Kinda Funny Games Daily: Episode Summary

Title: Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 1 Review
Release Date: February 18, 2025
Hosts: Blessing Adeoye Jr., Roger McCorney
Guest: Joey Noel
Duration: Approximately 58 minutes

1. Introduction and Personal Anecdotes

The episode kicks off with a lighthearted discussion between Blessing Adeoye Jr. and Roger McCorney about their recent experience watching the new Captain America movie in a 4DX theater. They humorously recount the intense physical effects of the 4DX experience.

• Roger McCorney: “[...] there was one moment when Captain America, not a spoiler, but I guess get stabbed a little bit. Just a little bit. It has no bearing on the movie, you know? I mean, just a little bit of a stabbing. And the seat, like, stabbed me. Like. Like.”

• Blessing Adioye Jr.: “Sucking himself off.”

This banter sets a casual and engaging tone for the episode.

2. Review of Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 1

The main focus of the episode is an in-depth review of Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 1. The hosts and guest Joey Noel delve into various aspects of the game, comparing it to previous titles by the developer Dontnod, such as Life Is Strange.

a. Overview of Reviews and Scores

• Metacritic: 76

• Open Critic: 75

• Rachel Watts (Games Radar): 4.5/5 Stars
  "I'm blown away by Lost Records Bloom and Rage Tape one and if this continues into Tape two, Dontnod will have totally captured the core essence of its most iconic series, blossoming into something new and brilliant."

• Tom Phillips (Eurogamer): 4/5 Stars
  "What's here already, though, is an intriguing mix of familiar and new, not an offbeat road trip and not just another high school adventure. After such a lengthy wait, it's great to see such a confident return."

• Graham Smith (Rock Paper Shotgun): Unscored Review
  "Lost Records is bland, derivative, lacks momentum, does not reward player agency, and it twice made me cringe so hard that I had to look away from the screen."

b. Developer Background

Dontnod Entertainment, known for Life Is Strange and Twin Mirror, returns with Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, aiming to reinvent their narrative-driven gameplay.

c. Detailed Game Analysis

• Storytelling and Pacing:
  The game takes a slower approach compared to Dontnod’s previous titles, focusing heavily on character relationships and world-building before introducing significant plot developments.

  • Roger McCorney: "It takes very, a lot of time to get to the point and the drama of this game."

• Gameplay Mechanics:
  Introduction of a camcorder mechanic where players can record in-game events, which adds a layer of immersion and collectible dynamics.

  • Joey Noel: "I love the way that they have it listed of like you have all these tapes that you're making because you're doing this like amateur filmmaking thing."

• Graphics and Performance:
  The game boasts impressive visuals but suffers from minor technical issues like stuttering and rough lip-syncing.

  • Blessing Adioye Jr.: "I wish it was a performance mode because I don't love the frame rate of it."

d. Scoring and Final Thoughts

• Roger McCorney: 7/10
  Appreciates the deliberate pacing and character development but notes the lack of dynamic choices.

• Joey Noel: 6/10
  Praises the camcorder feature and collectibles but feels disconnected from the broader character ensemble.

• Blessing Adioye Jr.: 6.5/10
  Values the deep character relationships but criticizes the absence of impactful player choices.

  • Blessing Adioye Jr.: "What I want the most out of these games are choices that feel dynamic, choices that feel like they change things."

Overall, the reviewers acknowledge the game's strengths in storytelling and mechanics while expressing reservations about its pacing and player agency.

3. Video Game News Segment

a. Shuhei Yoshida's Departure from PlayStation

Former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida announces his departure after 31 years with Sony to lead an indie initiative independently.

• Jordan Midler (Video Games Chronicle):
  "Shuhei was given an ultimatum at PlayStation and GTA 6 might be going after Roblox and Fortnite."

• Significant Quote from Yoshida:
  "When Jim asked me to do the indie job, the choice was to do that or leave the company. But I felt very strongly about the state of PlayStation and indies."
  (05:25)

The hosts discuss Yoshida's impact on indie gaming and speculate on Sony's strategies moving forward.

b. Rockstar's Plans for GTA 6 User-Generated Content

Rockstar is reportedly collaborating with top creators from Roblox and Fortnite to introduce customizable game experiences within GTA 6.

• Andy Robinson (Video Games Chronicle):
  "Rockstar is planning to allow creators to modify GTA 6's game environment and assets to bring their own intellectual property into a sandbox."
  (34:16)

The conversation highlights the potential for enhanced user engagement and monetization through this initiative.

c. Nintendo Discontinuing Gold Points on the Switch eShop

Nintendo announces the cessation of its Gold Point scheme on the Switch eShop effective March 25, 2025.

• Ed Nightingale (Eurogamer):
  "Players will no longer be able to earn gold points from purchases. Points earned before this date will still be usable."
  (34:16)

The hosts express disappointment, noting the loss of a valuable loyalty program for players.

d. Tyson Jones in Upcoming Tony Hawk Game Remaster

Professional skateboarder Tyson Jones confirms his appearance in a remastered version of a Tony Hawk game.

• Sal Romano (Gamatsu):
  "Professional skateboarder Tyson Jones is in an upcoming Tony Hawk video game remaster."
  (49:22)

They discuss the implications of this inclusion amidst the uncertain future of the Tony Hawk franchise.

4. Additional News and Community Highlights

a. We Dos and Game Pass Updates

The hosts briefly touch upon upcoming additions to Game Pass, including titles like EA Sports F124, Warhammer 40K, Rogue Trader, Watchdogs Legion, and Fortnite Chapter 6, Season 2: Lawless.

• Roger McCorney:
  "The big rumor here is Yakuza potentially involved."
  (53:39)

b. NetEase Lays Off Marvel Rivals Director

A shocking revelation as NetEase lays off the director of Marvel Rivals and his team, sparking discussions about industry instability.

• Blessing Adioye Jr.:
  "My stellar talented team just helped deliver an incredibly successful new franchise in Marvel Rivals and NetEase Games. And we're just laid off."
  (56:01)

c. Community Interaction and Super Chats

The hosts engage with listeners through Super Chats, addressing queries and comments about previous discussions, such as Shuhei Yoshida's impact and technical aspects of games like Lost Records.

• Kevin N:
  "The woman who sings 'Get Connected' is Tove Low."
  (54:07)

5. Closing Remarks and Upcoming Content

The episode concludes with the hosts previewing upcoming segments, including a review of "Like a Dragon: Yakuza in Hawaii" featuring Roger, Snow Hack Mike, and Brittany Brombacher. They encourage listeners to support their Patreon for exclusive content and mention sponsored segments by Built, Factor, and Stash.

• Blessing Adioye Jr.:
  "This has been a wonderful episode of KGD with you and Kevin Coelho on the ones and twos... To get the kind of funny membership which allows you to get shows ad free."
  (57:01)

The hosts express excitement for future discussions and invite the community to stay tuned for more engaging content.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Roger McCorney (00:40): "First try, first take to be great."
• Graham Smith (Rock Paper Shotgun) (05:28): "Lost Records is bland, derivative, lacks momentum, does not reward player agency."
• Shuhei Yoshida (34:16): "When Jim asked me to do the indie job, the choice was to do that or leave the company."
• Joey Noel (13:05): "I think if you're like a photo mode person, you're going to have a lot of fun with this."
• Sal Romano (Gamatsu) (49:22): "Professional skateboarder Tyson Jones is in an upcoming Tony Hawk video game remaster."
• Blessing Adioye Jr. (56:01): "We're falling apart as an industry. What are we doing?"

Conclusion

This episode of Kinda Funny Games Daily provides a comprehensive review of Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 1, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses compared to Dontnod's previous works. The discussion seamlessly transitions into current video game news, offering listeners valuable insights into industry shifts, developer moves, and upcoming game features. Engaging interactions with the community through Super Chats enhance the episode's relatability and depth.

For those interested in detailed game analyses and the latest in video game news, this episode serves as an informative and entertaining resource.