Life isn’t straightforward being a teen. It’s a chaotic and complicated part, particularly if you’re an introvert. Swann Holloway, the lead of Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, isn’t an exception relating to the struggles of being an introverted teenager. She’s anticipated to slot in and have pals, particularly by her mom who thinks Swann is just too completely different for her personal good. However, simply because she prefers to speak to her cat slightly than folks or has very area of interest pursuits, that doesn’t make Swann a weirdo or completely different. It simply makes her a standard child.
The very first thing that caught my consideration after Swann’s introduction was how relatable she felt as a personality. The persona of an ungainly and introverted tomboy who doesn’t thoughts her personal firm, however actually cherishes it, jogged my memory of my very own teenage years. Little does her lack of pals and social abilities cross her thoughts, however the second Swann meets Autumn, Nora, and Kat, she is aware of her final summer season in Velvet Cove, Michigan, will probably be a particular one.
The story opens within the 12 months 2022 the place a 42-year- previous Swann contemplates her blended feelings of being again in Velvet Cove to satisfy together with her pals after 27 years of radio silence. But this isn’t a contented reunion as there’s the looming thriller of what truly occurred all these years in the past that made this close-knit group drift aside with a promise to by no means communicate once more. And to attach every thing collectively is a thriller package deal despatched and addressed to them. Who despatched it and what’s in that package deal? The mysteries saved me engaged all through half one.
Hailing from a few of the identical builders, I may really feel the Life is Strange affect whereas taking part in Lost Records: Bloom & Rage because the story is impacted by sure selections the participant makes. Choices additionally have an effect on Swann’s relationship together with her pals and, primarily based on her interactions with them, the participant can determine with which good friend does Swann wish to be closes. However, by the center of the sport, I noticed the storytelling and characterization is predicated a lot on actual expertise that makes it really feel extra grounded than some other Don’t Nod sport.
For starters, Lost Records divides its story into two timelines — 1995 and 2022. The ’95 timeline acts as a sequence of flashbacks the place you play as a youthful, carefree Swann who tries to benefit from her summer season together with her newly discovered pals. The modern-day timeline is extra tense and anxious as an older Swann, Autumn, and Nora attempt to uncover what went fallacious that modified their lives endlessly.
Lost Records‘ two timelines play very differently to each other in terms of ambience and gameplay. The nostalgic year of 1995 reflects its simplicity and cheerful attitude where summers are spent outdoors with no mobile phones in sight. The only piece of technology here is Swann’s beloved camcorder, which she will be able to use to movie the world round her throughout a extra linear exploration. By exploring and recording, Swann is ready to make memoirs of the collected footage, which may be edited to your individual liking. Talk about including such a cool function that makes you miss the creativity of documenting reminiscences within the previous days.
Coming again to the trendy day of 2022, the one vital element is the digital camera that adjustments from third-person to first-person in Swann’s viewpoint. Not solely does it match the gloomy, miserable, and dreadful atmosphere, nevertheless it additionally brings a extra private and immersive expertise taking part in as Swann as she awkwardly reunites together with her then-friends, now-strangers. I imply, we’ve all been there, proper?
With simply the primary half out, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage cements itself as a traditional Don’t Nod sport as a result of it already has me invested in its characters and world. The friendship between Swann, Autumn, Nora, and Kat is the guts and soul of this story. Even although these 4 youngsters are individually completely different with their very own personalities, all of them have one factor in widespread – huge desires. It reminds you of your individual childlike desires you had again within the day and regardless of how loopy they have been, you didn’t care what anybody else thought.
Though the 1995 flashbacks have been my favourite elements to play, the stark actuality of 2022 doesn’t elude me. Older Swann’s interactions with Autumn and Nora really feel extra hesitant and nervous as they aren’t as shut as they was. Gone are the guileless marvel and innocence which is changed by the dullness of maturity, obligations, and small speak. It made me consider how I might act if I met my ex high-school greatest good friend now in spite of everything these years of not holding in contact.
As I eagerly anticipate the release of Tape 2 on April 15th, Lost Records‘ complex storytelling reminds me why I’ll proceed to like interactive story video games.
