With "Lost Record: Bloom and Rage"Don't Nod is back and trying to build on the success of previous narrative adventures. After the studio's last few titles have struggled, a new IP is now coming that deliberately focuses on nostalgia: The 90s, coming-of-age, close friendships and a touch of mystery. But can "Lost Record: Bloom and Rage - Tape 1" convince or is it just a nice reminder of better times? Find out in our pre-release review.
Between past and present
At the center of the story is Swann, a rather introverted teenager who has difficulty making new friends but has a deep passion for filming. She is the typical outsider: chubby, with red hair and little self-confidence - the perfect bullying target. But by a stroke of luck, she meets Nora, Autumn and Kat - a trio struggling with their own challenges, desires and dreams. They soon form a close bond that lays the foundation for a touching story.
Players navigate between two timelines: the summer of 1995, in which the girls share their formative experiences, and the present in 2022, in which they meet again after years of separation and want to fulfill a promise made decades later. What happened back then? Why did they become estranged? And what is behind the mysterious secrets of Velvet Cove? Over 25 chapters, players experience a true nostalgia trip to a time that we would say today: Back then, and as a teenager, all was right with the world. The concept and setting are sometimes reminiscent of series and films such as "Yellowjackets" or "Now and Then" - a small town, a group of young friends and a dark discovery that changes everything.
A 90s dream with a dark undertone
The small town of Velvet Cove is perfectly staged: A seemingly sleepy idyll with dense forests, tranquil lakes and nostalgic small-town charm. You wander through classic 90s locations - a garage that serves as a punk band rehearsal room, the local movie theater as a meeting place for teenagers, an abandoned cabin in the woods. There are also lovely details such as Tamagotchis, troll dolls and an "N64" console - pure 90s feeling.
Players spend over 80 % of the game time in the 90s - a clever move, because it is precisely this atmosphere that is the greatest strength of "Lost Record: Bloom and Rage", which has had players looking forward to the title for months. The vibe of the past is captured perfectly, with all its youthful highs and lows: Friendships, petty squabbles, the feeling of light-heartedness - and the subliminal foreboding that everything is about to change.
Lots of emotion, more interaction
While "Life is Strange" often worked with supernatural powers, "Lost Record: Bloom and Rage" focuses more on interpersonal relationships. Decisions influence how Swann's friendships develop, but the really big moments of fate don't materialize at first. Dialogs feel alive, conversations flow organically, with the possibility of interrupting or changing topics. This naturalness helps to make the game feel more like an interactive series - albeit with the risk of occasionally losing pace.
One point that is also increasingly noticeable is the very one-sided portrayal of relationships. All the main female characters only seem to have same-sex tendencies, while heterosexual relationships are hardly an option and are sometimes commented on with statements such as "Yuck". A little immature for 16-year-olds, who otherwise carry the demand for inclusion far in front of them. So anyone looking forward to a classic coming-of-age story with different perspectives will quickly realize that a very specific direction is being taken here. If this is already a theme of the game, a more balanced portrayal of the romances certainly wouldn't have hurt. Or why not just tell a cool story without a clear focus on a specific sexual orientation?
Back to the game: Players can usually move freely through the settings, follow clues, make exciting discoveries or film with their camera to capture moments on video. This feature also stands for an extensive collection task, as the recordings can be used to create short films and memories in the menu. All of this using home video technology, which was not very advanced at the time, but was recreated exactly. A great feature that is fun to play with on the side. Other collecting tasks, reading notebooks, letters etc. are of course also included to get to know the characters and their thoughts better or to refresh your memories.
Long start-up time, but rewarding payoff
With 25 chapters, "Lost Record: Bloom and Rage" takes an extremely long time to build up the characters and their relationships. On the one hand, this is a strength - because rarely have teenage friendships been portrayed so closely - but on the other hand, there is initially a lack of tension. Where "Life is Strange" started directly with a gripping event, "Lost Record" remains in the relaxed flow of a coming-of-age drama for a long time.
But then comes the turning point: the mysterious hut in the forest. Suddenly the mood shifts, the game picks up and unfolds a mystery touch that is hard to let go of. This is where the excitement and theories begin - exactly what makes Don't Nod games so special. Of course it ends Tape 1 with a classic cliffhanger that makes you curious about the sequel. The two months until Tape 2? Definitely a long wait.
Pure melancholy and nostalgia
A Don't Nod game without a great soundtrack? Unimaginable. And it doesn't disappoint here either: "Lost Record: Bloom and Rage" focuses on an atmospheric mix of dreampop and indie rock with artists such as Milk & Bone and Beach House. The specially composed track "See You in Hell" fits perfectly into the atmosphere and emphasizes the emotional depth of the game, but also the rebellious streak of the characters. The soundtrack provides the right mix of melancholy, nostalgia and a certain lightness - exactly what a game like this needs.
Visually, "Lost Record: Bloom and Rage" presents itself in a stylized look that is also strongly reminiscent of "Life is Strange" - but with even more detailed graphics, facial animations, an atmospheric color palette and the classic distortion filter of the time to really immerse yourself in this vibe.
There were minor technical problems such as occasional clipping errors or stiff movements, but nothing that seriously spoiled the experience. According to Don't Nod, these bugs will gradually be fixed. The only downer for German players: "Lost Record: Bloom and Rage" is only available in English, but German subtitles are available.
Co-Writer: Niklas
Conclusion
English 
German