( ENSPIRE Entertainment ) Don’t Nod Entertainment Brings a New and Diverse World to its Roster
ENSPIRE Contributor: Seanna Nona
In 1995, Michigan, a fictional town called Velvet Cove, is home to four young teens named Swann Holloway, Nora Malakian, Autumn Lockhart, and Kathryn (Kat) Mikaelsen. I am a fan of choice-based narrative games and a huge fan of Don’t Nod Entertainment’s work. Their newest game, Lost Records: Bloom and Rage, gripped me in a way no game has in a long time.
You begin the game as the playable character, Swann Holloway. This is her last summer in her home state, Michigan. Being a huge movie buff, Swann’s first mission is to return a movie to the fictional Movie Palace store. Once there, an unlikely encounter occurs, and Swann is thrown into a world of mystery, adventure, and friendship. This will be the girls’ best, most exciting summer.
Basing the game in 1995 gave Don’t Nod Entertainment the opportunity to tell a story about girlhood and friendship, and introduce gamers to the Riot Grrrl era. Punk music, rebellion, and fighting discrimination are core aspects of Swann, Nora, Kat, and Autumn’s story. Whether standing up to the antagonist, Corey, or rocking out to their song See You in Hell, you follow the four girls as they find their way in the world while also dealing with a mysterious entity called The Abyss.
Lost Records: Bloom and Rage has been praised for having a diverse group of characters and for not being afraid to dive into deeper topics such as homophobia, fatphobia, and abuse. As many gamers know, it is rare to have main characters who are women, especially women of color, in video games. Players, like myself, feel seen and have truly connected with this group of girls. They have honest conversations and genuine emotions. They rebel against society and aren’t afraid to take up space and question the status quo. You can see yourself in them, and although you may not have found your Nora, Autumn, or Kat when you were Swann’s age, you have found them now in the vast internet world where fans can express their love for the game and connect.
As the player, you don’t just stay in 1995; instead, a unique aspect of the game is how you switch between 1955 and 2022. As a 43-year-old Swann, you come together with a 44-year-old Autumn and Nora and try to uncover the mysteries of the past. As you bounce between the two time periods, you, as the player, can have a love interest or not. Just like with the genders of the girls, you, as the player, have no choice but to have a crush on one of your friends, whether in 1995 or 2022. While many games give you an option to be gay or not, Don’t Nod isn’t afraid to be diverse and show different aspects of real life.
Whether you are seeking POC characters, realistic body types, queer representation, etc., you can find it here. Lost Records: Bloom and Rage is a relatable, brave, and intriguing game where you can control the narrative and experience a shocking and heartfelt story of four friends in Velvet Cove, Michigan.
For more information, follow: Steam, X, Website, Creative Director
Featured Articles: NFL PRO ERA, First-ever NFL & NFLPA-Licensed Virtual Reality Game Is Available Now, Social Aspects of Online Gaming: Building Communities on Virtual Platforms
