Review: LA Noire (Pictures are not mine)

Now I like old detective movies and novels. When I was a kid I use to get the latest in the old crime thriller stuff and see how the detective solved the case. LA Noire gives me the same feeling except now I have to actually think like a detective to move forward instead of turning the page of a book. The latest Rockstar game, LA Noire puts you in the 1940's where you play as a detective in the city of angels, Los Angelses. Unlike Rockstar's previous games, you don't play a character who's go issues with the law. You are the law.

Your job is to protect the citizens of the city by solving cases, stopping killers, and keeping the area safe from harm. And unlike other Rockstar titles, you won't be spending your time shooting and driving. Instead you'll be spending your time looking for clues, interrogation suspects, and trying to piece together evidence to solve each murder case.

1. Graphics

Just like in GTA, the game takes place in a city. But unlike previous GTA cities that were based off of real cities, this one takes place in LA after the second world war. As such, the entire area of the game as been designed and crafted to look and feel like 1940's LA. You got old school movie theaters, classic cars, building that were demolished long ago in out time, and city landmarks that to this day still exit. And what's great is that the entire city is yours to go look at for sightseeing. You'll see a lot of details that will surprise, but occasionally you might see a few repetitive houses and streets, but that's okay

What really is the main focus on the graphics isn't the city however, it's the characters. Normally, I would save talking about the characters for later, but in a case like this I have to talk about it now. LA Noire has actual accurate facial expressions and looks for each of their characters. This is thanks to a new brand of technology called MotionScan created by Depth Analysis. MotionScan records and scans an actors face from 32 different cameras and then digitally renders it into a near perfect replica of the characters face. The only thing however not as accurate is the likeness of the characters body. Most of the bodies are similarly the same one way or another, but you won't be focusing so much on those rather then the faces in this game.

These graphics are really good and give a lot of games a good run for their money, especially with the MotionScan.

2. Controls

Controls for this game are a bit...dodgy at best. There isn't much complication to understand what you have to make your character do, it's just that sometimes it doesn't seem like the connection between the user input and the interface are working. For example, I kept trying to enter another cover zone in a firefight by using the control stick and press the cover button for a quick cover dash. Yet, every time I did it I manged to only stand up and get shot in the process. Another example is during the fist fights. I feel that the when I press the block button I always block to late. The timing is off and it gets me hurt which sucks because the fistfights are one of the easiest things in this game and I feel ridiculousness.

Since this is also a Rockstar game, you have to have some form of fast transportation right? Now I'm not the best driver in the world, but I feel that the diving controls don't really feel right. I go faster then I want to and I break slower then I want. Maybe I just suck at virtual diving, but after a few problems I decided to just like my partner drive and I would sit back going over the evidence.

So controls are not too bad, at least to a frustration point, but they could use a bit more tweaking.

3. Gameplay

I was expecting LA Noire to be another shooter like game, but it's not. Most people compare it to the classic   point and click adventure games. While I will not go that far by saying it's like that, I will agree that this game is definitely not like any game Rockstar is known to have done in the past. Now the game's main focus is solving cases. First you arrive at a murder scene and search the area for clues. The controls rumble when you are near a clue and you press the action button to investigate it. Sometimes you have to move the objects around in your hand or open them up to get the real details of the clue. Once you've found it, it's then recorded in your notepad that contains a list of evidence you have found.

You also get to example the murder victims too and I will say that the murders are done quiet well and each case is unique in it's own way so don't worry about repetition. After find all the clues you can, you visit suspects and interview them. This is where LA Noire shines at it's brightest. You ask a series of questions and the suspect gives a response. You then have to figure out if they're telling the truth, doubt their statement, or say that they are upfront lying while providing evidence to prove it.

These are not easy to guess and this is all thanks to the work of the MotionScan. Other then paying attention to the statements of the suspects as well as the evidence, the accurate facial features of the characters is key to figuring out if the suspect is tying or not. Saying a right statement will help shed more light into the case while getting it wrong will cause you to get a lower score. You have to think in this game more then you do with others and the game will trying to fool you a lot. Yet there's a way to get some help. The Intuition mechanic is there to help you out if your in a jam at any point in the game. By getting some answers right on your own as well as doing some side investigation you will earn points that you can use for Intuition.

With Intuition you can find all the clues at the crime scenes, eliminate one wrong response to a suspects statement, or even ask the entire gaming community what answer they picked and found to be the right one. I didn't have to use Intuition to many times because I wanted to test out my detective skills, but you will use it at least five times in your first run of the game.

So the mystery solving is pretty solid, but what about the action?

Well there is some, but it's nothing special. You get into fistfights, shoot outs with enemies that die too easy, car chase scenes that are annoying, and sometimes you have to solve a few interesting puzzles. To me the action seems a bit let down compared to the mystery solving cases and you won't really remember much of those fights, even the flamethrowing one in the end.

So besides solving cases what else can you do in LA Noire?


Well you can answer dispatch calls that feature such tasks as stopping shooters, chasing after bad guys, and go in car chases...but that's it.

Really? I'm in 1940's LA and I can't do anything else? No seeing movies, buying guns, upgrading my car, go to a bar or anything else?

That's the one issue with this game that I have. The fact that I feel that in a giant city like this there is not enough content to keep the player from continue playing. In other Rockstar games there were a lot of things you could do like date, do deliveries, play at a casino, watch dancers, and more. I just feel that there was a lot that could have been done more for player content. It really hurts the replay ability of the game and after you finish all the cases and even do all the dispatch missions there is nothing else for you to do.

4. Story

LA Noire story plays pretty well with the dark and corrupting themes the city of LA has and most of the time you feel that your in an old noire film (there is even an option to play the game in black and white). You play as Cole Phelps, a former war hero who wants to make the streets of LA safe. You start as a police officer before moving to various detectives branches like Homicide and Vice. You take each case while witnessing flashbacks of Cole's war past and the side story of a strange case of arson murders being performed by a war veteran.

As you go through the ranks you see the obvious corruption the LAPD has and Cole tries to end the corruption while dealing with personal issues.

The story is done really well as a whole, especially during the homicide cases featuring the black dahlia killer.

All in all, it's really good...but I didn't like the ending. It really was a bit of a let down.

5. Characters.

Every character is played by an actor or actress who really does their work well. You got Brian Krause, Greg Grunberg, Michael Cole, Jon Cryer and more. Each does their part well and the characters themselves are people you can relate to or can see in an old crime film movie. There's not much else to say, but each one in unique and plays their part well.

Except the main character. He's a robot.

The guy has only two emotions, bravery and anger. The acting done on this guy is way over dramatic and I just couldn't really get into him. He's got a nice back story and the various issues he deals with over the story should make him a well developed character. But that doesn't happen or at least in any way I've seen. It's all too shallow for a guy who is the main character who the story focuses on. After all, the main character is suppose to be the main focus in the plot, but if he's not interesting then you don't care about him at all.

Hopefully, a better protagonist will be in the (hopefully) sequel.

6. The sound is perfect. Each song you hear on the radio have classic old music from that era and the game music fits the atmosphere well, especially during the intense scenes.

OVERALL: 3.75/5

I think LA Noire is a good game, but I still feel there was a lot more that could have been done. More things to do in the city, even explore some buildings would have been good. The voice acting and MotionScan really provide a realistic approach to the characters and the looks of the city are spectacular.

But combined with the very little replay value, lack of additional gameplay, and control problem I feel that the game didn't fully live up to it's potential. I would rent it first and then see if it'a buy or not, but I feel that the next Noire game we get will feature the improvements I listed and be better.

We are Gamers and we are Legion

Later