1947, Las Angeles…
I’ve seen it all from the locales in L.A. Murder, rape, and conspiracy is nothing new. Their mouths tell me no but their behavior says otherwise. These nervous fidgets and constant struggles to sit still seem to be indicative of a liar. And I don’t really care much for liars.
For every case I build there is new evidence to be found. Some discovered in the pooling blood; others from the mouths of dirty frauds. Before any connections or assumptions can be made I must first assimilate these clues. Poke holes into these convoluted spider webs of lies and deceit tearing through the strands one at a time. Rest assured I will close the case and bring the killers to justice so help me god.
L.A. Noire is thick in atmosphere and narrative. The former being greatly seen but seldom used while that latter being watched and enjoyed but often times without control. This is not really a game but rather more a visual novel mixed with an adventure game and a dash of action/driving.
And unlike most free roaming games – especially those indicative of a Rockstar release – there is not really much to see or do outside of the main missions and side distractions (disturbances radioed in). Which may at first be seen as backtracking instead of advancing that genre but the truth evidently is in the blood.
Noire works best when Detective Phelps is investigating and interrogating rather then shooting and driving. Not that either are incongruous with the storyline or game-play but both are with their flaws. Shooting for example is pretty standard and mostly uneventful cover based presentation. Unlike most third person games these days this one had the audacity to confiscate the ability to swap shoulders with the camera forcing the player to enter cover to do so if necessary.
Driving on the other hand is rather solid but notoriously humdrum (just as it can be in real life). Oddly missing is the ability or selective intelligence from the game to flicker turn signals at an intersection often leaving driving realistically a mild let-down as virtual passersby tend to air out their horns and try their best to occasionally hit or cut you off. Outside of that small annoyance I thought driving in L.A. Noire was better then found in GTA: 4. Of course one minor problem I did have was how sensitive the sticks were as a tiny nudge can send you flying into a lane three rows over.
But onto the meat and potatoes… By now I’ll just assume anyone even remotely interested in this game will have in some capacity heard the ravings over the “real life faces”. At first the technology will be marveled at as the thirty two camera delivery creates almost perfect recreations of every wrinkle and crease drawn across the actors/actresses face but as the game progresses you see just how necessary this tool was to help convey one simple message. L.A. Noire would be absolutely inconceivable without total facial recognition.
Because so much is put onto the broad streaks of one’s marred wrinkled face playing as Det. Phelps you must decipher which gesture is a tell and which is the truth. In the beginning this may seem rather simple as most practically jump right out at you heeding neither subtlety nor realism but as the case files grow and the work becomes tougher so too does the reading of facial squints. While so much of the read is hinging upon how well you may or may not do in a specific crime scene/interrogation none will impede upon your overall progress but rather how well you ultimately perform. There are no game overs from a blown call or a missed examination. You will eventually solve an investigation no matter what. Even if you “skip” the action segments.
Pros:
+ Faithfully recreated 1947 LA
+ Excellent story both delivered in small doses and in a large arc
+ Decent amount of things to do in the city (secret cars, film reels, locations), great replay value on the cases you mess up or things you might have missed
+ A superb cast that is both articulate and believable
+ Investigations are simple in execution but enjoyable to explore and construct theories of whodunit.
+ Interrogations are a well fought battle that offers its reward only to those with a skillful eye
+ Captivating Music
Cons:
- Action segments can be a little dry or uninvolving often offering little more then a distraction to the main draw of the game.
- Driving can be a pursuit of leisure or a frightening nightmare depending on your personal mood. Side note: All driving can be essentially skipped by letting your partner drive and “skipping” the action segments
- The game peaks through its middle sections and never again truly reaches this level of greatness.
- Generally speaking this may easily be referred to as a one and done type game for most players
L.A. Noire sure is something. Both unhurried and methodical in its delivery and presentation the game serves up a bit that will easily polarize two groups of people; those who enjoy and relish its meticulously calculated and plodding build up and those who simply don't. Because it is not quickened or sharp and its action is dull and diluted by many things I would never suggest anyone with a short attention span or lack of interest to go wondering through the streets of post war LA.
If you enter expecting much more then a strict linear but tightly written narrative then you’ll certainly be disappointed. There is action in the form of car chases, foot chases, brawls, and gun fights but none are very significant and are seemingly scattered hours between. The game dwells in the basement of a locker. Clues and lies rolled up and sliced through and through. If you don’t like reading, absorbing information, and deciphering many different things in many different circumstances then you need not apply.
As such my final review score is based on a great many things. But to offer help in deciding for those in between souls I’ve added a +/- scale for different elements and will start at a 5/10 (or 50/100). I hope it helps in your decision.
5/10
+ 10 if you enjoy mystery and intrigue with a strong sequence of events
- 5 if you enjoy action
+ 10 if you enjoy watching and dissecting the behavior of other humans
- 5 if you enjoy mowing down innocent civilians in cars/with guns
+ 10 if you like combing through a room with a mouse click/button press in vain of an adventure game
- 5 if you enjoy destroying a room with a grenade launcher
+ 5 if you enjoy monotonous and sometimes grueling work in your video games
- 5 if you hate (or sometimes hate) such things
+ 5 if you enjoy (the thought of) driving leisurely (or frantically) through a faithfully recreated 1947 L.A.
- 5 if you enjoy free roam games and having multiple things to do at any given time
Speaking biasedly for a moment I loved every minute of L.A. Noire. Every turn around the corner, every face and gruesome scene melded into one giant bowl of spectacular entertainment for me. It was repetitive at times. It was dragging at times. But I never found it to be boring.
My experience will not be the same as yours so my overall grade of 90/10 (4.5 Amazon Stars) will not speak directly to each and every possible patron of Team Bondi. I’d say honestly if the interest is mild then a 70-75 out of a 100 would ultimately be most in said customer’s range.
But for those truly enthralled by attention to detail and story it doesn’t get much better then L.A. Noire.
And that’s no lie.
*One minor hitch to my otherwise brilliantly bad plan is that Amazon has yet to post my review. So this is sort of a instant look. However as always, when the review does surface please toss me a thumbs up if you enjoyed it and a thumbs down if you didn't. Thanks a million,
-Rossini
*Minor update: it is now up on Amazon*
*Minor update: it is now up on Amazon*
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