Its not every day a game comes a long that shakes the very foundations of how games should be played but L.A. Noire is quite simply a fantastic achievement that does all this and a whole lot more. I intentionally went out of my way to not follow previews or leaked information because I wanted to take this game head on with no outside influences or over exaggerated hype.
Its 1947 and you are detective Cole Phelps for the LAPD. Set in a world of glamour wealth and Hollywood fame you must use all your cunning and investigative skills in order to climb the ranks. Unlike Rockstars famed GTA series players cannot freely go around gunning down any one they choose in a fast paced free wheeling whirlwind of havoc, so if you are expecting another GTA then that’s not what you will get. Instead you will be treated to the following.
The direct theme of the game is the stylistic world of tough talking early 50’s film noir cops and the violent yet distinctively charming criminals that evade them. Los Angeles is the perfect setting and its rendered beautifully in perfect clarity, its not all glitz and glam but it all serves a purpose. The game uses similar styles of lighting and looks to the old post-war master pieces of the era. Those unfamiliar with such films should turn to the more recent L.A Confidential as an example of what to expect.
Some people will be under the assumption that L.A. Noire is a lot like Heavy Rain, but its not. The game is easily one of the most absorbing entertainment experiences available on any console or system. Each case is soaked in its own distinctive mix of great writing and is practically soaking with atmosphere. Playing the role of a hardened cop you need to go through the evidence available to you, some of it may be obvious early on but as the game progresses its becomes a real challenge. Showing up at the scene of a gruesome murder is something common place for your character and you will find that the more you do this the better you get at gathering the clues needed to solve the mystery. Some crimes will have you searching through a particular location like a home or warehouse, though not everything you pick up pertains to the crime in question so be prepared for a challenge.
One of the most amazing features of the game is the incredible way characters are realistically portrayed facially. The reason for this is not just to look good but it serves as an integral part of the game. Not just physical clues help to solve a case, interrogation and suspect or witness questioning is very important and you can’t progress without it. I expected it would look good but i find myself constantly shocked and surprised how life like the characters actually are, its really a testament to the hard innovative work developed to make it all possible. When questioning characters you have to spot the difference between a lie and a truth, this might sound easy but its so well rendered that if not watched carefully characters will run circles around you and literally get away with murder. Collected and discovered clues can be used to further press a suspect into giving up information or details, so do your job right and you will climb the ranks faster.
The cases themselves include the likes of traffic/homicide/vice and arson, each one sets you up with a different partner and a different set of crimes to solve. For the most part you will be dealing with gruesome crimes of both passion and greed but as the game progresses the more influential criminal elements will be your soup du jour. My favourite desk in the game was Vice, i think it nailed the scene brilliantly and gave me everything i expected from a Vice squad. Homicide was probably the most gruesome to deal with, be prepared for violent imagery of deceased corpses some battered and bruised – why Cole refuses to use gloves when dealing with a corpse I'll never understand.
A few people have said to me that they did not like the driving mechanics of the game and at times felt it was clunky and heavy, these are not modern cars they are what was around in the 1940’s and 1950’s but to be honest i didn’t find it a problem. There are almost 100 drivable vehicles in the game each one with realistic damage modelling but unlike GTA when you wreak a car or cause damage to the public you will be penalized at the end of the case. At first i didn’t like this but after playing a few more cases i realized the right way to do it was cut down on the crazy driving and concentrate on getting there in one piece. Another issue someone raised to me was the fact you can’t change the radio station while driving, again it doesn’t really matter and it adds to the authenticity. While on a case Cole will engage in a discussion with his partner, it may be a minor detail but its all these little elements that propel the game to such heights.
Its not all mind boggling gritty cases of murder and deception the game gives you a lot of extra little tasks to do when you want a break from the madness. Being a Rockstar published game you would expect quirky side missions and collectables, well that’s exactly what you get. When in a patrol car you can respond to street crimes happening in your vicinity, some involve car chases or shoot outs. Side missions give you extra experience and unlock extra’s for your character, most are short but are nevertheless fun. Across the map you will also find elusive gold film reels hidden cars and my personal favourite famous landmarks, it may not offer a lifetime of free roaming excitement but it does offer a lot of value for eager treasure hunters that yearn for that little bit more.
L.A. Noire is a tough game to review, not because of the game itself but because its easy to divulge too much and spoil it unintentionally. Its a game that has being surrounded with hype ever since it was first announced back in 1997 so naturally people have high expectations. Everything about it is garnished in a satisfyingly accurate and realistically moulded way that you would expect in the golden age of Hollywood. It is more than a quiet nod to the iconic films of the period its a perfectly rendered addition to those by gone times. Even the map itself is steeped deeply in authentically accurate block by block rendering unseen in any other game, its no surprise really when you learn that the map is a perfect representation of some 110, 000 aerial photographs taken by Robert Spence – the map being a solid 8 square miles of 1940’s Los Angeles so there is plenty to see.
I really wanted to give L.A. Noire top marks but sadly I can’t, there are one or two issues that hold the game back from complete perfection. I would like if they had offered a little more options when it comes to interacting with characters, instead of playing good cop i would have liked the opportunity to use my badge to take advantage of certain characters – even if it was just to bend the rules a little to get a confession from a stubborn suspect. Depending on your recollection of the story and case files, replaying the story might not be that enjoyable for most gamers. If it wasn’t for a few little issues like that I'd gladly give L.A. Noire a ten but this being an honest review I'm going to have to give it a 9 out of 10. Its still a great score and one of the best games i have ever played. Though very linear at the times there is something here for everyone to enjoy, the amazing voice acting/beautiful visuals/shockingly real facial expressions and uniquely authentic setting serve to tip the balance from just a game to a work of art.
