Lost in Random is a new game from the EA Originals program. It is not the first game in this program from EA. The core developer, Zoink, also made Fe back in 2018. They've been making games since 2010 although smaller in size.
Lost in Random feels like their biggest project yet which is set around a whimsical world in the Kingdom of Random. It features an art style that is out of this world and is centered on players assuming the role of Even who is trying to find her kidnapped sister, Odd. It's a complex game so here are a few tips and notes to get the ball rolling.
8 What Is It?
Lost in Random is a mashup of several genres and some that might not be apparent from the trailers. It looks like a platformer and acts like a platformer. Design-wise it is reminiscent of a Double Fine game like Psychonauts coupled with a Tim Burton film.
However, there is no manual platforming in the game. That’s one big thing to note. The other is that it is a card-based action game. Players must roll dice in order to summon weapons and traps from randomly selected cards. And that’s the gist of the gameplay.
7 Finding The Difficulty
In the startup screen, players can mess around with various options such as remapping buttons on the controller. There is one additional option that won’t appear until players actually start the game, and that would be the difficulty level.
At the start, there is only Easy or Normal difficulty. Easy basically makes it so Even can take more hits without losing health. Thankfully this meter can be changed at any time so play around with it and find the most comfortable zone.
6 Damage And Hazard Cards All The Way
There is a shop in Lost in Random wherein players can purchase new cards. Buying cards also raises a meter that when full, will give players bonuses. One early one is called a Pin which will be explained later. Every time players will also be able to choose a booster pack to restock Mannie Dex’s store with.
The two packs that should be bought frequently are Damage decks and Hazard decks. Offense is the best defense in this game. As an extra note, this shopkeeper ranks high like the Merchant from Resident Evil 4.
5 Understanding Dice Rolls And Cards
Having a platformer-like game have dice rolls and random cards in battle can be a lot to take in so here are the basics. Players will shoot enemy weak points in order to drop gems. These gems will fill up Even’s buddy, Dicey. The more times his meter rises then the more cards it will unlock. When players roll the dice they at first can get an outcome of one or two. This will increase with the story.
If a player rolls a two then that means they can play two one power cards or one two power card. There are ways to play three power cards early on via pins. Placing a pin on a card will allow players to later summon that card after the cost goes down through several rounds. The flail weapon, for example, is a three power card that is worth waiting for.
4 Look Out For Owls
Money, like in most games, can be used for one thing and one thing only, buying cards. It even says that in the description upon receiving cash rewards. Money can be gathered through battles or by tackling side quests to get those aforementioned rewards.
There are also statues of owls with glowing blue eyes all over the game. Keep an eye out for those and shoot them down with the slingshot. The amount is small but it will stack up Dicey. Also, be on the lookout for grates Dicey can roll into.
3 Finish Towns Before Moving On
Players progress through Lost in Random linearly from town to town. Each place takes about two to three hours on average to finish everything. Since there is no fast traveling around in an open-world, it is recommended to explore every nook and cranny in an area before moving on.
Side quests are generally simple and they can sometimes have bigger rewards than just money. The world is full of whimsy so not doing everything would be depriving the player of this game’s best assets.
2 Ladder Facts
There is a run button in Lost in Random as is standard for most games. On PS5, that would be the L1 button on the controller. What players may not know is that this can also be used to hop up ladders. Descending down them will also increase speed.
Overall the run button is not as fast as players may want. Even is a bit clunky to control like she’s made out of lead instead of wood. It’s good then to know there are ways to speed up exploring if only by a little.
1 Prepare For A Slow Start
On the subject of speed, the beginning of Lost in Random is a slow start. It takes about an hour for the game to really get going. That’s when Even will escape her hometown and meet Dicey wherein the combat is introduced. It’s good to know what to expect when starting a game.
The Persona series, for example, can sometimes take three to four hours before things really start moving. Persona 4’s beginning might be the most infamous in the series. So, in comparison, this game is nowhere near that slow thankfully.