Lost Records: Bloom & Rage

An atmospheric coming-of-age adventure with a strong '90s feel, its strongest selling point being its well-written and drawn main characters. The soundtrack is smashing, but Don't Nod runs out of steam for the finale, leaving many questions completely unanswered.

When a game like Lost Records: Bloom & Rage shows such potential, I feel a grander sense of disappointment when it doesn't stick the landing. The game's characters aren't going to be everybody's cup of tea, because they can be over-the-top at times, but their love and friendship made me fall for them despite their imperfections. The refinements in the formula that began with Life is Strange ten years ago make this story resonate more, because you gain a more intimate insight into everybody's mindset.

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is a game that's saved by its characters. Their personalities are as fleshed out as we'd expect from a Don't Nod adventure game, they're the driving force in getting you through the story. The presentation is top-notch as usual, and the tweaks to the choice system give the game enough room to feel a little different from the studio's past adventures. It's just too bad that the story isn't paced so well, and the tale feels like a setup for something bigger in a future game rather than something that is more self-contained. The game is still fairly enjoyable if you know what you're getting into, but don't expect the title to feel as complete as others, like the first Life is Strange or Tell Me Why.