Latest news with #LostRecords:Bloom&Rage
The Star
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
'Lost Records': A 90s summer mystery with alternate endings
BERLIN: In Lost Records: Bloom & Rage , players journey back in time to 1995. Don't Nod Entertainment, the development studio behind the game is known for story-driven games such as Life Is Strange (2015) and Vampyr (2018), and here it's focusing on friendship and nostalgia in its new mystery adventure. The game, which takes place in two parts, tells the story of teenagers Swann, Nora, Autumn and Kat in the 1990s, during which time Kat disappeared. Twenty-seven years later, a mysterious package leads the friends back to their hometown of Velvet Cove. Kat has never been found. What really happened back then gradually comes to light. In the game, you slip into the role of Swann. Her faithful companion as a teen is a VHS camcorder, which she uses to roam Velvet Cove and document her everyday life with her friends. The four form a punk band, experience formative moments, and find themselves in situations that test their friendship. You repeatedly have to make decisions for Swann that directly influence conversations, relationships, and the course of the story. You usually have up to three options to choose from. As you jump back and forth between the two timelines, a dark secret slowly reveals itself. Along with Swann, the other characters in the game also seem realistic and well-developed. Their personalities and development contribute significantly to the emotional depth of the story. Added to this is a well-crafted soundtrack and a nostalgic 1990s soundtrack. The game's high level of detail and contemporary visuals are also impressive. Warm and vibrant colours create a special atmosphere during the eight to ten hours of gameplay. This can even be extended by accessing individual scenes using the menu, making different decisions, and subsequently discovering the story's alternative endings. Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is available for €40 (RM 193) /US$40 (R M169) for the PlayStation 5, the Xbox Series and PCs. The age rating is 12 years. – dpa
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lost Records: 'It's OK to make games for different audiences'
"What's in the box?" That's the question fans of Lost Records: Bloom & Rage have been asking since February, when the first part of the narrative adventure game dropped. The story follows a group of female friends, hopping between their lives as teenagers in the 1990s and as adults in the present. They are reunited by a mysterious package that threatens to expose a dark secret they've suppressed for 27 years. Part one, Bloom, was praised by fans for its characters and LGBT representation, even if it left them with an almighty cliffhanger to ponder. BBC Newsbeat caught up with creative director Michel Koch, executive producer Luc Baghadoust and lead actress Olivia Lepore to discuss the reaction to it, and what to expect from part two - Rage. Lost Records is made by Don't Nod, the original developers of The Life is Strange series, first released in 2015. The episodic adventure's narrative unfolded depending on player choices, and was praised for its emotional depth. It was also unafraid to tackle difficult subjects rarely seen in video games at the time. Lost Records is seen as a spiritual successor and uses a similar, episodic structure, split across two "tapes". While the first was well-received by critics, a common criticism was its slow pacing, with a heavy focus on characters and relationships over big story moments. Michel admits that was "definitely a gamble". But he says the team wanted to recreate the feeling of a never-ending teenage summer, focusing on "those moments of enjoying doing nothing in a world where we are always pressurised to do something". "Just sometimes having the opportunity to enter a world where you can be peaceful and enjoy the mood, I think it's important," he says. Lost Records features an all-female cast, LGBT themes and touches on social issues such as body image. That made it a target for what Luc and Michel call a "vocal minority" online who target releases they consider to be "woke". "We are in a weird time for that right now," says Michel. "We are making games for people who want those kind of games. "I think video games need to start to be more mature about that. "It's OK that there are a lot of different games and different genres and different audiences. "It doesn't mean that because something exists, it's a threat to the other things you like." Exec producer Luc admits the game is not for everyone but has so far had a "great reaction" from fans who've clicked with it. "We made a game we would want to play," he says. "It's a way to really express what you wanted to and reach a different audience." Lost Records has generated discussion around its portrayal of issues many teenagers deal with. When the game was first revealed there was a focus on the fact characters had visible acne scars - an unusual feature for a video game - and references throughout to Swann's struggles with her weight. Michel says the creators didn't want to make issues like this a main theme of the game. "But it's still present, because in the '90s, there was still, of course, the peer pressure from the parents to, I don't know, just start a diet," he says. The main focus of tape one, Michel says, was having the characters find a group of close friends who would accept them for who they were. "That's where you can start to accept yourself even more," he says. "Because they are the reflection of who you are and if they like you, it means that you are likeable and you can love yourself." Olivia Lepore, who plays main character Swann Holloway, tells Newsbeat a lot of the game's themes - and her character's story - resonated with her. "I think part of the reason I got this role is because we have so much in common," she says. "And I didn't feel like I had to put on a character playing her. I definitely just, in many ways, got to be myself." Olivia says that she's been blown away by the response from fans, who've identified with many of the themes and issues raised in the game. "I have gotten some really beautiful messages from fans about how they feel like they connect with Swann," she says. "I've been really touched by some of the messages to the point where it could be a bit overwhelming, because I just empathise so much with everybody's story." The Last of Us: Bella Ramsey talks season 2, autism, and growing up on screen Chloe Qisha: Rising pop star finding fame at just the right time Chappell Roan: 'There's a new path for girls breaking the rules' As for the conclusion of the story, Olivia says "expect the unexpected". "Wherever you think it's going. It's probably not," she says. Michel says choices players made in part one will play out in the second, which is set to go to some darker places - and be much more dramatic. "You can expect things to be, let's say, less happy and sunny and more gloomy than tape one. "And we can't wait for you to open the box." Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.
BBC News
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Lost Records: Fans and creators anticipate release of 'Rage'
"What's in the box?"That's the question fans of Lost Records: Bloom & Rage have been asking since February, when the first part of the narrative adventure game story follows a group of female friends, hopping between their lives as teenagers in the 1990s and as adults in the are reunited by a mysterious package that threatens to expose a dark secret they've suppressed for 27 one, Bloom, was praised by fans for its characters and LGBT representation, even if it left them with an almighty cliffhanger to ponder. BBC Newsbeat caught up with creative director Michel Koch, executive producer Luc Baghadoust and lead actress Olivia Lepore to discuss the reaction to it, and what to expect from part two - Rage. Lost Records is made by Don't Nod, the original developers of The Life is Strange series, first released in episodic adventure's narrative unfolded depending on player choices, and was praised for its emotional was also unafraid to tackle difficult subjects rarely seen in video games at the time. Lost Records is seen as a spiritual successor and uses a similar, episodic structure, split across two "tapes".While the first was well-received by critics, a common criticism was its slow pacing, with a heavy focus on characters and relationships over big story admits that was "definitely a gamble".But he says the team wanted to recreate the feeling of a never-ending teenage summer, focusing on "those moments of enjoying doing nothing in a world where we are always pressurised to do something". "Just sometimes having the opportunity to enter a world where you can be peaceful and enjoy the mood, I think it's important," he says. Lost Records features an all-female cast, LGBT themes and touches on social issues such as body made it a target for what Luc and Michel call a "vocal minority" online who target releases they consider to be "woke"."We are in a weird time for that right now," says Michel."We are making games for people who want those kind of games."I think video games need to start to be more mature about that. "It's OK that there are a lot of different games and different genres and different audiences. "It doesn't mean that because something exists, it's a threat to the other things you like." Exec producer Luc admits the game is not for everyone but has so far had a "great reaction" from fans who've clicked with it."We made a game we would want to play," he says."It's a way to really express what you wanted to and reach a different audience." 'Expect the unexpected' Lost Records has generated discussion around its portrayal of issues many teenagers deal the game was first revealed there was a focus on the fact characters had visible acne scars - an unusual feature for a video game - and references throughout to Swann's struggles with her weight. Michel says the creators didn't want to make issues like this a main theme of the game."But it's still present, because in the '90s, there was still, of course, the peer pressure from the parents to, I don't know, just start a diet," he main focus of tape one, Michel says, was having the characters find a group of close friends who would accept them for who they were."That's where you can start to accept yourself even more," he says. "Because they are the reflection of who you are and if they like you, it means that you are likeable and you can love yourself." Olivia Lepore, who plays main character Swann Holloway, tells Newsbeat a lot of the game's themes - and her character's story - resonated with her."I think part of the reason I got this role is because we have so much in common," she says. "And I didn't feel like I had to put on a character playing her. I definitely just, in many ways, got to be myself."Olivia says that she's been blown away by the response from fans, who've identified with many of the themes and issues raised in the game."I have gotten some really beautiful messages from fans about how they feel like they connect with Swann," she says."I've been really touched by some of the messages to the point where it could be a bit overwhelming, because I just empathise so much with everybody's story." As for the conclusion of the story, Olivia says "expect the unexpected"."Wherever you think it's going. It's probably not," she says choices players made in part one will play out in the second, which is set to go to some darker places - and be much more dramatic."You can expect things to be, let's say, less happy and sunny and more gloomy than tape one."And we can't wait for you to open the box." Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.
New York Times
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
3 Video Games You May Have Missed in February
One of the major video game releases in February had players navigate the chaos of a growing empire, with Civilization VII introducing historical ages to the turn-based strategy series. Another, the fantasy role-playing game Avowed, gave an emperor's envoy incredible power. There were more intimate stories as well, including The Stone of Madness, a tactical-stealth game set in a monastery turned asylum, and Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, whose opening chapter has rebellious grit and an inspiring riot grrrl essence. Here are three other games you may have missed this month: Keep Driving If you're the sort of person who feels nostalgia for picking out CDs from your dashboard visor, making long-distance calls on your Nokia brick phone or scarfing down a slice of pizza while tinny rock music blares into the quiet night, the appeal of a game like Keep Driving is obvious. Set in the fantasized memories of nascent adulthood in the early 2000s, Keep Driving is a fun, low-stakes adventure about hopping in a car and going on a long drive somewhere, or nowhere in particular. Your ostensible task is to make your way to a music festival a few towns over. In order to simulate the hazards you'll encounter along the way, the game cleverly retrofits classic card game mechanics. A virtual deck of cards, each card with its own thematically appropriate skill — 'Drive Fast' uses extra fuel to clear obstacles — will help you make it past slow-moving tractors, flocks of sheep and even distracting rainbows. You'll fight exhaustion and a perpetually depleting gas tank. You'll pick up an assortment of hitchhikers. You might even choose to get drunk and party, crashing your ride and winding up in rehab. All these surprises and disasters are the kinds of experiences that texture and support a rich and interesting life. Although Keep Driving has a profoundly hopeful message, it also captures the raucous plasticity and vivacious drive of youth, reminding us that we all once wound up stranded without gas on the side of an empty road. Urban Myth Dissolution Center Azami Fukurai, the high-strung heroine of this Japanese visual novel, has a problem: She sees ghosts. At least that's what she thinks until she follows up on a Tokyo advertisement and visits the Urban Myth Dissolution Center, where she hopes to find a remedy for her onerous gift. When she meets the director, a cerebral young man in a wheelchair, she learns that the hazy apparitions she sometimes glimpses are not wandering shades but 'vestiges of persons and objects that existed and are retained everywhere.' The director convinces her (using a bit of financial leverage) to join his detective agency, which specializes in matters that fall outside the purview of traditional police work. Azami's investigations enmesh her in the personal lives of those who have been affected by things that seem to defy ordinary explanation — a livestreamer who sees a ghost in a mirror; a woman terrified by a man who creeps around her apartment at night. But what gives this game a special flair is that it's really about the battle against misinformation. Again and again, Azami watches how social media latches on to sensational stories and then amplifies rumors, biases and half-baked theories. I wished the game's episodes involved less backtracking. A little bit of editing could have gone a long way in delivering a punchier experience. But while not all of the game's plot twists are created equal, its skeptical bent mitigates its languors to some extent. While Waiting For those who have been bored, frustrated or even anxious when killing time, the often-charming, sometimes-perplexing While Waiting offers a tantalizing series of wait-based minigames. Here, biding time isn't a chore. That's because the narrative arc of one's life feels true. At the beginning of 100 short experiences, I was born a boy. The birth included a lemming-like line across a bridge before I was dropped through clouds that flowed like water. As a child, I reclined warily, hoping for sleep yet haunted by ghosts. As a soccer goalkeeper, I found a ray gun in the sky to shoot targets. My reward was being hit in the face by the ball. I should have concentrated on the pitch. Each scenario is timed. Although you can just sit and relax with a fidget spinner, the player really should accomplish a few tasks before time is up. When you're hanging out in a cafe watching for a bus, the rain dripping down the window inventively turns into a Space Invaders-style game. During class, you avoid the teacher by unhurriedly crawling on the floor. It's kind of a version of Pac-Man, if you were a slow loris. Likely inspirations for While Waiting include the WarioWare series, but this art is never lurid. A delicate pen-and-ink art style features minimalist yet endearingly convincing facial expressions in a game where you must often decipher an objective as the clock ticks down.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lost Records and Blue Prince are coming to the PlayStation Game Catalog at launch
The spiritual successor to Life is Strange is heading to the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog as a day-one freebie. The first installment of Don't Nod's Lost Records: Bloom & Rage hits Sony's subscription service later this month, along with Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and immersive tennis in TopSpin 2K25. In addition, Sony previewed a couple of other cool-looking day-one titles heading to the service before long: Blue Prince and Abiotic Factor. Lost Records: Bloom & Rage tells the story of four high school friends (and punk rockers!) living in a deceptively picturesque Michigan town in 1995. The narrative adventure jumps between that era and 2022 as we gradually peel back the layers of, well, some freaky-ass stuff the girls uncovered. Each timeline gives you more of a glimpse into the 'life-changing secrets' they stumbled upon back when Blues Traveler was on the charts — and why they're reuniting 27 years later. If you were into the Life is Strange series, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage should be right up your alley. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium members can claim the game on its February 18 release date. And if you get sucked into the world, you won't have long to wait for the next chapter: It arrives in the April 15 batch of Sony's catalog. That's also when Extra and Premium subscribers can claim Respawn's Star Wars: Jedi Survivor. The follow-up to Jedi: Fallen Order puts you back in the boots of Cal Kestis as he tries to fend off the Empire and rebuild the Jedi Order. In our 2023 preview, Engadget's Igor Bonifacic found it to be a bigger and better (if perhaps a bit too safe) sequel with larger worlds and new Force abilities to explore, as well as a handy grappling hook to kick it like Bionic Commando. Arriving a bit later is Blue Prince, Dogubomb's clever title that takes the escape room concept and expands it into an entire mansion. Set in 1993, you inherit Mount Holly Estate, a sprawling building with a layout that changes daily. You get to choose its room configurations. The mansion has 45 rooms; your challenge is to find the 46th before all of your allotted movements expire. 'Each door is a decision,' the developer promises. 'And each room you pick adds another layer of strategy, puzzles and exploration to your adventure.' PS Plus subscribers can step into the mysterious world of Blue Prince on its release date 'this spring.' Another day-one Plus title, Abiotic Factor is a six-player survival crafting game. Deep Field Games' creepy title has throwback graphics and a survival crafting vibe. Up to six players (but you can play solo, too) take on the roles of scientists stranded miles underground in a strange research facility. 'Caught between paranormal containment failure, a military crusade and chaos from a dozen realms, the world's greatest minds must survive against the universe's biggest threats,' the game blurb reads. It arrives as a day-one Game Catalog release this summer. Other titles available for Premium and Extra members on February 18 include Hangar 13's TopSpin 2K25, where you can play as (among others) Serena Williams, Roger Federer or even throwbacks like Maria Sharapova and John McEnroe. The 2021 remake of the 1998 RPG SaGa Frontier is also on tap, as well as narrative sci-fi adventure Somerville, puzzle game Tin Hearts and the medieval slash-'em-up Mordhau.
