My love for Don’t Nod video games started identical to most different’s in all probability did: when the wonderful phenomenon often known as Life Is Unusual got here in to tug in any respect our heartstrings.

Since then, there’s all the time been some chatter in regards to the franchise’s religious successor, carrying on Don’t Nod’s monumental storytelling whereas additionally mixing in one thing totally new. And, after spending a couple of hours with its upcoming title, Misplaced Information: Bloom & Rage, it seems like we’re lastly getting that successor, if not much more.

As a substitute of controlling time like Max Caulfield, Misplaced Information has you direct moments with a video recorder as Swann, a younger movie fanatic who fully embodies teenage awkwardness. She’s a slipshod lady who’s fast to journey over all the things and sometimes throws a couple of phrases of basic teenage self-deprivation any time she messes up. And, in fact, she all the time desires to maintain it hip with the cool youngsters, even when she mentions films nobody’s ever heard of.

However no matter my wanting to twist up in a ball of embarrassment for her, the sport actually encapsulates the naivety of teenage-hood with its rollercoaster of emotions. It touches upon a really emotional a part of all our lives, making it all of the extra relatable.

Getting misplaced in Velvet Cove

As a thriller narrative journey set in 1995, Misplaced Information: Bloom & Rage follows Swann’s journey together with her eccentric group of buddies. In cozy Velvet Cove, you’ll meet the rebellious rockstar Nora and her fellow bandmate, Autumn, who’s received a kind-hearted spirit. Final however not least is Kat, probably the most logical teen out of the ensemble.

Their amusing camaraderie makes it look like we’re getting a basic summer season female-led narrative about friendship. Then, the story shifts right into a extra I Know What You Did Final Summer time vibe when one thing goes bump within the night time. Flash ahead to 27 years later, we study that the quirky ensemble hasn’t spoken to one another since, and now their previous is lastly catching as much as them — all to show what occurred that fateful night time.

The scenes play out in a back-and-forth method, switching between Swann’s teenage years and maturity. I largely received to expertise the previous timeline, however their future selves generally put of their two cents by narrating numerous moments. It’s refined for probably the most half, the place Swann will chime in to say, “Wait, why did I say that? That’s so embarrassing!”

Regardless of the current timeline being temporary, it did remind me plenty of the present Yellowjackets’ past-and-present model, particularly with the entire “don’t inform anybody what occurred” factor it’s received occurring. Nevertheless, quite than watching the way it performs out, you’ll be in management by way of the sport’s impactful choice-based mechanics.

Selections actually form your journey all through Misplaced Information: Bloom & Rage, irrespective of how small or monumental they could seem. It may be as primary as not shifting a bit of wire out of the best way, resulting in Swann tripping and falling flat in entrance of her buddies. I do know it’s only a online game, however seeing these judging eyes makes me really feel like I’m a slipshod teenager over again.

There are additionally some bits the place you must try to impress Nora, Kat, and Autumn, which introduced on a problem for me. I assume I by no means actually mastered the artwork of being cool since I appeared to select the alternatives that regard Swann’s mother and father, particularly mentioning her father’s rock music style. I forgot that liking your mother and father at that age isn’t that “cool.”

On the brilliant aspect, the group is fairly lenient on these decisions and is good sufficient to look previous any of the “improper” choices. However because it’s a preview model, I solely received a style of the choice gameplay. The present construct primarily focuses on a day in Swann’s life main as much as the night time that modifications all the things. I gained’t give away an excessive amount of, nevertheless it appears to be linked to their discovery of a darkish place that alters their lives endlessly. I extremely suspect the total model will deliver out the extra important decisions that could possibly be a matter of life and dying.

Be the director of a basic ’90s teen film

Whereas decisions are the primary focus of virtually each Don’t Nod entry, the digital camera characteristic is what makes the sport exceptionally distinctive. The preview begins with you enjoying round with a recorder at her home, after which ends with the grand finale of constructing a music video for Autumn and Nora’s band. You’ll be able to pull out Swann’s digital camera nearly all over the place you go and create quick movies to seize your summer season reminiscences. I assumed my recording expertise sucked once I first tried it out, however fortuitously, Misplaced Information: Bloom & Rage makes you are feeling such as you had been born to be a director.

The recordings are fully edited in a retro model, that includes a basic glitch-filled VHS filter. It’s nearly as for those who uncovered a video from the ’90s in a time capsule. Plus, Swann narrates every bit, giving it way more that means together with her curiously harmless nature. It’s extra enjoyable to do when you have got the gang with you, attending to know them slightly extra with every scene. Key moments may be captured right here to deliver extra pizazz to the piece, from Autumn’s dynamic cartwheeling to Nora’s cigarette smoke rings, to Kat’s stoic look. That, to me, simply appears like the right encapsulation of teenage angst, and it’s good to see all of it come collectively in its last manufacturing.

Even once I lately recorded a bit, I all the time wished to see what it appeared like instantly afterward. There’s simply one thing extra private about watching your creations come to life, which can undoubtedly make everybody’s playthrough distinctive. There are additionally a couple of alternatives to seize the wildlife round you, providing extra factors so that you can shoot as a group problem.

Other than the gameplay, Misplaced Information: Bloom & Rage’s visuals are simply plain beautiful. Each scene seems prefer it could possibly be hung as a portray, with its vibrant surroundings and finely crafted atmosphere. However even with its painting-esque paintings, it nonetheless one way or the other seems life like with its lifelike characters.

The ’90s are making a comeback

As a ’90s child, I loved all of the little particulars of this period all through the scenes. Though I used to be goo-goo-gaga’ing round that point, I acknowledged the small tidbits, from a Blockbuster-inspired video tape to the modern fanny packs. The stylish outfits add to the ’90s period extra, and you’ve got the facility to decide on what Swann wears.

Having that management of outfits and decisions makes the whole expertise completely significant. By the top of it, I used to be engrossed within the character’s lives and the thriller behind their secrets and techniques. It additionally left off with a cliffhanger, giving me the identical impatient feeling I get every time a TV present ends with “Discover out what occurs subsequent within the upcoming episode!” Solely the wait is a bit more agonizing because the sport gained’t be popping out till subsequent 12 months.

Should you’re on the lookout for one thing like Life Is Unusual, Misplaced Information: Bloom & Rage will likely be proper up your alley. It has that very same sturdy female-led factor, with thriller and teenage angst. The title additionally presents extremely recent ideas by way of its group ensemble and digital camera recording characteristic, making it stand out from the LiS sequence. I already know I’m choosing it up the minute the sport launches, primarily based on my demo’s cliffhanger alone. And you’ll, too, when it releases Tape 1 on Feb. 18, 2025, and Tape 2 on March 18, 2025, on PC, Xbox Sequence X|S, and PlayStation 5.