Lost Records: Bloom & Rage – Tape 2 Review: A Poetic, Supernatural Closure Worth Rewinding
I’ll be honest — I didn’t expect Lost Records: Bloom & Rage to hit me as hard as it did. Going into Tape 1, it felt like a nostalgic throwback — four teenage girls, the 90s vibe, a camcorder in hand, and long summer days brimming with freedom and secrets.
But now with Tape 2 (“Rage”), things shift. It’s no longer just about blooming friendships — it’s about consequences, darkness, and the mysterious depths of a past we thought we understood.
A Quick Look Back at Tape 1: “Bloom”
If you missed the first part, Tape 1 was all about discovery. Not just about the world or the weird happenings in Velvet Cove — but about the characters themselves.
Kat, Nora, Swann, and Autumn were brought to life with rich voice acting, heartfelt dialogue, and that intoxicating mix of innocence and rebellion you only find in well-crafted coming-of-age stories.
A lot of us connected with their silliness, their first loves, and even just biking through town with a camcorder, soaking in that 90s suburban magic.
And then… it ended. A cliffhanger — involving Kat and a mystery tied to a strange box, something abyssal, almost supernatural.
The vibe suddenly darkened, and I knew Tape 2 wouldn’t just be about riding the nostalgia wave anymore.
Tape 2: “Rage” – The Reckoning Begins
Now we’re in deeper water.
From the start, Tape 2 takes a faster, darker turn. The choices we made earlier—whether we stood by certain friends, how we handled the ritual, or even how we interacted with Corey and Dylan—start to echo through the story.
And not quietly, either. This isn’t window-dressing. Your decisions matter, and Tape 2 is here to make you feel them.
The camcorder mechanic — already a cool storytelling tool in Tape 1 — evolves beautifully here. It’s not just for memories now.
It becomes a puzzle-solving tool, a key to the plot itself. Sometimes, what you film can shape what you learn. It’s meta, immersive, and honestly one of my favorite parts of the gameplay loop.
There’s also more focus on narrative-driven puzzles — ones that demand you remember character relationships and story beats.
It’s a smart way to reward players who’ve been emotionally invested since the beginning.
What truly hit me though, was the present-day storyline. The bar where these women reunite, 27 years later, isn’t just a backdrop — it’s the heart.
You feel the weight of time, the things left unsaid, the secrets finally rising. And depending on how you played, there are four main endings (with slight variations), each offering emotional closure in its own way.
The theme of reconnection is strong here. It’s about forgiveness, about facing what you ran from, and embracing who you’ve become. Honestly? It’s beautiful.
Even as things get heavy, Lost Records doesn’t lose its soul. The visuals remain dreamy. The synth-heavy, retro soundtrack is still hypnotic (yep, I found the Spotify playlists too), and the voice work continues to be top-tier.
It’s this perfect blend of cinematic flair and grounded storytelling that makes Don’t Nod so good at what they do.
If Tape 1 was about the magic of youth, Tape 2 is about growing up — not just aging, but confronting your past with open eyes.
It may not shout as loudly as other AAA releases today, but Lost Records: Bloom & Rage has something a lot of those games don’t: heart.
If you’ve played Tape 1, Tape 2 is an absolute must. And if you haven’t jumped in yet? Now’s the perfect time to experience the full journey.
