L.A Noire
Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 9:36 pm
I play a lot of games. Some good and some bad. But I sure as hell never experienced anything like L.A Noire. from the soundtrack to even the shadows. it all feels new. I should first say I didn't beat the game yet. As far as I can tell its pretty long and I am already a good 10 hours in. So I know enough to give a pretty good review. I'll split off into sections like I've seen done before in these forums.
[Presentation
This is one area of the game that shines and has an extreme amount of polish. If you have ever seen a Noire film like The Black Dahlia or L.A Confidential you'll feel right at home. The only thing missing from an average Noire movie is long monologues that I live without. I go to school for video/television production and I can tell you that L.A Noire surpasses any other game in how close it is to the cinema experience(Yes even Heavy Rain and mass effect). This is the only game I ever played that I wish the gunfight was over so I can go scour a crime scene. It also should be noted that it is separated into almost tv-like segments with each section having a title and a voice-over from a man I don't know yet. Lastly, Do you remember when you played Uncharted 2 and it went into a cutscene and came back into gameplay and you thought you were still in the cutscene? L.A Noire does this exact thing but tricks you further because of the facial animation. The only thing that ruins it is when black bars appear on the T.V in a attempt to make it letterbox 16:9.
Sound
L.A Noire has such a fitting soundtrack. It also features amazing dialog during interrogations. My favorite part of the sound design is when in a gunfight or on-foot chase Cole will attempt to talk down the enemies. Also there is only one radio station.
Graphics
This game is good looking. The cinematography is amazing and features the most realistic shadows I have ever seen. Of course the star of the game is the facial animation. Its not only in the cutscenes but in the regular game. Every muscle on the face can be looked at and I dare you to play this game and not shoot "I know that guy/girl" when you see an actor you recognize. Also some environments are semi-destructible.
Gameplay
In this game gunplay is second to solving the crime. this isn't GTA or doesn't have a real free roam aspect. You will start each case by going into the crime scene and first scour for clues. This can be extremely easy if you don't go into the main menu and turn off the clue music and the clue proximity hint which vibrates your controller every time you go near a item. thats why I say you turn both of them off. There are so many items that can be picked up it gets a little crazy sometimes. You usually start by picking up the item that sparks your interest and then you rotate with the left stick till it vibrates or doesn't. If it does Cole will make a remark and then it will get recorded in your notebook. Once it gets recorded you can go deeper into investigating sometimes. For example, while investigating a dead body (which is shockingly realistic) you can check inside the coat pocket, pull out a wallet and then go further by looking inside for a card or picture. Once you collect all the evidence you think you need you can go and ask your partner to look for more or go to the first available witness. You start by picking a selection of topics and then have them answer, watch there facial reaction and choose if they are telling the truth. if they are not you select false and then select the evidence that proves it. If they are lieing but can't prove it you select doubt. You extract as much information as possible got to the next location or person and so on till you solve or dont solve the case. Every once in a while you'll get in a gunfight. if you played red dead you should feel at home but the sprint button is on the shoulder which is wierd. the on foot chases and car chases are also average. I also should not there is brawling which is like GTA but better. In one point the guy punches me and my hat flys off and when i passed back over it after the game Cole goes down and picks it up. There is also random occurrences like red dead but feel, like real missions.
Story
Each mission has its own story line but he whole thing focuses on Cole Phelps going through the ranks and having flashbacks.
Overall
9.5/10
Even though there is a lot more to say about this game my fingers hurt and I want to go back to playing. If you like Movies, Games, or Rockstar you should not miss it.
[Presentation
This is one area of the game that shines and has an extreme amount of polish. If you have ever seen a Noire film like The Black Dahlia or L.A Confidential you'll feel right at home. The only thing missing from an average Noire movie is long monologues that I live without. I go to school for video/television production and I can tell you that L.A Noire surpasses any other game in how close it is to the cinema experience(Yes even Heavy Rain and mass effect). This is the only game I ever played that I wish the gunfight was over so I can go scour a crime scene. It also should be noted that it is separated into almost tv-like segments with each section having a title and a voice-over from a man I don't know yet. Lastly, Do you remember when you played Uncharted 2 and it went into a cutscene and came back into gameplay and you thought you were still in the cutscene? L.A Noire does this exact thing but tricks you further because of the facial animation. The only thing that ruins it is when black bars appear on the T.V in a attempt to make it letterbox 16:9.
Sound
L.A Noire has such a fitting soundtrack. It also features amazing dialog during interrogations. My favorite part of the sound design is when in a gunfight or on-foot chase Cole will attempt to talk down the enemies. Also there is only one radio station.
Graphics
This game is good looking. The cinematography is amazing and features the most realistic shadows I have ever seen. Of course the star of the game is the facial animation. Its not only in the cutscenes but in the regular game. Every muscle on the face can be looked at and I dare you to play this game and not shoot "I know that guy/girl" when you see an actor you recognize. Also some environments are semi-destructible.
Gameplay
In this game gunplay is second to solving the crime. this isn't GTA or doesn't have a real free roam aspect. You will start each case by going into the crime scene and first scour for clues. This can be extremely easy if you don't go into the main menu and turn off the clue music and the clue proximity hint which vibrates your controller every time you go near a item. thats why I say you turn both of them off. There are so many items that can be picked up it gets a little crazy sometimes. You usually start by picking up the item that sparks your interest and then you rotate with the left stick till it vibrates or doesn't. If it does Cole will make a remark and then it will get recorded in your notebook. Once it gets recorded you can go deeper into investigating sometimes. For example, while investigating a dead body (which is shockingly realistic) you can check inside the coat pocket, pull out a wallet and then go further by looking inside for a card or picture. Once you collect all the evidence you think you need you can go and ask your partner to look for more or go to the first available witness. You start by picking a selection of topics and then have them answer, watch there facial reaction and choose if they are telling the truth. if they are not you select false and then select the evidence that proves it. If they are lieing but can't prove it you select doubt. You extract as much information as possible got to the next location or person and so on till you solve or dont solve the case. Every once in a while you'll get in a gunfight. if you played red dead you should feel at home but the sprint button is on the shoulder which is wierd. the on foot chases and car chases are also average. I also should not there is brawling which is like GTA but better. In one point the guy punches me and my hat flys off and when i passed back over it after the game Cole goes down and picks it up. There is also random occurrences like red dead but feel, like real missions.
Story
Each mission has its own story line but he whole thing focuses on Cole Phelps going through the ranks and having flashbacks.
Overall
9.5/10
Even though there is a lot more to say about this game my fingers hurt and I want to go back to playing. If you like Movies, Games, or Rockstar you should not miss it.
