L.A. Noire – Review (PS3, 360)
LA Noire isn’t like most other video games nor does it pigeonhole itself to a certain genre. Rockstar have created a fresh IP for the industry, question is how does a game of 8 years in the making shape up to be?
To begin with I’m sure many of you are aware that this is no GTA, you don’t play as the outlaw nor do you mow down civilians and gun pedestrians with rocket launchers.
You play as a good cop determined to restore order to the violent streets of 1940’s LA. LA is on the brink of change where men who have experienced the horrors of World War 2 are trying to find their place in this new world. It’s the most violent year in LA’s history and Rockstar have done it justice by faithfully recreating it.
You play as Cole Phelps, a detective wanting to prove himself after surviving in WW2. He comes into force as the incorruptible cop who cares about results not politics.
Presentation wise this game is incredibly beautiful considering its huge scale. Cars glisten in the sun and textures on buildings have a great sense of depth to them. The level of detailing is superb, simple things like cardboard boxes toss and turn as you run through them and the streets are littered with vibrant, living, breathing people. Not to mention the magnificent new ‘motion-scan’ technology that Rockstar have introduced to its characters.
Motion- scan captures an actors face from a 360-degree viewpoint, thus totally removing any animation needed. These are real performances by real actors that have all been captured for the game. This level of quality shows, as sound is in perfect sync with the actor’s facial expressions.
The story at its core is a very interesting one but it can take a long time to come together however when it does this is where the game shines, to be truly captivating. Again some might say it feels more like an RPG with lengthy dialog scenes but then again there’s always going to be complaints.
Gameplay consists of 21 cases spread over 5 desks. Cases vary from beat cop to homicide to arson. With each desk your assigned a different partner, where some can be trusted and others have to kept a close eye on.
The method for all cases are more or less the same, you’re a detective, you look at the crime scene, search clues, pick items up and inspect them – hoping they can provide answers to crimes. However the most challenging thing has to be sussing out the faces of every person you interview. Three options are given at all times: Lie, Doubt, Truth. Picking the right one will open the character up providing more clues, get it wrong and they offer you less.
LA Noire also provides players with other stuff to do, such as car chases, leg chases and shootouts. It’s also a sandbox game remember so players are encouraged to take a step away and go exploring. Doing so will provide you with 40 unassigned missions that come up at random. These although can be petty vary from stopping bank robberies to shadowing a crook to their hide out.
In all, LA Noire does have its issues such as big drops in frame rate, especially when chasing down a victims. Also pieces don’t fit together to make the most ultimate game of the year. However this is a special game that is bold and unique. There’s definitely nothing like it on the market even with the inclusion of Heavy Rain.
The production values are seriously impeccable offering something fresh and different. Rockstar like a lot of their games took a risk. LA Noire could be counted as their biggest yet but too many it was a risk worth taking.
