Lost Records: Bloom & Rage — A Nostalgic Journey Back to the 90s

In 2015, Don't Nod redefined interactive drama with Life is Strange, captivating players with its poignant exploration of everyday life, enduring friendship, and the passage of time. Its meticulous detail and impactful choices resonated deeply. While subsequent projects ventured into different genres, none quite recaptured that initial magic. Years later, Don't Nod returns to its roots with Lost Records, a coming-of-age story that transcends interactive cinema, offering a nostalgic ode to carefree youth and a perfectly crafted atmosphere.

With its vibrant characters and unpredictable choices, Lost Records immediately captivates. It's a game that evokes a sense of longing for a simpler time, a feeling many players will instantly recognize.

Table of Contents

• Friends Reunite to Uncover Secrets from the Past After 27 Years
• Choices Still Impact Surroundings, Dialogues, and Relationships
• Bloom & Rage Creates Beautifully Imperfect Characters
• A Town Worth Dreaming About
• Slow-Paced Plot: The Defining Feature of the Story

Friends Reunite to Uncover Secrets from the Past After 27 Years

At the heart of Lost Records is the story of four women whose friendship fractured 27 years prior. Swan Holloway returns to her hometown of Velvet Bay for a reunion, only to discover a mysterious package from the past. A forgotten forest, an abandoned house, and long-buried secrets—forgotten memories resurface, transforming the reunion into a vivid reliving of a summer night's dream. The narrative unfolds across two timelines: 1995, a time of youthful exuberance, and 2022, where the women grapple with the awkward realities of adulthood and the unresolved trauma that drove them apart. The first-person camera perspective further emphasizes this contrast.

However, the majority of gameplay takes place in the past. Players explore richly detailed locations, build relationships, and document events using a vintage HVS camera—a key mechanic mirroring Max Caulfield's photography in Life is Strange. Swan films everything: graffiti, wildlife, people, even hints of the paranormal. This footage is compiled and edited in a separate menu, categorized by theme, with Swan providing commentary. While these documentaries enhance the narrative, they don't directly influence the plot.

Crucially, player choices impact the story, creating both significant long-term consequences and smaller, nuanced effects. The episodic nature of the game and the narrative's focus currently limit the extent of these long-term ramifications.

Choices Still Impact Surroundings, Dialogues, and Relationships

Lost Records showcases the interactive detail Don't Nod is known for. For example, Swan might express a desire for ice cream from a nearby truck. Choosing to buy it or not affects subsequent conversations and events—the truck may leave if delayed. The world reacts dynamically, adding to its charm. Dialogues unfold in real-time, similar to Oxenfree and Telltale games, with interruptions, topic changes, and the option of silence—sometimes the most powerful choice.

Relationship building offers freedom; players aren't forced to please everyone. Ignoring characters is an option, reflecting Swan's shyness while allowing players to guide her growth.

Bloom & Rage Creates Beautifully Imperfect Characters

Don't Nod crafts authentic characters: loud, occasionally clumsy in their youthful idealism, yet deeply sincere. Swan, the protagonist, is relatable—a self-conscious teenager who finds solace behind her camera. While reminiscent of Max Caulfield, she avoids feeling like a mere rehash. Her friends—Ottem, Kate, and Nora—embody familiar archetypes but defy simplistic categorization. Nora, the punk with American dreams, proves unexpectedly cautious, contrasting with Kate's impulsive nature and Ottem's appreciation for thoughtful individuals.

This dynamic creates a believable teenage experience, regardless of the player's age. Lost Records is a journey back in time, not just to adolescence but to the heart of the 1990s.

A Town Worth Dreaming About

Nostalgia permeates every aspect, particularly Swan's room, a treasure trove of 90s artifacts: a bulky TV, floppy disks, Tamagotchis, and more. Every detail invites reflection. The game is peppered with pop culture references: movies (Sabrina, The X-Files, Tank Girl), video games (Oxenfree, Night in the Woods), books (House of Leaves), and music (Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana). The plot's 27-year gap even echoes Stephen King's It.

The soundtrack, a blend of dream-pop and indie-rock, is exceptional. Velvet Bay itself becomes a captivating setting, cozy by day and chilling by night, its mysteries deepening with each exploration.

Slow-Paced Plot: The Defining Feature of the Story

The deliberate pacing might not appeal to all, but it allows for character development and immersion in the 90s atmosphere before the mystery unfolds. The tension builds towards the episode's climax, ending on a powerful cliffhanger that promises an exciting continuation. Lost Records: Bloom & Rage successfully captures the essence of its era and genre, offering relatable characters, engaging interactions, and the potential for a compelling narrative. The ultimate judgment awaits the release of the second part on April 15th.