Lost Records: Bloom & Rage review: Staring into the abyss

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For over a decade, Don’t Nod Montreal has specialized in narratives exploring adolescence. Following the conclusion of Life is Strange, they’ve shifted their attention to a fresh tale centered around four friends who bonded during a magical summer, only to be later torn apart by tragedy. The ending of Tape 1 (Bloom), released in February, seemed to clarify the storyline. Regrettably, the resolution in Tape 2 (Rage) fails to fully exploit the intrigue left at the cliffhanger in February, instead becoming entangled in unwelcome tropes and some confusing plot turns.

(Continuing the review started earlier, here are my thoughts on Lost Records: Bloom & Rage – Tape 1. Be advised that some details might hint at events in the early stages of the game.)

One magic summer

In a new chapter of “The Rage” series from Lost Records, titled “Bloom & Rage,” the tale of Swann Holloway and her former high school companions Autumn and Nora unfolds. This time, they reunite in the present day to share memories of their summer in 1995 and the incidents that eventually led to their separation. The fourth friend, Kat, who was a significant part of their group, is conspicuously missing in the contemporary setting. Her illness, a terminal case of leukemia, is later revealed as the reason for her absence, adding a somber note to the first part’s cliffhanger and paving the way for the main narrative of the second segment.

Without a doubt, Tape 2 (Rage) delves into the aftermath as friends grapple with Kat’s diagnosis, the repercussions of their impromptu band performance in public, and the widening schism within their group. If Bloom was about forging friendships and self-discovery through encounters with a newfound family, Rage appears to be pushing those bonds to their limits by introducing a hardship that nobody could foresee. This summer seemed destined to be memorable for Kat. However, it appeared more like her swansong.

In this game, players engage with various characters, and they must figure out how to handle a surprising disclosure. This situation serves as an empathy test since Swann has her own emotions regarding the event, but her interactions with Autumn, Nora, and later Kat can lead to diverse outcomes for their relationships. Autumn might have a panic attack, Nora may feel guilt, while Kat wants to push forward despite her worsening state. The player’s role as Swann is to empathize with friends, join in an escalating plan that could become chaotic, and determine when to assert oneself, potentially impacting Swann’s friendships. This scenario mirrors real-life situations where empathy, cooperation, and self-assertion are essential, even when they might strain relationships.

A significant aspect of working with Dontnod Entertainment Montreal is appreciating how they handle complex puzzles realistically. The diversity of paths relationships might take leaves one amazed, and it’s only after watching the ending credits that you truly grasp the numerous ways the story could have unfolded. If the final chapter had been more satisfying, this work could have been their most impressive yet. Regrettably, everything post-climax seems to plummet, much like falling into a colossal chasm hidden deep within a forest.

Although Don’t Nod Montreal usually excels at crafting stories with a blend of realistic and supernatural elements, the second half of Tape 2 in Lost Records veers too heavily into the supernatural, losing its grounded appeal. The narrative primarily unfolds within the friends’ forest hideaway, but it also features a bottomless pit nearby. Although this could have been an intriguing detail for discussion among fans, the supernatural activity becomes overtly apparent, and subtlety is abandoned in the climax. Unfortunately, the ending doesn’t deliver satisfactorily, as the reason given for the group’s split seems implausible and even contradicts certain memories from Swann’s tour of the bar in Tape 1. Worse still, the final events seem to undermine the emotional impact of Tape 1’s conclusion with what I would call a cheap supernatural resolution.

Now recording

Regarding gameplay, Lost Records’ Tape 2 continues with the pattern set in the initial release. It’s a captivating advancement of Don’t Nod’s adventure game design. Instead of only offering standard dialogue choices, additional prompts might pop up based on Swann’s environment, distant sounds, or elapsed time. This invites players to carefully listen to other characters before speaking out of turn, although it’s also possible to do so if preferred. As mentioned in my review of Tape 1, it closely mirrors real-life situations.

In addition to the primary feature on Tape 1, Lost Records also centers around Swann’s camcorder. Similar to Tape 1, players can explore their environment using the camcorder and capture moments, contributing to Swann’s project of recording her unique summer experiences. The level of detail I praised in Tape 1 is further enhanced here, as players will notice that clips they’ve recorded throughout the narrative are incorporated into at least one montage. This creative concept is beautifully brought to life.

As a gamer, I found myself frustrated with Tape 2. The stealth segment at the beginning of Part 2 felt more like an obligation than an enjoyable challenge. It almost made me want to tap my desk in frustration. Though there are no game-over scenarios, repeatedly listening to the same opening dialogue became quite tedious.

In summary, let me point out that occasional technical issues slightly marred my experience with Lost Records. There were instances where character animations got stuck in repetitive loops, such as Swann being forced to move while her target was stationary during the stealth section. Additionally, Kat was seen sitting on nothing at one point. However, I’m mentioning these glitches because they impacted the climax for me. The camera angles, inconsistent character movements, and even quiet sounds during a key scene detracted from the emotional impact of the pivotal moment, which is significant in the storyline. It seems that these technical hiccups dampened the intensity of this crucial scene.

Friends forever?

When a game such as Lost Records: Bloom & Rage demonstrates such promise, it leaves me feeling a deeper sense of letdown when it fails to deliver a satisfying conclusion. The characters in the game may not appeal to everyone due to their exaggerated nature at times, but I found myself drawn to them despite their flaws because of their strong bonds of love and friendship. The evolution of the storytelling style that started with Life is Strange a decade ago adds depth to this narrative, allowing for a deeper understanding of each character’s perspective.

Everything led up to this game being exceptionally unique, and I have no doubt that it will be for some viewers, as they may find aspects of these characters reflective of themselves. Yet, a string of errors towards the climax, from both a technical and storytelling perspective, undermine what was on track to become an unforgettable journey of self-discovery. The supernatural elements aren’t problematic in isolation, but they overshadow the narrative in the end, resulting in a less impactful conclusion.

Well, at least I’ll still remember this game for the friends made along the way.

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2025-04-16 18:28