Lost Records: Bloom & Rage – Tape 2

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage – Tape 2 is the conclusion to a first episode that was immensely promising. It wasn't perfect but was engaging, heartwarming, and had a decent sense of mystery brewing – even with the risk of its mid-narrative twist being the start of a journey into melodrama. This instalment follows on from that twist and becomes a much more introspective one than its predecessor. Crucially, however, it is not prone to unnecessary navel gazing and is instead the fulfilment of Tape 1's promise.

The story in the first tape was about its gang of characters enjoying a fun summer together, but this tears them apart for a very different adventure. It's a sombre start, with protagonist Swann reeling from recent events and having to find a way for herself and her friends to cope. This runs alongside the framing of the present day, as well as supernatural mysteries and an unspoken reason why these closely knit friends decided never to speak again. There is lots of storytelling to wrap up, but little feels rushed, with the direction developers Don't Nod take feeling predominantly genuinely bold and exciting.

It's a narrative adventure as before, and so gameplay is driven by the story above interactivity for its own sake. The story doesn't encourage players to focus on Swann's camera so much this time around, given that the characters are largely processing their feelings. However, there are plenty of opportunities to record the world around these friends for those who enjoyed that aspect of the game. There are also some opportunities to engage with the world in ways that you won't see coming, with these increasingly emboldened teens unwilling to stand down.

With this part of the tale having higher stakes, it means that the array of conversations have become more interesting, too. The characters' nerves are frayed or, at the very least, emotions are running high – and this means that conversations can't simply be barreled through. An impatient player might miss a good dialogue option that pops up after properly listening, or could select the wrong option simply because of not taking the time to understand a character's mindset. There are mistakes and surprise connections but, most of all, there is a real commitment to bringing the game's themes to life.  

There is a slight annoyance that has to be raised, however, in the game's buggy nature. It's buggy to a degree that wasn't visible in the first tape – even if it's minor compared to the scope of the project. Characters will sometimes not leave sitting animations, and hair will flick distractingly when the camera cuts. One stealth sequence is so imprecise that I repeatedly failed, leading to a change in the game's outcome. However, none of these issues did much to undermine my impression of the game as an ambitious and meaningful tale, whatever outcome you end up with.

It isn't necessarily a perfectly balanced narrative, either, which was an issue apparent from the start of Lost Records. All of the characters feel real and have distinctive personalities, particularly evident when you compare their younger selves with their very different older versions. However, we learn a fair amount about the home lives of Swann and Kat but only get a couple glimpses of what things are like for Nora and Autumn. It is a story largely about a whirlwind, life-changing summer, but it would enrich the tale to get a better insight into the driving forces of the whole group. Some players might come away feeling like the tale has been rushed because, even though it feels psychologically realistic, it's ultimately more about broad strokes and emotions than specifics.

But any criticism does not override how much more ambitious this part of the story is in its themes. There was some concern that melodrama would start to take over the tale, and it would move from a veneration of youth to a more pedestrian melodrama. There are indeed a couple touches of melodrama, but these are the results of a narrative that is willing to grapple with weighty, complex emotions, and something of the absurdity of real life. This 'Rage' tape is a look at the darker side of youth, its painful intersection with adulthood – and what anything amounts to in our existence. It's a tale that will likely make you cry but also make you think deeply about the trajectory of your own life.

This game is undoubtedly a must-play, and one that renders its wider story as significantly more meaningful. It's an imperfect adventure and does need some minor behind-the-scenes tweaks. It is, though, predominantly exciting, thrilling, and risk-taking; not just replicating the formula of the first tape but massively improving on it. Lost Records: Bloom & Rage – Tape 2 is a reminder of how talented a development studio Don't Nod is, and if this does prove to be the start of a franchise, then I eagerly await it. But for now this is a truly stunning narrative adventure, and a coming-of-age tale bound to deeply move anyone interested in a bit of self-reflection.

The Good

• Replayability thanks to a range of choices
• Surprising twists in the tale
• New and engaging ways to interact with the world
• Conversations that feel risky and meaningful

The Bad

• Some characters are underdeveloped
• Bugs take away from the narrative polish

Our Verdict

Excellent

A superb game that excels in just about every area, held back only by one or two notable flaws or a collection of smaller ones that prevent the game from earning full marks.

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage – Tape 2 is the fulfillment of its predecessor’s promise, a narrative adventure that asks you to invest in its characters’ relationships and the weighty, tear-inducing, and surprisingly existential conclusion.