Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
requiems: (emma ☙ true love)
[personal profile] requiems
Game: Lost Records: Bloom & Rage [Tape 1]
Dates played: 24/03/25 - 29/03/25


Thoughts as I went, or retrospectively after scenes ended. Lost Records is a spiritual successor to Life is Strange by those that made it at Don't Nod, and follows the story of four girls in the summer of 1995; a time which they have all collectively forgotten, but twenty seven years later, they must now remember.

The second tape - or the second half of the game - is releasing in mid April, though I likely won't play for a couple of weeks so some guides can go up. (There is a decent bit of weirdness Tape 1 sets up for that I anticipate to be amped up greatly on Tape 2 and I need to be able to skim a guide in case anything is borderline comfort zone).

I played this a couple of hours at a time and sometimes in the mornings after my body woke me up after 3-4 hours of sleep. Hopefully it stops doing that soon. I'll attempt doing some MSQ in XIV if it continues.

I appreciate how it gives you all the themes and also trigger warns you for a few more that are spoilery at the start when you boot up the game


Expectations

Being in first person for present day really threw me at first (although I understand why they did it to differentiate better). Also hell yeah women in their 40s let's GO (43 specifically)

"It's been two years since the pandemic" nice try Swann's mom we're still in one

I so badly wanted to put the phone down on Swann's mom because it's exactly like talking to my mum. Which it's also why I couldn't. I needed to see if the secondhand cringe passed muster (it did)

Swann's mom talking about if Swann had a thing with any of the other girls (yknow because she's a lesbian) and I'm just. So thankful. It's all going to be gay

The schrodinger's cat achievement's image uses the same graphic tee design that warren has in Lis!!

This is absolutely Don't Nod doing a Life is Strange of their own but skirting copyright boundaries (which really sucks, this is their IP, Square really did them dirty on it when Lis found unexpected acclaimed success) and we're doing stuff like looking at close up of items, graffiti, etc. but I miss the commentary and inner monologue. Feels like Swann is being deliberately closed off with herself/the audience. However the further you go the more she starts to reminisce with whoever she is in the present when you look at things more frequently - or even just when talking in the past - which is an interesting evolution

Also intrigued by the girls not remembering what happened during that summer too well. That's good paranormal stuff. Makes you want to know what happened


Memory Lane

I loooooove exploring a character's room it really shows me their personality off the bat

Swann, a little overweight
Me sighing: she's going to be bullied for this isn't she.

On the one hand it's like. Good to see myself. Because hell if I'll relate to anything else of the teenage experience but. Rough.

Swann: surrounds herself with horror films and scary books
Me, who has been suspect ever since we started having brief flashbacks of weird shit: this game is giving me clear warning signs of being extremely paranormal supernatural horror and I don't know how far it's going to take me out of my comfort zone and probably won't for another few hours. (I place my trust in you don't nod. but I FEAR)

The camcorder mode actually slaps. Like holy shit they nailed it. The overlay, the fact you can tilt your controller and the shot you're filming does the same, even just you pressing buttons to zoom in and zoom out like you do on the real thing... it's really damn cool. The collectible system attached to it is also so much fun, you can just film anything and everything, characters will respond and talk about you doing so and you'll get more dialogue interactions but. It's like Max but EXTRA. There's hundreds of things to film and you don't have to get everything


Swann Holloway, 1995



It would not be don't nod without beautiful scenic views where we get to take pictures of things and wildlife including does.


The Day We Met

This part feels very 80s

Autumn is very sweet and Nora is very cool

I did not like the bully confrontation scene, partly because the dialogue felt very stilted; also this game doesn't let you save wherever and whenever so you kind of have to keep going until a section ends and I was tired, but. The scene did improve when the rest of the girls got involved

Corey is why no men are allowed. The way he talks over Dylan you just know

Kat is a feral gremlin In dungarees and I love that for her


The First Night



Nora: film me smoking on swing sets :)
Sorry autumn she's right it's aesthetic af

Nora: so do you have a boyfriend
Nora: If I was a boy I would kiss you. Just kidding. Unless
Me: hi Chloe.

Kat choosing violence as her preferred method is just she is so small and full of so much rage and she scares me a little bit she's absolutely going to do something fucked up isn't she. The "I like reading and scenic views" is deceptive

Butterfly effect trophy pops from changing up the timeline
Me: hehe

I liked this scene much better, it felt like they bonded through the awkward phase of not knowing each other through a communal activity of looking for keys really well. Kind of getting into it now? Definitely a trust the process up until this point


Autumn Lockhart 1995

Swann filming a documentary about her friends and asking Autumn about herself so you, the player, also get to know her: now this is a fantastic way to exposition your characters

Also the body language and cuts between locations was really nice. Autumn is relaxed, Swann has a friend!!


Reunion

I misread Swann Files as the Swann FLIES (considering she's yknow, leaving Velvet Cove soon) and I'm still heartbroken that wasn't the actual option

Talking about the girls is friendly - romantic - negative. I picked romantic for every single one because listen. We love a baby lesbian with her first crushes

"I'm still thinking about Nora saying she'd kiss me" IT'S GAY!!



"Who is Swann? Hopefully I'll figure it out" a mood girl

We promised never to see each other again. what happened kids

I was going to let Swann drink in the past but hgh decided against it. Also bonds with Autumn let's be friends again

I was half suspecting that bloom and rage was the name of their band and CORRECT. Also that package is ominous as hell, considering they really *do not* remember summer 1995 at all for mysterious, still unknown reasons


Garage Band

This is also extremely 80s

Nora is so photogenic i swear.

Nora: Swann, I'll love you forever if you find my pick.
Autumn: i found your pick last week. What do I get?
Nora: don't be jealous, boo :3



Vortex club shout out

Kat writing a song makes sense

The way she says "rage" SHE STILL SCARES ME A LITTLE BIT

Ok package stuff: i was there, see you in hell, you have to remember
Missing local, impromptu concert
What did you find in the woods kids. What did the woods make you forget


Lights, Camera, Action!

BUTTERFLY HAIR CLIPS, now that's what i call 90s

I do like how even though Swann is always awkward and Kat is very emotionally guarded (under the surface anger or morose) and they're still in that awkward phase of becoming friends so the dialogue is sometimes a little cringe this does not extend to autumn and Nora. They really do feel like they've known each other for four years, it's a good touch

They all have unique walk cycles

Nora: heights bad

Honestly I'm just appreciating the scenery in this chapter the light is so nice. Scenery simulator

Also girlies :)


Movie Night

This is cute, i like how it's somewhat reactive to the scenes you shot

They're all talking about getting home really late but they left at sunset?

Oh
Oh here comes the paranormal supernatural shit HAHA someone in the garage for one frame behind them as the lights go out

Synth time for paranormal time

Tape playing on its own
"It's last night. i forgot i filmed this"
HAHA... I'm in danger :)
(I think it's a good time to stop for the night.)

(I admittedly have a guide open so I can keep track of collectibles and choices and such and reading ahead nothing weird seems to happen yet but let's do the creepy dark cabin in the woods scene during the day and not before bedtime ok)


Don't be afraid of the dark / Cabin in the woods

I slept for four hours the sun is up it's time for spooky shit.

This is not related to this scene but I enjoy how we have seen four whole men so far and only one of them is in 1995 (Corey): the other is the bartender Gus and two of his punters. An almost zero perfect ratio of men tbh

Me, turns on camera
Spins it around
Full on silhouette of a shadow just standing next to a tree
IS THIS ANYTHING
(ETA: it is something there's lots of them throughout the game including Kat ones when they briefly flash in. don't nod pls.)

I will say the daytime lighting and scenery is gorgeous but there's something about the dark but specifically in the camcorder mode where everything is extra fuzzy that's really really nice

Me staring at a door locked from the inside like yeah maybe if you open that you're letting something out
(Noise happens behind me and I jump) LIKE WHATEVER THAT IS
(ETA: I did not catch this at the time but this is one of the Kat Shadows putting up the hint piece of paper about how to unlock the door with the knife that Kat later claims for herself. Circular narrative MY BELOVED)

The person who lived here was 1830s but I don't think he was the last person to live here. if he even left

2022 Swann is writing a book, subconsciously inspired by what is happening right now (you can "pick" what's following you essentially, no thanks on the cryptid) so although she forgot she didn't completely. Autumn asks when she started writing it. Swann says, "Nanowrimo"
SWANN ARE YOU ME.
(She apparently didn't hit her daily word count targets I can't relate) (2021 I was writing... let's start some trouble. girls :))

Present Swann, still describing her book based on past events: the cryptid watches them from the opposite shore
Me who is still traumatised from the Control AWE dlc with Alan wake describing the thing-that-had-been-hartman, where everything he writes actually happens. ok let me just go into photo mode and check (there's no one there)

All the symbols glitch out your camera like the eye symbol in the old playground

"And then we went home" THANK GOD.


Call a friend

But i want to call everyone :(

I'm going to be real I have seen 2022 Nora and i need to maybe have Swann romance her so. :)

(I really like autumn but it feels more friends rn, Nora has been very kiss :)? so)

Nora: can you hold my hand whilst we go to the cabin
Me: she sure CAN

Some more girl observations since this is around half way of tape 1:

Nora tries to come off as tough but she's very heart on her sleeve. Rebellious spirit. Kind of raised herself because her dad remarried and has a new baby, wants to move to LA with her mom. Smokes and drinks but it's absolutely bad outlet. Gets scared easily. You'd think she'd be all in on the cabin scene but nope she's small and fragile and scared

Autumn is the level headed sensible one. Girl next door best friend. Very grounding. What you see is what you get: she hasn't done anything I wouldn't expect her to do

Kat plays her cards very close to her chest. We know a decent amount about autumn from her video doc and also present autumn talking about herself; we spend a lot of time in Nora's space, she doesn't stop talking, she's very open. Kat has told me next to nothing about herself, just that she doesn't want to be coddled and is very independent. I can somewhat guess autumn and Nora's positive choice ambient dialogue but kat's were more difficult to determine. She seems to be straight-talking though, predisposed towards violence, truly she still does scare me a little bit :') but also this fascinates me because from her introduction i just feel like she is going to commit wrongs and I can't wait to see what they are


This Old House

Guide: you can help all 3 if you're quick enough
Me: on it.

Kat talking about sad and morose poetry... suspicious.

The symbols don't glitch your camera anymore

Nora and the moth and Swann helping her take it off oh no I do ship it


Echoes of Summer



Awkward phase is gone we are all friends now

This montage is really nice

I have not much to say I'm just enjoying the vibes

Fawn's rest or Fawn's curse i see you and your doe references don't nod i see you.

Ok Nora in skater dresses. Whoever decided to let her wear these. 10/10 she's so stinking cute

She drew them in her corner I cry

Kat: has a knife
Me: CAT CRIMES SOON TM


Nora Malakian, 1995

Swann: what do you do for fun?
Nora: you. Just kidding :3

A cry for attention is me just like yes. Ashe.

I wonder if Nora's mom is as good as she says she is

She has all these big star dreams and I don't think they're going to happen :( not only because life is disappointments but because the band is so heavily tied to the paranormal stuff that they collectively forgot and we still don't know anything about. It's definitely going to be the hook for tape 2 i feel

I do like how Swann and autumn in the present are steadily unwrapping it tho, retracting their steps. It really works for the nostalgia and them reconnecting with each other as you see them connecting in the first place. Like you gotta have them bond before showing the weird shit. That said earlier projections of "will this game be too far out my comfort zone" may not be known until tape 2 and by then it's too late i am attached to the girls head in hands


Bloom...

Of course Kat finds the clearing of trees with eyes and a fuckin fae fairy circle of mushrooms when she was at the cabin by herself

Kat: hey guys quick question. Have you ever wanted to curse someone
Kat crimes SOONtm

Kat: so I wrote the song and it's a curse
Of course it is

See i want to personally say it's about "justice". But my Ashe muse says, "VENGEANCE" (and kat would also make it vengeance she's feral she's a gremlin she's gonna fuck shit up)

Car pulling up outside in the diner
Me: NORA IS HERE!!!!!!! (I can't tell you how excited i am to see her)

Kat: we have to seal the curse
Girls: how
Kat pulling out her knife:

I mean we HAVE TO the symbolism of being in a fairy ring with all these eyes near this weirdass cabin in the middle of these maybe haunted woods that we couldn't remember we gotta seal a curse

Synth time is back

I've seen Nora in low quality right and im just



ASHE HAIRCUT
YOU UNDERSTAND NOW RIGHT

She's a fashion designer love that for her

She has a wife and three kids god I love that. The subtext of 1995 Nora being lesbian (but never outright saying it) is 100% addressed, cleared up, confirmed. Love you Nora

She stalked everyone online after autumn got in contact of course she did

Pam and Gus being into supernatural stuff seems kind of important so I'll keep talking to them about it (for now)

NORA STOLE MY SEAT



Hello my loves


Packing Up

See now we get Nora reminiscing too when you look at stuff in 1995 and do things and I really do enjoy this aspect like!!! I understand now why Swann was so silent about things at first

Nora: i want to go Paris
Me: ouihaw.

Nora: im getting eaten alive (by mosquitos)
Kat: you must taste sweet
Nora: you know it :3
Autumn: EUGH ENOUGH


Double Dare

Autumn: when Swann's done filming she's going to make us a fire
Nora: but i want to make the fire :(
Autumn: no.

Swann and Kat bonding over the fact they don't want this to end...

Because im a big baby im reading all of the truth or dare outcomes before going in LOL ok

Kat being dared to give Nora a hickey is like
FINALLY. TIME TO BITE

I have to pick crush because you know. Romance
"She's talking about ME"

"I wasn't even into guys. Not that you knew that yet" lesbian,,
"Teen girls and assuming all crushes must be a guy" god real

I don't want to do the Mary but I gotta for the achievement
HEY THE ENTITY IS BACK AGAIN
briefly anyway

Nora: i was just a raging ball of hormones all over her, poor kat

Nora like "i peeked" Nora pls

Anyway kat has been doing dares all night and they're all like what are we forgetting you're forgetting your scary friend

A KNIFE part 3

God i hate table knife stabbing with fingers, im always a big blood baby but anything with hands is just i cannot and will not look

More weird shit. Did you just summon something kat (it's teal instead of purple)

Ok next scene is full weird stuff so I may have to return to this tomorrow since it is now night time and i am once again, a big baby,


The Abyss

This is like. The first time they've stayed overnight

Cool fairy ring where we did our blood pact is now just a yawning chasm cool cool nothing to worry about

Kat has purple dots in her eyes. Girl you possessed rn

They are shadows of what used to be. They want to come back but they're afraid

Swann: Pandemonium
Kat: And anarchy? Sign me up
Kat you are still scaring me

Where's your rage where's your anger - Kat probably

BOY? IN MY GAME ABOUT GIRLS??

Nora's wish being like i want everyone to fuck off and leave us alone and we can be together forever
And she tells Corey to fuck off and HER EYES FLASH and then he gets headaches
Okay this is good bullshit I like

Yeah Corey this is girls game GET OUT



Ashes of love the signals of hate


Kat Mikaelsen, 1995

Kat having to watch her friends (the deer) die every year would mess anybody up lbr

Kat finding stuff in the forest makes sense because. It favours her it likes her. There are deer ghosts in those woods


Riot Grrls/...and rage

No let the girls KISS



Don't nod like hey. Here is some Corey backstory. If you want to read it. You don't have to tho. It explains his behaviours at least (he's an orphan, he's doing his best) (his best is kind of shit and it doesn't excuse his abusive behaviours but it reminds me of Nathan like. I like to see Why)

Doing the concert and Corey bopping his head LMAO he's into it

YOU GO GET EM GIRLS thank you pam
(I was gonna say one of these ladies has to be Pam and she's also into it)

Kat summoning a curse??? (concern)

Kat's secret: she has leukemia

I love how it frames Dylan and Corey entirely differently in this scene like. Drunk guy tries to go at them and he protects all of them

Girls looking out of the bar to seeing the girls outside on the road

Shows the abyss again at the end... did they go wish... for kat... is kat going to jump in before she dies... I have many questions. I got the impression she wasn't coming to the reunion, like autumn talks about us opening the box when we're all ready and Nora puts it off for unknown reasons (possibly just she doesn't like scary shit or dwelling but there's likely something else she isn't spilling yet) but I just feel like kat isn't coming. Did she send the box? Is she still alive in some way? Did she curse the town and is haunting it forever??

We never did get a follow up of the wendigo guy cut in at the start of the game (next time im sure)

Ok now i need tape 2 LMAO woops.

Somehow I have "something more" with Kat when I have not flirted with her once ok game sure

The even 50/50 global split on the song being about vengeance or justice is FASCINATING to me
This account has disabled anonymous posting.
If you don't have an account you can create one now.
HTML doesn't work in the subject.
More info about formatting
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios