Lost Records: Bloom & Rage

[h1]It's not a "yes" it's a "eeeee really depends on someone's personality"[/h1] [i]Personally I find this game in a middle of my ranking of choice based games.[/i] [h1]Lore: [/h1] Okey, at the begining i was worried that it's going to be LiS all over again, just with diffrent characters. Idea is really cool and it had a lot of potencial, yet i feel like it missed a kick in some places. A lot of topics could've been explored but were only touched for some reason. Tape 1 was a great introduction to all of a characters aaaand sadly that's were it stops. Most of the characters feel all the time as if we met them on the same day, everyday. Game wants us to feel so connected with all of the main characters, but doesn't let give a player right tools, it looked like i had a paint, canvas and a picture how the painting should look like, but after 10min decided i don't feel like drawing that anymore and started a new one. I wouldn't expect it normally especially that they spent only one summer together and that would've alright if they wouldn't trust each other instantly, but game behaves as if we should feel like that already. However, I can excuse it somewhat because they're teens afterall I'll talk about characters later tho. [spoiler] The whole idea of abyss and witches coven is sick, i was intrested in it. The concept of being chosen to have a magical connection with nature and witchcraft was well done. Ignoring the convenient accidental creation of weird magic things (not talking about the song/curse). My problem is that we accepted it REALLY QUICKLY. Why no one was asking questions? I know that Swan was looking for some clues what we could find on her desk, there is NOTHING else. No questions about weird signs in the "Fawns Rest" (depends on what u called it obv), no questions about that weird infinite hole in the ground, no questions about the dance scene? Just acceptance. Also, i know that they're teenagers, BUT C'MON there's NO WAY that they wouldn't tell anyone (anyone as for example, PARENTS?) about the abyss. I'm sorry but if i EVER got sth like abyss on camera, wouldn't be the 1st thing to show someone? I dunno, maybe i'm the dumb one. [/spoiler] [h1]Gameplay:[/h1] For the first time since LiS 2, I actually enjoyed the gameplay. Moving the character didn't feel so clumsily (i may be delusional tho). Developers really showed some love to the mechanics in this game, recording made me feel connected to in game world and most inportantly Swan. Probably going to collect all of the clips someday cuz it really makes the game feel whole. [h1]Atmosphere and Graphics:[/h1] Atmosphere of the WHOLE GAME is alright, it looks and feels like the times it wants to represent. It shows that they care about the proper reception of young nostalgia and they did that well. Lighting and graphics fitted well to events that were happening. HOWEVER ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ what went wrong with some of the scenes? I some places main characters behaved like they had a switch for like 3 sentences and then switched back to them self. Any drama and arguments left me confused because of some characters behaviour [spoiler] (especially that one argument near the abyss with Kat) [/spoiler]. I suppose the reason could be voice actors not knowing some thing, but i'm really opposed to this idea. And a lot of times something was glitching (mostly textures) which killed the vibe a lot of times. I want to blame my device, but if it can deal with CP2077 then it has to be UE fault lol. [h1]Characters:[/h1] If you didn't play or worry about spoilers don't read it. It's mostly my opinion anyways. Swan: Oh how i love Swan, whoever made her did a great job. Her representation of being a weird nerd who is having problems to socialize is spot on (SEE WARREN, THAT'S HOW YOU DO IT BY NOT BEING A CREEP). I really like how she is shown to be awkward a lot of times and saying "wrong" things she didn't mean. Her passions and quirks are made in an easy understandable way. Her relation with mom is complicated but i wished it was displayed more in front of us more then 3 times in a span of 10hours. Autumn: Okey I may be biased but it's my rewiew so yea. I HATE HER. I dunno is she made to be annyoing or what? For the first time i thought "oh, she seems cool" BUT AFTER THAT EVERY MINUTE GOT WORSE. "You left me out" SIS YOU LEFT YOUR SELF OUT "You didn't call me" THEN YOU CALL ME? I works both ways you know? She doesn't stand out in any way. That wouldn't be a problem if it was a real life, or this game had around 20 hours of gameplay, but how am i supposed to like a main character who shows little to know about herself. I have to give it to her, she's good at showing boundries. As for the adult version, she is alright - she changed and it shows. Nora: I am so glad she isn't just a comedic relief. She is funny, and is her own character. We know she is a divorce child yet it doesn't define her. She is horny a lot as a teenager and i really like that, because it is something that is [i] talked [/i] but isn't [i] shown [/i]. Out of all 4 she seems the most like a teenager, tho i think writers sometimes didn't know what to do with her which translates into her adult self... yea we're not going to talk about her, stfu adult Nora why did you even come. Before i go to Kat and our lovebirds i have to say. OMFG Adult Nora and Autumn ARE SO, SO OVERREACTING. Like seriously, i understand talking about past is hard, I know it from a first hand. You came from all this way to talk. What did you expect would happen? A demon portal would spawn? That box had i dunno a head of someone? Please "this is too hard" SIT YOUR ASS DOWN where tf you're going? YOU DRANK ALCOHOL DO NOT TOUCH THAT CAR FFS. You're not a teenager anymore, YOU ARE A 43 YEAR OLD, YOU HAVE KIDS. (oh beside, they could look a bit older ngl but that's a nitpick form my side) Kat: I really liked her, she was weird in her own way. We knew she had some problems and really strict parents. Her sister dated a ***** ***** of ****. She was bound to have a lot of complex feelings. I love the troupe of her wanting to get out of cage, feeling to be locked in this town (im not sure if i can call it a town?) and the little subtle forshadowing of cancer. After the reveal tho, i was wondering (and it might sound harsh) "Is cancer all she is?" No, she's way more then that. Her poems, her behaviour, everything she does and feels is not bound by being ill. Imo she feels like she was wrote fully with the idea that she's on a clock, yet it didn't define her AND THAT is hard. Dylan: I think is's one of the character that i don't really need to say anything about. She is well made, her story is understandable and as an older brother with a ill lil bro in my family, she represents herself pretty good. She is not shallow, we just don't know everything. Corey: Bro i dunno, he's just made to be the villain. In Tape 1, we can go though his bike and find some info about him, his family and stuff like that - it made me think they'd give us some reason why he's like that. NO NO NO **** off, not they won't he is just bad **** you, oh look! now he is telling a person who's dying that she's a waste of space. Oh look! No he his ill person. He is just a bad character, and to think some people could compare him to Nathan Presscot. Nah dude, Corey is way worse. Overall i Liked that game, but unless counting the twist it didn't make me feel things unlike other choice based games and I can't help but wonder, why couldn't I? Solid 6,34/10