squared80

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is not normally the content I'd gravitate towards, but it was free for my PS Plus subscription, and I read good things about it, so I gave it a shot. It comes in two parts, Tape 1 and Tape 2. Not a long game all-in, less than 15 hours, so an easy playthrough. It's rated M as there is a lot of swearing and mature themes. It says nudity but there is no nudity of any kind. Not even close - not sure why it lists that. Tape 1 is a slow burn, but I feel it's needed because it's all about relationship building. I genuinely started to care about these characters, and they're all very different. Tape 1 ends with a bombshell that stuck with me. Tape 2 starts to pick up more, but it is shorter and feels a bit rushed. There are a number of different endings based on how you've cultivated different relationships. I actually replayed Tape 2 the day after I beat it because I wanted the 'best ending'. Throughout the game, you jump between 2022 and 1995; it works pretty well, done through 'reminiscing'. I'm a kid of the 90's; I felt very nostalgic at times playing this, especially with the use of the video camera. The music is top notch and leans into the nostalgic tone, esp. Ruth Radelet's Dreamers, The Wild Unknown, and The Veil. I haven't played any Don't Nod games before (Life is Strange, etc.), but they seem to be pretty good at writing and character development. The voice work was relatively spot on, although a bit clunky and slow at times. The sci-fi aspect of this game was unnecessary IMO, and almost felt out of place because you're so invested in the characters and their relationships that is almost feels tacked on. But that's just my opinion. As I understand it, most of these Don't Nod games have this kind of element. I'd give it a 7.5/10. The half-baked sci-fi part and the ending in general could have been much better and less-rushed. But the writing, characters, and the music are very well done. I hope the game does well, since the ending (endings) set the table for Lost Records: Bloom & Rage 2... if Don't Nod can get out of their financial mess. I would definitely play it just because of the characters I became invested in.

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is not normally the content I'd gravitate towards, but it was free for my PS Plus subscription, and I read good things about it, so I gave it a shot. It comes in two parts, Tape 1 and Tape 2. Not a long game all-in, less than 15 hours, so an easy playthrough. It's rated M as there is a lot of swearing and mature themes. It says nudity but there is no nudity of any kind. Not even close - not sure why it lists that. Tape 1 is a slow burn, but I feel it's needed because it's all about relationship building. I genuinely started to care about these characters, and they're all very different. Tape 1 ends with a bombshell that stuck with me. Tape 2 starts to pick up more, but it is shorter and feels a bit rushed. There are a number of different endings based on how you've cultivated different relationships. I actually replayed Tape 2 the day after I beat it because I wanted the 'best ending'. Throughout the game, you jump between 2022 and 1995; it works pretty well, done through 'reminiscing'. I'm a kid of the 90's; I felt very nostalgic at times playing this, especially with the use of the video camera. The music is top notch and leans into the nostalgic tone, esp. Ruth Radelet's Dreamers, The Wild Unknown, and The Veil. I haven't played any Don't Nod games before (Life is Strange, etc.), but they seem to be pretty good at writing and character development. The voice work was relatively spot on, although a bit clunky and slow at times. The sci-fi aspect of this game was unnecessary IMO, and almost felt out of place because you're so invested in the characters and their relationships that is almost feels tacked on. But that's just my opinion. As I understand it, most of these Don't Nod games have this kind of element. I'd give it a 7.5/10. The half-baked sci-fi part and the ending in general could have been much better and less-rushed. But the writing, characters, and the music are very well done. I hope the game does well, since the ending (endings) set the table for Lost Records: Bloom & Rage 2... if Don't Nod can get out of their financial mess. I would definitely play it just because of the characters I became invested in.