Tape 2 of Lost Records: Bloom and Rage has dropped. After finishing it, I think this is the first true successor to Life is Strange.

I mean this in more ways than one. The game is by no means perfect. It has tons of 'flaws' that maybe aren't necessarily flaws that give the game some character. It was strongly vibe based. It captures that certain feeling about youth. It was about something.

While Life is Strange is about regret, I think Bloom and Rage is about loss. The loss of simply existing. With every wish, with every change in you, there comes a cost. It all means leaving something behind. While Max's power in Life is Strange is a metaphor for regret, the Abyss is the metaphor for this loss. It can give, but it always needs something in return.

I think Chloe was more of a driving force behind Life is Strange than people realize. Without her, Max just isn't that interesting of a character. Thankfully I think the four main characters affect each other in interesting ways. It seems to me anyway that the game respects your choices more this time around. It's not happily ever after. This is a crew you'll feel attached to.

There's a hokeyness to some of the performances, where everything is played up instead of being communicated non verbally. The pauses and sobs can perhaps be overdone, but it feels as if it comes from an earnest place. Because dang man, does it capture the vibe and feeling of that perfect summer. Those moments you'd look back on later in life or see flash before your eyes when you die. We see the bonds of friendship take hold, and also break. It feels honest to me.

I loved the dialogue system. What you say can alter your relationships with characters, but it isn't always clear what will have a positive and negative effect. You could intend for it to be good but backfire. You could choose to ask about something you want to know at the expense of a relationship hit rather than go without knowing. It really plays with the idea of just saying the best thing all the time to get max relationship points. You don't always have to speak, and sometimes saying nothing is better. Sometimes by waiting to speak new dialogue options will open up while old ones close off. The conversation system is surprisingly thoughtful and active.

It's slow to get started, but it pays off. You build the relationships in tape 1, then tape 2 just goes so fucking hard. I was stunned by the ending. Even moreso when looking at the choice stats and realizing there were a fuck ton of different endings. But mine felt right. Real. Mine. There were costs and not everybody came out of it for the better. Like real life.

There's still stupid 'gamey' puzzles and tasks. There is not as much creativity in the game system as Life is Strange where you could use your rewind power infinitely and wherever you want. It's more of a pure narrative experience.

It's a shame that it is apparently not selling well. Maybe now that Tape 2 is out people who didn't want to wait between them will pick it up.