Exposure, but for me, it lacked the chemistry and essence that made these games so special. Playing through them over and over, I fell in love with their unique charm, and Lost Records brings that magic back. This game is a fresh take on a story with supernatural elements, something haunting and mysterious that Don’tNod has always done well. It’s nostalgic yet refreshing, with so many easter eggs and subtle nods connecting it to Life is Strange. The team made sure of that! Everything about Lost Records makes me fall in love all over again with the chemistry Don’tNod crafted in these games. Walking as Swann through the woods, talking to characters, interacting with the camera… the music, the sounds, the little details in every corner; it all feels vibrant and alive. They did an amazing job. The music hooked me instantly! It’s super nostalgic, and as someone born in 1993, so much of the game’s pop culture feels close to home. They even included a Furby creature!!! It feels sooo much like my own memories. The story is really good, though there were a few moments I found a little odd or maybe slightly out of place. Not bad, just different from what I’m used to in the LiS games. But that’s probably just personal preference. I mean in the end, Lost Records has its own identity, and the story works perfectly for what it is. All in all, it was awesome. Swann’s adventure with her friends made me want to take my own strolls through the woods, listening to the game’s soundtrack...something I missed since Double Exposure didn’t quite capture that feeling for me personally. I can’t wait to 100% this game, try all the dialogue options, and see how things unfold...Maybe we’ll get a sequel. I really hope Don’tNod keeps making these kinds of games because I absolutely love them.

So much build up and no pay off. This game has a lot of wonderful moments but that’s all they are… moments. This game goes at a snails pace the entire time, get kinda interesting in the last hour and then never explains most of the questions it brings up. Then it has the audacity to try and set up a sequel when this game doesn’t even feel finished to me. This sucks. I was really looking forward to a game like life is strange but it falls flat where it matters most. Maybe I missed the point of the game but I just can’t say I enjoyed it much. Overall, it’s pretty bad.

Even for a completely separate game, Don't Nod managed to create a game that's more LiS-like than both True Colours and Double Exposure.

Love the studio, loved their previous games. They definitely tried something different but overall fell short. Starting with what I found were positives, the graphics looked amazing, especially little details like eyes and the characters tearing up at emotional moments. There was some dialogue that was interesting and funny, a few characters felt interesting and had depth. The mysterious element was enticing enough to make me want to complete the game. Now I digress onto the copious problems and things that just didn’t work. Originally I played for about an hour and thought the game was awful if I’m honest, very cringy and forced dialogue felt out of place and weird. I stuck it out due to the significant amount of very positive reviews about the story being good. I then suffered through very poor dialogue that made me visibly cringe; from the 90’s style mic effect that made the characters voices sound awful, to the very noticeable de-sync between mouths of characters and their voices, kept breaking any immersion. Also being forced to take 5 different videos of a cat is not a good gameplay choice, sure having the ability to do it is fine but the forcing you to do it while the main character says the most unhinged and cringiest stuff I have ever heard is not the play. The pacing was very slow and the relationship between the girls seemed to jump very sporadically. Very obvious PC themes sprinkled through the game were hard to ignore when the future selves kept making comments on anything that was offensive. I also couldn’t help but notice the only male character that had more than 3 lines was portrayed as the most bigoted, racist and homophobic character I have seen in a hot minute. He also beats his gf and young, terminally ill sick girls. Spoiler also the funny realisation that every ending includes this characters death was interesting. Spoiler Finally this game definitely has an audience unfortunately it will not be the majority. If you like the sound of a cozy, socially awkward coming of age lesbian BFF story then you will enjoy the game. TLDR: good graphics, some depth with characters, very bad pacing, cringy dialogue. Has a very obvious intended audience

Really brings in a time of when you were young just out with friends. The story is pretty long. I'm not finished with it, yet, but I will be back for an update once I do. (UPDATE!!!) This game is so heart touching. Also very long, but worth it. Just when you think it's over it's not and I love that. This game shows a side that no one really likes to talk about when it comes to the cycle of life. I'm 30 and I found myself thinking about what happens next while I was at work. The soundtracks are pretty good, the sound effects, picture quality is really f'n good as well. I most def recommend this game to anyone who loves to get lost into story mode games. I do find it worth the price.

I REALLY wanted to like this game. I did not. The graphics were beautiful and I loved an inclusion of a plus-size protagonist, which usually doesn't happen in games. That's about it for the positives. Act 1 feels like an empty and soulless packing/dress up simulator with annoying and meaningless dialogue. It was painful to get through it. And then, at the end, we have a grand reveal that only made me go "ah, cool". I had no emotional connection to the characters and that made me feel NOTHING. Act 2 started MUCH MORE PROMISING. I was finally getting to enjoy the game... until it went downhill again. The grand finally made me just sit there and wait for the game to end. Please please please save your money and buy a better game, cause I was waiting for its release for months and I couldn't be more disappointed. Don't waste your time. [spoiler]Unless you are into games with an annoying character who is terminally ill and just wants to trash everything around her and then everything gets magically resolved by a useless plot device that had no purpose before.[/spoiler]

As a huge “LiS” fan, I'm sad to say that this game is one of the weakest from “Don't Nod”. Everything in this narrative is so incredibly slow, boring and without highlights. The first of the two episodes basically has nothing to tell in its five to seven hours of gameplay. The characters are written in a relatable way, but there is nothing exciting about their actions. It's downright boring to follow them. The second episode tries to create a little more excitement, but also fails, as the implied dramatic development ends in an unsatisfying way. Nevertheless, the really great art style and the 90s atmosphere deserve a positive mention.

I really enjoyed playing this game! Each character had their own unique story and personality.

wowwwww this was so good. i really didn't know what to expect going into it but i think i liked it that way! as a girl who grew up in the 90's with a camcorder of her own (and i also filmed EVERYTHING), this game really hit me with nostalgia and a sense of longing for growing up again and having those close, powerful friendships. and as someone who was a closeted queer girl growing up, playing this got me even more emotional! a very pretty game, the characters are so well-written, and i love that i can play through it again to make different choices and change up how it ends.

great music and visuals but the story is boring i barely made it to the end :/

you must be lying about liking this game for the love of god; characters are annoying, felt no connection to any of them, plot is not there at all. very pretty indeed but what do i do with that

jesus this game is so fuckin sad (im so glad i played it though). It gave me that same punch to the gut that Life is Strange did 10 years ago, and it has that similar bittersweet, wistful, magical feeling to it. In a way, I wish [spoiler] Bury your Gays [/spoiler] wasn't this developer's favorite type of narrative but good lord do they know how to craft an engaging story, one that drips with mystery and intrigue and one that captures the spirit of queer youth so beautifully and earnestly. excellent game!

I loooooovvvvvvvvve this game. The characters are very well written, each one feeling incredibly real. They have distinct personalities, likes, dislikes, and insecurities that you learn about as the story progresses. It also has tons of replay value as there is lots of variation with your choices and little things you'll definitely miss your first time playing. Honestly, I think has become my favorite game!

Don't Nod's games have always meant a lot to me, and this one is no exception. It might not be perfect or unassailable, but it's sincere to a fault, and because of this it might drive away some people, but also because of this same sincerity it feels real to me, it connected with me. This game is a beautiful, fun, heartbreaking experience, and one that will stay with me for a long time, and because of this I wholeheartedly recommend it. Hopefully we'll get more of it in the future :)

An amazing queer romance (optional) game with nostalgic vibes. It makes me miss the time when I was that age. I related heavily to Swan and I love all the girls! Each of them are so unique and brings something cool to the story. It's a perfect mix of nostalgia, supernatural, and pure chaotic teenage girl energy! I highly recommend this game to people who have played Life is Strange and love girls loving girls.

What an interesting story, I wish it was even longer.

Absolutely amazing game, it kept me captivated the entire time! They do such a good job at creating deep connections between everything, i highly recommend it

I loved this game! I was a teenager in the 90's and they really hit the nail on the head capturing the vibe. I loved the mystery in the game and the story is awesome too! Definitely would recommend for those into story driven games.

What a game!!! I loved it so much. I felt these girls' experiences so deeply, as I was a teenage girl once too. Not in the 90s but almost. And there were moments that had my hair standing on end and moments that had me in tears. I will not join the argument about how much it is like LiS or not, because it wasn't trying to be LiS. I loved it and would fully recommend it.

Amazing immersive game. Gorgeous graphics and environments. Masterful play with lights and settings. Exciting story with good conclusion. Waiting for sequel!

Dontnod still got it. Their storytelling never ceases to amaze me. Even after all these years I'm still crying. The voice acting was the best thing about this entire experience. After the blunder that was Double Exposure, this scratched that itch I was dying to get for so long. I hope they keep making stories with true feeling and meaning, like this one.

I wouldn't recommend this game to everyone, but I enjoyed it. I imagine the audience is niche. It's earnest but also maybe a little pretentious. I don't think there was enough punk music considering they had a punk band but I thoroughly enjoyed all the authentic little 90's things that reminded me of my youth. I was also a nerd with bad skin and a penchant for quirky t's. I hadn't planned on doing the game twice but I'm pretty sure I got the bad ending and my pride won't let that stand so I'm going to do it again. So it's good enough that I'm going to play it twice at least. And I'll work harder at being friends with Autumn.

Absolutely hooked from the start. Could not put the game down and did a full run through in two days. Such an amazing story.

An emotional roller-coaster, and I enjoyed every second of it.

Wow. I just finished my first play through and I don't know what to say. The characters. The visuals. The music. The story. This was the warm bittersweet hug I didn't know I needed. It speaks to the small town queer experience so truly. I wish I could play this again for the first time. If you're like me, you will find a little piece of yourself in this game. Whether tucked away between the lines - or staring you right in the face. To borrow a motif from LIS TC: this feels like the last lit match in a dark cavern. Absolutely stunning. The best thing don't nod has released.

I recommend 100%. Lost Records goes even further than Life is Strange games in the gameplay. You get really attached to the characters and really feel close to them. It reminds me of the strong connection we could experience with Chloe in LIS 1, even more in dept. The mood is very catching and different, which is refreshing. It is also really comforting and the atmosphere is always strong in emotions. There is a real dynamic of listening and being empathic that goes beyond the previous games of Don't Nod. For the gameplay, in Lost Records, the timing matters, you can let people talk, unlock more dialogues as it happens, or choose to not reply at all. You can really feel the impact those choices have in the game. It also gives a more realistic vibe while making the game dynamic, which was kinda laking in Life is Strange games now that I compare. The story is really catching, I loved it.

very beautiful. very nostalgic. much sad. I need a sequel rn. you must play it!

Im most likely not the target demographic for this game. Did like it, it was aight.

A worthwhile and beautiful experience. At first it is playful and fun, and honestly a little silly. It feels like the main point is the 90's nostalgia oozing from details in the setting, the music, and the writing (which initially seems heavy on old movie tropes). But if you let it sweep you up into its world, you will find it grows into something really special. I'm glad I experienced it, and grow more fond of it as it lingers in my head. The biggest shortcomings in my opinion are some visual elements: - The camcorder filming UI is overly video-game-ified and intrusive. The bold markers of what to film, the sleek check mark animations when filming an objective, the 'achievement' style popup message when you complete a set. I found these elements distracting in an experience which otherwise seems clearly intended to immerse you in the moment (conversations move along even without your input, new choices can appear if you wait and listen, characters respond to you filming / looking at them, sometimes you have to observe the world around you to say certain things) - The characters look amazing, and believable, but very stiff face animations detract from the most emotional moments

What can I say? If you like story-driven games or LiS then you should check this out. First, though, I would have to say that this is different from LiS and that is part of the game's unique charms. The story is interesting and I wanted to know more as it went on. The characters are cool and unique. I will say that I didn't buy the friendship at first, but after the arc became clear I did feel it more. Also, I wasn't too keen on the mini-game aspects and the focus on collectables, which I felt took me out of the story and made it more of a game. Further, I wished that some characters would stop talking over others, especially background characters that should have been quieter. All of that noted, it was fun and I enjoyed how many choices there were and the impact each had. I liked how the game changed based on choices made too - within the story bounds anyway. So, would I recommend it? Yes, I would. It *IS* different to LiS in many ways, but a spiritual successor in others. But it is different in enough ways to make it its own thing and interesting. There are some small things that weren't as interesting or fun, or as engaging as other story-driven games, but with time that was ok. Like I felt that the story took too long to arc and continuously reiterated that these characters were friends and how they are just so friendly with each other and were friends! Did I mention that they were friends? Before anything really started to happen. Also I felt that some parts could have done with more explanation earlier as it delayed the arc of the story until well into the second Tape. But it's fun. Check it out. I liked it :)

Love this game!! The atmosphere and visuals are unbelievably stunning, all backed up with a stellar soundtrack. The characters are so beautifully written, and the story and messages around it were done perfectly and without it feeling overly preformative. To play a plus size character where her defining characteristic isn't that she's fat, is so refreshing. My only gripe is the ending of the story, I feel like it was slightly rushed, in fact the whole of tape two did. I feel like there was so much of the story left untold. That being said, on a second play through I did find hints and story points that made the ending / supernatural element feel a little more fleshed out, however it still felt like it lacked something towards the end. Overall, good game with good characters, and such a cozy feel!

I love this game the music was so good on my ears and to me the story telling was wonderful can;t wait for the next tape T^T

A game about being queer and not much else... the storyline is definitely lacking and seems unfinished. Good graphics with some minor bugs and 'life is strange' vibes. 5/10

very reminiscent of life is strange, and while it doesn't hit quite as much that did, it's still a fantastic game and story. absolutely loved it.

Highly recommended, but this is certainly an odd game, even among others in its genre. It could have been a much more straightforward story like Life is Strange, but it takes a lot of chances artistically, narrativly, and even in the gameplay department that make it a unique experience. These chances may turn some players off, but for the target demographic (me) this hits. I love all of the characters, the choices are interesting to consider, and the world and mood of the whole affair are fun, but I do think it's the sort of game you have to meet where it's at. If you aren't in the mood for it, then I imagine you'll bounce off. If you are in the mood, though, there's nothing quite like it available and I am eager to forget the whole thing and play again fresh as soon as I can. Kat 4ever!!!

I fucking love this game. I'm so happy that I gave this game a chance! I hope we'll get a 3rd tape, 'cause I am really invested in the story. (Biggest Nora fan btw)

Definitely has more emotion to it than Double Exposure, even if understanding the story may take a few playthroughs.

I'm only gonna say, this game ISN'T PERFECT, but it doesn't deserve to not be recommended. They did a wonderful job with the different characters and personalities that it truly felt like you had to navigate how you chatted with someone and what was appropriate to them or not, and the scenery for me and how every setting looked was so cool. And the soundtrack... incredible, it was all very catchy to me. The gameplay was a little slow, but I don't think anyone should stop playing because of it.

incredible that i havent reviewed this game yet...time to get it on! so, i played this game right when it came out and was catched from the first minute. this game is a vibe game so you really have to dive into it and let yourself embark on this journey. you play as Swann, a teenager in the 90s and rather an outsider. but this summer is going to be very different. the game is told through flashbacks, so you switch between the present and the past. in the past you have this cool video recorder feature and that way you can record everything you want. there are collectibles you can find in a scene. the game is very slow paced, meaning you can explore every scene for as long as you want and the game shows you a little door symbol to tell you that you will go into the next scene when interacting with it. so if you like exploring and finding new stuff you should try this game out. it has a great lore that keeps the suspense up even though the pace is slow in the first half. i do wish it had a little more suspense curve in the second half. the characters are all relatable in their own way and will definitely take you back to the time you were a teenager. i really enjoyed spending time with them. the environment is very interactive, meaning there are background conversations happening if you stay in a place long enough and you can even answer to some! the decision making has been completely overwork in comparison to Life is Strange and focuses more on relationships now. but nevertheless, every decision you make has an impact. it impacts the ending, some minor changes on the story, even Swanns hair! you can play Amor to relationships or completely tear them apart! the music is great, as always. dontnods team just has a talent for finding the most fitting music! definitely a wrecking compensation for the disappointing release of Double Exposure. Lost Records has a great story (as always when it comes to Dontnod) and will leave you severly depressed for games like a good game should. Cant wait for a sequel of this franchise!

[h1]Don't Nod did it again.[/h1] Once again they make a game where the worst part about it is the simple fact that I will never again be able to play this game for the first time. This entire game hit me right in the feels. Well done.

Perfect, definitely on of my top 5 games of all time. The life is strange charm is there.

Knocked it out of the park again Don't Nod. The Style, the feel, the soundtrack. Really hit the 90's nostalgia of just burning days with your friends out in the woods or whatever. Just hanging out. Remember just hanging out? Nothing to do so you just go do nothing somewhere else, but it sure felt like something. If you too long for the early 90s before all the internet garbage and phones and stuff, check it out. If you played (liked) Life is Strange, check it out. I don't think you will be disappointed. Plus you can pet the cat.

Don't mind me, I'm just emotionally devastated from playing this masterpiece in 14 hours nonstop. I recommend this game if you wish to feel the same (Do take care of yourself and rest, eat, and drink water when you need to, and keep tissues nearby, just in case).

ABSOLOUTELY FIRE!!! i wouldn't say its exactly perfect, but its a fun game with some cute characters and an intriguing story that allows you to build your own opinions on them. the general vibe is completely my type of thing, and i really enjoyed it :)

This game is really good. It successfully gets you attached to the main characters and sets up a need for a sequel. I do think that it was a little too open ended but i get that the idea was to be able to use the same characters again and tell multiple stories. It does feel like a prequel though. Overall, its a very cozy game that sucks you in.

DON'TNOD did it again. Made me fall in love with characters I normally wouldn't IRL. Quality storytelling, Love it. Can't wait for more [spoiler]Tape 3 when?[/spoiler]

[h1]Enter the Void. Remember Me. I'll Find You.[/h1] This is an absolute [b]masterpiece[/b]! Thank you, DON'T NOD, for bringing [i]Lost Records[/i] to life. It's the only game that brought me the same kind of unforgettable emotions since [i]Life Is Strange 2[/i]. One of those rare, true gems that doesn’t just entertain — it [b]inspires[/b]. These 30 hours flew by too fast, yet the experience was masterfully balanced: neither lacking the plot nor overfilled. Just... perfect. The care and attention to detail in this game is absolutely perfect. I completely lost track of time exploring every corner, all pieces of each setting, listening to every line of dialogue. The incredible mechanics of filming, making us feel that girls' best summer is actually ours, and we need to capture each perfect moment to remember them forever, and rewatch to catch the nostalgia. Let’s never forget those people from our past with whom we once saw our future. Even if they faded with time — never forget the warmth, the joy, the shared dreams. Sad and hard moments shaped us. You are who you are because you gained experience together. [i]You don’t need to still walk beside them, but let the past live on inside you.[/i]

Dontnod has always been good at making Visually awesome games, with music that always fits with the vibe aswell. The Character models were really well made and the whole world was well put together. Thats why im conflicted, i liked the game but on the other hand its story and writing is iffy at times. i feel like these sort of games are too performance heavy nowadays when they dont need to be. That aside my main problem comes from dontnod always needing to limit themselves to creating diverse characters and stories which doesnt always mean a good thing. There were multiple moments in the game where i wished they deliver the push it was begging for but that never happened since they were limiting themselves again, this has been the case for most of the new dontnod releases. It just falls flat at crucial moments, all that build up for nothing. It saddens me that this game was basically just a testing ground for a sequel, in the end it comes to a conclusion that all of what might have happened is just false memories they made for themselves as kids and it was basically just a imagination yarnball. Story circled around the mysterious package the entire game which i honestly thought was sent by the hole but it wasnt and it was literally the most none mysterious thing ever which was dissapointing if i do say so myself. It gets questionable at the end whether or not they were the ones to do most of the damage or it was just some crazy ex boyfriend and they all remembered it wrong. My point being that instead of keeping the mystery alive for the ending they kind of just gave us one of the most none complicated answers ever which ruined the whole story they were telling us. I did enjoy the current time segments since you actually got to act as a person with some kind of intellect behind them. Might aswell point out how the idea of recording with the camcorder sounds cool in perspective, but when you actually start using it you realize that its not as fun as it looks like. You are quite limited to what you can and cant record to progress the story, all of the point of interests have a surrounding box around them and if you arent pointing at it then it doesnt count. I felt handicapped the entire game. I liked the game, but i also disliked some aspects of it. its somewhere in the middle