As a gamer who grew up in the ’90s, I can’t help but feel a surge of nostalgia when it comes to Don’t Nod’s latest offering, Lost Records: Bloom and Rage. The combination of adventure game mechanics that made Life is Strange so compelling, coupled with a fresh take on storytelling through the lens of a camcorder, has me utterly captivated.
Back in 2015, when Life Is Strange was unveiled, it stood tall amidst a host of games that had preceded it. Yet, its closest kin seemed to be the titles from Telltale, who were then riding high on the success of adventure games featuring complex narratives and numerous dialogue options. However, Don’t Nod took this format under their wing with Life Is Strange, giving birth to a series that would see several sequels and spin-offs in the years following. These games consistently revolved around young individuals navigating turbulent circumstances while possessing enigmatic supernatural powers.
Approximately ten years after its initial release and following the creation and distribution of numerous other genres of games, Don’t Nod is once again delving into the style of gameplay that initially garnered them recognition. “Lost Records: Bloom and Rage” is a third-person adventure game, which combines elements reminiscent of “Stand By Me” and “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” while also being incredibly thrilling.
The game titled “Lost Records,” similar to the original Life Is Strange, revolves around teenage girls. Unlike before, when it featured a duo of friends like Max and Chloe, this time we have a quartet, one of whom is Swann Holloway, the newcomer to the group. Swann is an awkward girl, around 15 years old, with freckles, who cherishes horror films, comfortable slippers, and her pet cat, Pumpkin. The two-hour preview build I experienced dropped me into her bedroom, where she was having a disagreement with her mom from another part of their house.
1995 finds her room vividly reflecting this time period, with its entirety adorned by items emblematic of her youthful fascinations – a characteristic trait among young individuals across eras. Magazines bearing authentic X-Files images have been meticulously framed and hung like posters, neon-bright Lisa Frank notebooks litter her desk, and corners of the floor are filled with VHS tapes waiting to be watched.
The game’s lo-fi soundtrack pulled me right back to being a ’90s kid myself, and though Swann has about a decade on me in years, it all felt authentic and nostalgic. I’m really excited to see we’re at a point where the 1990s are the new nostalgia-bait. I don’t mind taking that bait one bit, and Lost Records leans way into it.
Swann doesn’t appear to possess any supernatural abilities, but what intrigues me about Lost Records is her combination of traditional gameplay elements like selecting dialogue options and exploring levels, along with the unique addition of a vintage camcorder. This device, which was ubiquitous in families during that time period, adds an interesting twist to the game.
Using the camcorder, players step into Swann’s life from his perspective, capturing it with minimal restrictions. Recording specific moments will prompt flashbacks or collections of scenes that can be compiled as homemade movies. These are subsequently narrated by Swann. The vintage filter that appears on each completed project serves as a temporal lens for my eyes.
Instead of using similar footage to fill gaps, these home movies utilize the original player recordings, providing an authentic experience for each player to discover their directorial style interactively. If you’re not satisfied with your initial take, you can film extensively and edit your videos on-the-fly within the memoirs menu.
Swann and her budding friends, including three others, departed from band rehearsals and ventured into the forest to film their after-school punk rock group’s music video, Bloom and Rage. Sunlight filtered through the foliage, evoking a sense of natural beauty that mirrored the stunning lighting effects found in Unreal Engine 5. Contrary to being a Life is Strange game, it bore a striking resemblance, boasting visuals that would undeniably be the most breathtaking in the entire series if it were a game.
Following numerous scenes, including the girls playfully strumming imaginary guitars atop a small knoll and a detailed shot of deer droppings, the day ended with the girls appreciating the sunset from a precarious vantage point, their feet hanging over a cliff’s edge for that distinctive feeling of invincibility characteristic of teenagers. Despite its picturesque beauty, given this is Life is Strange, it’s clear that this moment of tranquility won’t last long.
At their garage workshop, the girls were deeply involved in what Swann had made. Before they could rewatch it, the camcorder appeared to have a mind of its own, fast-forwarding to late-night footage that Swann barely recalled. The content of the footage remained a mystery during the demonstration, but it visibly startled the girls. The demo concluded unexpectedly at this point, leaving me to ponder if there might be some supernatural influence at play – although it’s possible that Swann may not possess those powers himself.
In the contemporary setting, the narrative is interspersed with flashbacks using a storytelling mechanism, providing additional context. In a bar, mature Swann and Autumn converse with apprehension over an enigmatic package addressed to their band, adorned with cryptic warnings such as “I recall” and “I was present.” It appears the duo had engaged in secretive activities during their summer vacation that they wish to keep hidden from public scrutiny. Now, their past is resurfacing, both tormenting them and tantalizing us with details just beyond our grasp.
I’m eagerly anticipating delving deeper into Lost Records. The blend of ’90s nostalgia, traditional Don’t Nod adventure game features, and innovative camcorder mechanics creates a narrative-focused game that keeps me pondering until I can get my hands on the camera once more.
Originally slated for release this fall, the game “Lost Records: Bloom and Rage” has been delayed to make way for “Life is Strange: Double Exposure,” which is set to debut in October. Currently, “Lost Records: Bloom and Rage” is planned for an early 2025 launch on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
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2024-08-20 23:39