Lost in Random stood out during this year's EA Play from the realistic racing titles and shooters that fans expect from the gaming giant. The publisher's EA Originals program, which supports indie developers with funding and creative support, is already having a pretty good year with It Takes Two and Knockout City releasing to much acclaim. Now, studio Zoink's second project with EA looks to continue that success.
CBR was recently able to go hands-on with Lost in Random. Based on the first four hours or so of the game, it's already clear that this action-adventure is something unique and quite special from its art-style and music to its innovative gameplay and quirky characters.
As established by the game's trailers, Lost in Random takes place in a kingdom where dice rolls and a cruel, calculating queen rule over all. Random is separated into six realms -- one corresponding to each number on a six-sided die -- with Sixtopia being the luxurious home of the Queen, Onecroft being the poorest part of Random and everywhere else falling somewhere in between. When a child turns 12, the Queen visits and allows them to roll her personal dice -- the only one in all the land. That dice roll determines where the individual will spend the rest of their life.
The story starts in Onecroft, where sisters Even and Odd live with their parents. On her twelfth birthday, Odd rolls a six and is whisked away to live alongside the Queen. A year later, Even begins to have strange dreams and, fearing her beloved sister is in danger, runs away from home to try and find out what happened to her. She soon encounters Dicey, a sentient die who has incredible powers that help Even take on enemies and survive her journey.
Already, it's clear that the Kingdom of Random is the star of the show. The dark fantasy setting combines the aesthetic of a stop-motion Tim Burton film with a premise evocative of a Brothers Grimm story crossed with a dystopian young adult novel. Though dark -- both in style and tone -- Lost in Random still captures the whimsy of a fantasy story, contrasting the darkness with its sense of humor. Outside of the narrator, whose clever commentary follows Even wherever she goes, Random is inhabited by a variety of quirky characters, from the shopkeep who lives inside his wardrobe/store to the citizens of Two Town who take the phrase "two-faced" to new levels.
Of course, special mention must go to Dicey, who is as adorable as it is important to Even's journey. Players will quickly learn that Random was once a place where everyone -- not just the Queen -- had their own personal dice. People would travel to the Valley of Dice to find their perfect match, which Even finds in Dicey. From the start, Dicey is missing some pips, meaning it can only roll a two at the highest. However, these will be recovered as the game progresses, allowing Dicey to roll higher numbers during combat.
Despite not having a face or the ability to speak in a way that players will understand, Dicey is incredibly expressive and charming, assisting Even with both knowledge of the world and useful combat abilities. The duo's dynamic is incredibly fun to watch, as Even understands Dicey's incoherent babbling and clues players in through her responses in a way that's reminiscent of Star Wars' Han Solo and Chewbacca or Guardians of the Galaxy's Rocket and Groot.
But while Lost in Random's gorgeous world and fittingly beautiful score (composed by Blake Robinson) may draw gamers in, it's the game's unique combat system that might get them to stay. Battles combine real-time action with deckbuilding elements, with some even incorporating board game elements involving a piece having to make it to the last space on a game board. To start, Even must use her non-damaging slingshot to get enemies to drop energy cubes. Gathering enough of these will allow her to throw Dicey, stopping time so the player can choose from a selection of cards that provide various benefits.
Some cards will heal Even or give her a weapon to use temporarily, while others will require a little more strategy to use effectively. Each card also consumes a set amount of energy, the amount of which Even has is determined by the number Dicey rolls. When time is stopped, players can also move around the battlefield, getting into the most effective position before taking aim at the opponent and restarting time. These moments also provide a nice chance to survey the battlefield -- or to simply allow the player to catch their breath -- during chaotic fights. It shares some similarities to Persona 5 Strikers, another game that breaks up its action by giving players time to pause and select their next move.
On top of its unique combat and stunning aesthetic, Lost in Random is simply an innovative game. It manages to embrace (and even celebrate) uncertainty in a way that never feels cheap or unfair. While low dice rolls will happen or you may not draw the cards you want, it never felt like those were the end of the world. Additionally, it's exciting to see the world of Random unfold, with each realm containing its own culture and creative interpretation of its concepts. While our preview only featured Onecroft, the Valley of Dice and Two Town, each area is distinct and compelling enough to make us excited to see what other surprises are in store.
Developed by Zoink and published by Electronic Arts, Lost in Random will release on September 10 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch
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