All Pros, No Cons: Lost Records: Bloom & Rage
A Midwest, coming-of-age experience.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S)
Developer: Don’t Nod Montréal | Publisher: Don’t Nod
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is a narrative-driven, coming-of-age video game centered around four friends; Nora, Kat, Autumn and Swann, the last of whom acts as our lens (you see what I did there??) throughout the experience. Based in the fictional, small town of Velvet Cove, nestled into the Michigan woods somewhere in the Upper Peninsula, the four protagonists find themselves embroiled in a plot peppered with adventure, mystery, newfound friendships and more. This whirlwind of events ensures their summer will be one for the books!
The Pros
Continues the refreshing trend of predominantly female casts
Unabashed queer representation
Touches on a multitude of emotional themes
One, long tribute to the 90s that sent me straight back to my childhood
Ethereal, nostalgia-fueled musical score
Wandering and pondering in the woods is, for the most part, wonderfully relaxing
Locations, although few, are lovingly crafted with countless details
I found the admittedly slower-paced first half of the game to be slice-of-life bliss
Visually-initiated conversation responses offered enjoyable options
Being the group videographer brought me immense joy
Hunting down all the camcorder collectibles gave me a reason to stop and enjoy the sights and sounds of the environments
Each of the four girls had a distinct and nuanced personality
Swann is a national treasure and we must protect her at all costs
Solid 12-14 hour game in a world of Square Enix length titles
Relationship recap at the end of an arc is a genius idea
Final Thought
I should begin by acknowledging that I am a coming-of-age enthusiast and a child of the 90s, so these sorts of experiences feel specifically catered to those of my ilk. With that out of the way, I want to gush about the tone of this game. Scenes from my youth looped around my brain as I watched our four protagonists, grouped around old, carved-up picnic tables, talking through their current questions and struggles. The familiar feeling of uncertainty in response to changes in my values and beliefs, a desire to filter out all the noise and focus on the present. Watching these girls tackle whatever might come there way was supremely enjoyable and, the publisher willing, I’ll have my wallet prepared in the event another installment is announced down the road!