The primary episode of Don’t Nod’s narrative journey, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, ended with a hell of a cliffhanger: a huge discovery of one thing unknown, probably malevolent, and a devastating revelation about one of many story’s central figures. Because the second episode, or tape, of this player-choice-driven, nostalgia-powered story goals to attract issues to their conclusion when Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 2 launches April 15 day one into the PlayStation Plus Sport Catalog, gamers have been left questioning what to anticipate.
To dig deeper into the sport’s ambitions and get some additional perception on what to anticipate from Swann, Nora, Autumn, and Kat’s subsequent escapade, we sat down for a chat with Michel Koch, Inventive Director at Don’t Nod’s Montreal studio.
You Oughta Know
Koch was keen to inform us how this expertise would differ from the primary. “The primary Tape, ‘Bloom’, is the good and sunny a part of the start of the summer time, of you assembly and bonding with these ladies. The second half is known as ‘Rage’, which is usually the aftermath of the cliffhanger on the finish of Tape 1. We needed Tape 1 to let the participant discover their very own area throughout the group of buddies, getting a feeling of a summer time the place you meet buddies, but additionally giving hints of bizarre issues. They’re discovering the clearing. They’re discovering the abyss. It’s a very pure story of 4 ladies having a enjoyable summer time collectively earlier than Swann strikes away.”
“However Tape 2 will focus extra on this weirder a part of the story. We all know what occurred on the finish of the summer time. We nonetheless don’t know why, however we all know that they promise to not see one another once more. We all know in regards to the bizarre field, we find out about Kat, however we don’t know the implications of this revelation. How do you proceed to have a regular summer time with your mates? And, in fact, the continuation of what’s taking place with these bizarre issues they discovered within the forest.
These supernatural components might be extra necessary. Personally, I like making an attempt to mix supernatural issues and surrealism revolving across the story of our characters. You’ll be able to create a darker, weirder temper whereas nonetheless focusing on the characters and then including the characters. We create this vibe, and it’s going to get stronger and play a big a part of the story’s decision.”
The pacing on this follow-up might be extra brisk, as effectively. “Tape 2 positively picks up the tempo,” he continues. “We noticed what occurred with Kat and the top of the live performance, and Tape 2 will begin the following day with Swann having to face type of the guilt, even when it’s not our fault, of placing buddies at risk. We’ll advance by the month of August as much as the top occasions. So sure, it’s quicker paced, with greater stakes.”
Koch additionally emphasised that gamers will see extra of how their selections in tape one have an effect on the general narrative. “We had a lot of selections. Who you’re speaking to, who you’re getting closest to, all these interpersonal relationships with the women, and so on. What was the selection you made through the ritual? What did you do on the abyss? How did you react to Corey and Dylan within the instances you had been with them? Are you behaving in a extra violent or illegal manner, or are you generally taking the path to be cautious? A variety of these will change the course of what’s taking place in Tape 2.”
Ladies on Movie
One of the attention-grabbing options of tape one was the camcorder, which protagonist Swann carries together with her in all places to chronicle her life in Velvet Cove, Michigan. Gamers may tape objects of curiosity as in-game collectibles or simply movie no matter and edit it collectively to make mini-movies. Nevertheless, the camcorder turns into a essential plot and gameplay component at a number of factors.
We requested Koch in regards to the position the camcorder will play in Tape 2. “We’re increasing it a bit. We needed to present you a device that’s Swann’s ‘weapon’ or ‘protect.’ She’s filming folks, however she’s additionally hiding behind the camcorder. We needed to make it enjoyable in a manner that’s participating prefer it was to movie issues within the 90s. We needed to make use of these mechanics to hyperlink a lot of different mechanics of the sport.
So, in Tape 2, there might be a few extra unique moments: unlocking a puzzle or discovering a answer to a clue or one thing it’s a must to do. There may be a twist with the camcorder and your movies that I don’t need to spoil, that hopefully will resonate with gamers. Will probably be the best way you movie the sport that might be necessary at a level story-wise, and hopefully, there might be a robust connection between these footage and your personal journey.”
Will Tape 2 additionally embrace extra puzzles than the handful seen within the first half? Koch says sure. “There are puzzles that I actually like in Tape 2. One is extra like a narrative puzzle that’s nonetheless a mix of interplay, shifting round, and dialogue. I feel it’s very attention-grabbing as a result of it makes use of all our narrative design components, dialog choices, and your data in regards to the characters to unlock conditions, not simply by discovering objects but additionally by actually understanding somebody and utilizing your fundamental instruments of dialogue and the camcorder.”
Tonight, Tonight
What in regards to the different half of the narrative, the buddies reuniting in a bar once more 27 years later? “That half will nonetheless happen largely within the bar,” says Koch. “We nonetheless want to complete remembering the previous. We have to open the field, which might be an necessary scene. We have now 4 totally different fundamental endings on the finish of the present-day portion, with variations on these endings based mostly on your selections. Throughout these endings, we’ll get out of the bar. You may uncover a bit extra of how the city is at the moment, 27 years later.”
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The bar, he explains, is what the sport’s complete idea was constructed round initially. “Our pitch was a story the place we had been making an attempt to convey the sensation of assembly once more with previous buddies you haven’t seen for a very long time, having a dialogue with them, the place you’d be remembering your previous and seeing if you happen to can reconnect with them at the moment. I considered having a second in a bar, in a restaurant, or a room the place you begin to join once more, and generally you reconnect completely. Typically, it’s iffy, and you don’t know if you happen to can nonetheless be buddies. That was the attention-grabbing half for me, the narrative facet. Inside these partitions, you’re compelled to speak. You’re dealing with one another, so you’re obliged to recollect the previous.”
We requested Koch if he had any closing feedback for followers. “I might say to the gamers, thanks for taking part in Tape 1, and I hope that Tape 2 will fulfill their hope of the place the sport goes. I additionally hope that Tape 2 will shock them the place the sport goes, and that they get pleasure from seeing how relationship selection and morality selections they made in tape one play out. What is going to occur in Tape 2 will shock, but additionally hopefully fulfill them, and they are going to love the top of the journey. For brand new gamers, I hope that they are going to love the characters, interacting with these ladies, and participating with this story, with us, with the summer time.”
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