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16.6.2011

This is one small step for the game, but a giant leap for virtual fun. Paraphrasing text Neiliego Armstrong, so you can specify the game LA Noire. Details of the extension!imgLA NoireLA Noire is an unusual game and can say that it really has so far not been this type of production on the market. Thus, should the great praise for Rockstar and Team Bondi, that are not afraid to enter into a new sector. This does not mean that the title is different from the rest of production issued by the manufacturer. On the contrary, LA Noire draws heavily on previous Rockstar Games, and you can see it at every step. Nevertheless, the mainstream of the game gives you a completely different experience that is unlike anything that has so far appeared on the market.The heart, because this production is sharp, dark and violent passages from the life of a detective. Combination of events was placed after World War II in Los Angeles. The year is 1947 and LA is experiencing a huge economic boom. The city resembles a gift that the top is spectacular and elegant. Additionally, during this period Hollywood is experiencing a golden age. Unfortunately, in this spectacular packaging is not always perfect gift is hidden. The public is not hard to find dark and soulless types who destroy peace.The game takes on the role of Cole Phelps, a new detective who is a veteran of World War II (we learn about the flashback), its role in the police force grows with each issue resolved. Interestingly, the protagonist solve puzzles inspired by the real, which took place in Los Angeles in the '40sHistory consists of a random story, in which Cole will advance accordingly. Of course, all cases are assigned to a specific "desk" (level), yet the result is that the protagonist also receives another partner. Our protege often pushing their helpful insights and help during the mission, in which the shoot. Partner can also ask for directions to the target. Also pleased that each assistant has its own personality, so not all of them are able to get along with Cole. It is a pity that it introduces the possibility of passing the title on two people. Since the assistant is in every episode, why not introduce such an option?Still, I must admit that the screenplay was written sensational. Probably influenced by the fact the use of original historical records created by a Polish woman Departamed Los Angeles (LAPD). Thus, each case is different, yet very realistic, and thus provokes thinking and willingness to go further. For every mystery needed from 15 to 60 minutes of time, which in turn translates to 17-20 hours of playing. Of course the most interesting missions are those in which we solve the puzzle, but it also often happens that we run as a criminal fine. It's that small break from the heavy issues.Investigations usually look like that after przyjechaniu at the crime scene, we find the first clues, and these lead to another, potential indications, and finally stumbles on a person who can help solve the case. LA Noire shines, however, only when questioning a witness or potential criminals. In this aspect was, as applied to a completely new technology responsible for the facial motion capture, or MotionScan, and this happened, of course, motion capture. Thanks managed to give almost every nuance of facial movements. Admittedly, the use of technology is impressive and can now confidently say that this is the future of video games. You can even venture to say that after LA Noire actors and actresses from Holywood will set in the queue to find its place in virtual reality. This title is doing really a quantum leap in the donation of human facial expressions and fear to think what will present the next generation of consoles! But returning to the present, we must admit that LA Noire facial features are very realistic and look in vain for comparisons with other games. Even the Mafia 2 is not so well presented in this issue. On the other hand, the revolutionary LA Noire consists precisely in the fact that during the interrogation we use our methods of observation. On the basis of facial expressions, voice, and behavior come to us to assess whether someone is lying or telling the truth. If you choose the first option, then Cole will "push" on the witness. The protagonist himself tells us about his intuition, but of course the final decision belongs to us. Aspect of the hearings, however, is very important in this production, because just one mistake, and will stick to a standstill. Also pleased that, as befits the detective, we can search the body. Cole points the finger, respectively, where he can reach, and then begin to exact examination of the deceased. Also pleased that each object can be rotated and examined using the analog knobs. With time, the protagonist is able to find better guidance because of its experience points. We can also always reach for a notebook to remind himself of what has so far discovered.The game brings to mind the other products the company Rockstar. A good example here may be driving the car, which is comparable to GTA. Thus, the "truck" from the 40s and 50 come very well in the corners, and their operation is quite simple. Guns are a bit stronger than Red Dead Redemption. A similar system is also directing the form and function of shooting and running. Solved a little differently for it to jump over objects. Cole feels he is doing the obstacle and automatically jump over the pipe, fence, etc.. The protagonist also automatically enters the tube, or ladder. This allows the player can only determine whether to run or walk slowly. Use the key RT. Thus, I ended up pressing A to run up somewhere. Still, change is not bad, but on the contrary the new law is even comfortable.There also looks worse scoring game, which fact has been imposed by the developers, but it really is not bad. Music, in fact is able to adjust to the crime scene, and ends when all the evidence and find the thread (it is also a vibrating pad, which shows that it is near some of the factual evidence) that can be collected at the site. Sound speeds for it at the time of the shooting. Music I personally like what I heard in the films The Godfather and the game Bully. It's such an interesting mix, but it perfectly reflects the climate of 1940.LA Noire was advertised as a game film. Of course, the title has its cinematic moments, such as pursuits in which our comrade shot from the window, or simplistic melee, in which just a few simple and dodge your opponent falls. Unfortunately, this is not enough, because most of it is gouging detective, but it's good, because so far there was no such title. Although everything is still the most cinematic for me Uncaharted 2 or Alan Wake.The advantages it is also worth mentioning the behavior and appearance of random passers-by. Their facial expressions are presented realistically, and their AI is high. When I wanted to ride one of them, he responded very quickly and odskakiwali to save his life. This looks really prawdziwie.Warto also mention a special filter in the options available that changes the image displayed on the game with black and white color. With this solution, we feel like the good old film of the species "noir" (productions filmed in the style of experienced its golden age in the '40s. Films of this type were black and white, and were characterized by a dark atmosphere, interesting mysteries and the specific character , which was mostly detective felt hat).Of course, like every game, so LA Noire has its problems. First of all, because the production of hard to build a completely coherent story. In virtually every moment of mystery begins and ends. Thus, we move to the next story, and so on and so forth. Seemingly all 21 tasks laid on end together, but somehow it's all too blurry and not very consistent. However, there are several other more annoying things about this production. First of all, our helper AI is often flawed. And this is where it stuck, and it meets the barrier, which itself can not handle, and to make matters worse, sometimes not even have a problem with conducting vehicle. I do not understand it, so sometimes he comes back and forth, but apparently has some important purpose in what he does. Sometimes it also happens that the declining number of frames displayed per second. And often you can see how his face doczytuj' ambient elements. Texture objects are well made - trees, grass, cars and some buildings are impressive, but sometimes it all look artificial (occasionally, but they are such moments). The streets of Los Angeles are like holes in the pavement, but does not affect the ride comfort - a pity that with us so there is no ... Too bad also that you can not use public transport .. Unfortunately, like most of you know, the title does not offer an open world. Well it shows, as if even now we want to ride around town, then after 10-20 minutes, returning to the main thread, because ... there is nothing to do. Of course there were also major problems during gunfights. The character is able to block, and the camera set wrong, so fast you can die. Sometimes it is also hard to peel off from the wall after an earlier adherence to it.Cars in the game despite the fact that control them in an easy way to perfectly match the years '40s. It's hard not to fit the starch in the list were the original carriages from the era, such as Ford Coupe, Dodge DeLuxe, 3100 Chevrolet and Cadillac V-16 (in total there are 100 historic vehicles). So, car collectors will probably quickly share information where the means of transportation can be found. In addition, Cole can commandeer any car that crosses his path. Of course, it explains that it is an important matter to do "for the police." Unlocked vehicles and get to the "extra" - there you can admire them. Of course, do not run a simple damage model, which is interesting in LA Noire damaged car will not explode. The fact that the engine burns, but the explosion did not occur.It is worth mentioning that after passing the game waiting for us, also side quests, but they really are unless credited by force, as well deviate from the main scenario. The additional missions because we will catch the petty criminals who prey upon the bank, etc.. Some even have to kill, but unfortunately not enough. Such episodes last a few minutes and unfortunately sometimes to get to them, takes much longer than just their passage.Completion Review LA Noire is not easy, because hard to determine what to give this game a rating. On the one hand we have a breakthrough, which are the above-mentioned hearing. The story drags, despite the division and after passing the title until he wants to be a detective. A major advantage is also a fun time, but in many ways plays like GTA and the RDR. Of course it's good, but unfortunately also the production of these errors were in LA Noire. Anyway, there is a big step przybli'aj'cym game to the movies. This next step has made LA Noire, which is why we have this title on their shelf.Rating 9.1 / 10Pros:+ Revolutionary graphics+ Length of fun+ The size of the city+ Innovative approach to the subject+ The game, which makes from time to time to think+ There is another action game+ The original cars from the years '40sCons:- Technical Shortcomings- No online play- No open world- For some people, the language barrier (lack of the Polish version)
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26.5.2011

==Introduction==LA Noire is the new adventure thriller from Australian software house, Team Bondi and creator of the Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption series, Rockstar Games. You assume the role of ex Army soldier, Cole Phelps who is embarking on a new career with the LAPD after leaving the army after World War II. The aim of the game is to get promoted to the top job in the police force and the way to do this is by solving numerous crimes in 1947 Los Angeles.Games players who are expecting LA Noire to be an unofficial GTA 5 are going to be disappointed as although the 2 games may look similar, the gameplay couldn't be further apart. Whereas GTA is what is known as a sandbox game (where you are free to roam the city as you please),LA Noire is more linear and although you can venture away from the story very slightly, your partner will soon be commenting for you to get back to where the storyline wants you to be. LA Noire was never meant to be a GTA spinoff, instead the game breaks new ground in its own right with the highly impressive motion capture of the actors faces. 32 camera were used to capture facial expressions from all angles to add an extra dimension of reality into the game as being able to read the characters facial expressions is pivotal to deciding whether they are telling the truth or lying when you are interrogating them.==In the box==LA Noire comes on a whopping 3 disks which I think is a first for an Xbox 360 game. It is recommended that all 3 disks are installed on the 360's hard disk as although the game can be played directly from disk, there have been some reports of the game freezing due to the console overheating due to the extra work it needs to carry out because of the highly complex graphics it needs to render. Installing takes approximately 30 minutes for all 3 disks and takes up 20Gb of your hard disk.The only other contents of the box are a 30 page manual, 15 of which are taken up by the games credits. It is not really essential to read the manual although it may give you some light reading whilst waiting for the game to install.One thing to note is the lack of a map with LA Noire. Although you can view the map from the pause menu once the game is running, Rockstar have decided against providing a paper based map that GTA players have become accustomed too. As the map in LA Noire is as big as the GTA area this does seem like a slightly surprising omission.==Game aspects==Being a police officer in 1947 LA is not an easy job. There are many attributes that you are going to need to master if you are going to successfully solve all the cases that the game has on offer. The learning curve for these attributes is spot on as you get broken into new elements at the right pace rather than having to do something extremely difficult without first having some kind of practice at it.===On foot===As a police officer, you are going to spend a lot of time on foot. This could either be walking the beat or walking around a crime scene in search of clues. The player animation when on foot is nothing short of spectacular as movements such as hurdling fences and stepping over evidence is spot on. Perhaps the most impressive though is how your character runs down a set of stairs which is extremely realistic. There are some occasions where you can find yourself stuck in a corner. This is normally when your partner follows you and blocks you in. You can try and push them out of the way but normally all you can do is be patient and wait for them to move out of the way.===Driving===Driving plays a big part in LA Noire. Due to the size of the map you are going to have to drive to almost all of the crime scenes. As the game is set in 1947, having sat-nav in your car to help you get around is not an option. Fortunately your partner appears to know all of the streets of LA and by pressing 'X' on your controller, he will tell you when you should turn. This doesn't work too badly although there are occasions where he will tell you too late and you either have to cut across the road or continue to the next junction and correct yourself.After a while you will probably get bored of driving as unlike GTA, you are not allowed to smash into other vehicles on the road. If this is the case you can always ask your partner to drive. This will take you directly to your destination thus saving time and avoiding a monotonous uneventful journey. There are some occasions when you can't ask your partner to drive, these are usually as part of a mission when you are chasing someone.===Searching for clues===Good police work revolves around finding vital clues in order to get a conviction. Without clues you have no evidence to back up your hunch as to whether someone is lying or telling the truth. There are usually many items around the crime scene which can be examined. Some of these are red herrings but the majority of them hold some kind of relevance. You know when you are near to a clue as the controller will start to vibrate. At this stage, tap the 'A' button to examine the clue. If it is something related to your investigating you will either get a new location or person to talk to or the evidence will be collated in your note book so that you can refer back to it when interrogating a suspect or witness. You will know when all clues have been found as the chilling background music will stop.===Interrogation===Interrogating suspects is a skill which you will improve throughout the game. As well as using the evidence to convict a suspect, you can also watch their body language to check for tell tale signs of lying or looking nervous. The facial capture techniques in LA Noire make this possible like no other game has ever done before.When interrogating a person you always get 3 choices, namely Truth, Doubt or Lie. You need to choose the correct option in order to get the most information out of the person. Be careful about branding them as a liar as you will need to back up this claim with some hard evidence. The flip side to this is that if you give them an easy ride then you may not be able to prize the vital piece of information out of them.===Shootouts===Shootouts do exist in LA Noire but not to the extent that they do in other Rockstar games. Although the control system is identical to GTA and Red Dead Redemption when it comes to shooting, it does feel as though you do not have full control over where you are firing. Whilst it is fairly easy to hit your target, this element of the game lacks a certain amount of realism.===Chases===Everyone loves a good old fashioned car chase and these are quite fun in LA Noire. Your car reacts very well which is surprising for a 1947 vehicle. As with the shooting, the car handling doesn't seem as realistic as driving in GTA but it is still perfectly acceptable and doesnt detract from the game. It is quite easy to keep up with the person you are chasing, the aim is normally to get close enough to them so that your partner can blow out their tyres, forcing them to stop.==Not for the feint hearted==LA Noire is extremely graphic and should definitely not be viewed when children are present. The game features many dead bodies, all looking extremely realistic. The majority of these are young naked females and as the game is a certificate 18, no censorship is in place so nothing is left to the imagination. The main storyline is also based on a true crime in America, the Black Dahlia murders so it is quite close to the line in terms of being fictional or real life.==Xbox Live==Quite surprisingly, LA Noire contains no online content. This is a real shame as the map is large enough to host a multi-player game although the storyline doesn't really lend itself to any legitimate online game modes.==Characters==All characters in LA Noire are played by real actors who look like the character rather than just providing the voiceover. The main characters in the game are :-* Character - Actor* Cole Phelps - Aaron Staton* Ralph Dunn - Rodney Scott* Stefan Bekowsky - Sean McGowan* Rusty Galloway - Michael McGrady* Roy Earle - Adam John Harrington* Herschel Biggs - Keith Szarabajka* Gordon Leary - Ned Vaughn* James Donnelly - Andrew Connolly* Lachlan McKelty - Randy Oglesby* Archibald Colmyer - Steven Rankin* Jack Kelso - Gil McKinney* Harlan Fontaine - Peter Blomquist* Malcolm Carruthers - Andy Umberger* Ray Pinker - JD Cullum* Courtney Sheldon - Chad Todhunter==Summary==LA Noire sets the standard that future adventure style games will need to adhere to. The graphics are absolutely stunning, like nothing I've ever seen before in a video game. Some will criticise the game for being too repetitive and they do have a valid argument to a degree. Certain elements of the game do seem all to similar but I suppose that is how the police do work when trying to solve crimes so in that respect the game is realistic.The positives however far outweigh any negatives that people can throw at LA Noire, the game is an experience which shouldn't be passed up if you get the chance to play it or watch it. The game plays like a mini TV series with each crime a new episode. Whilst the game has its dark side there are also some lighthearted moments too.This game is highly recommended and should not be missed at any cost.
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23.8.2011

Here we go with the latest release from Grand Theft Auto (and Red Dead Redemption) creators Rockstar games. Many people may be surprised, confused and perhaps even disappointed by this game (not necessarily in that order). Anyone familiar with the usual titles thrust into our demanding, ungrateful little faces by Rockstar may be expecting something a little bit different to what is on offer here. This one doesn't feature the standard shoot, drive, shoot-some-more game play style you may associate with their usual ultra violent action-ey titles!The game takes place in 1940s Los Angeles with the player taking control of Cole Phelps (which sounds less like a person's name and more like a sick fish).You must guide this character up the ranks of the police force from a uniformed street patrolman all the way up to a homicide detective. The first couple of training missions are set during Phelps' `beat' days when, shortly after returning from the war, he becomes a patrolman starting his long (long) rise up the ranks. These first missions gently introduce the player to the various game play aspects, such as searching crime scenes for clues, driving, shooting and questioning suspects (the usual police-y things).These gentle, early missions gently get you used to controlling the character (gently) and allow you to familiarize yourself with the initially overwhelming environment (the L.A setting is particularly well presented and vast, with incredibly detailed graphics). As in Grand Theft Auto and Rockstar's `other' game (you know, the one with the horses) you're basically guided through the early part of the story and given a chance to drive around the city getting used to things.A major portion of the game is spent in and around (and in) crime scenes looking for clues. Basically you'll get a marker on your good `ol mini map and you must drive to the scene or choose the `fast travel' option and your current partner takes control and drives you there. Once at the crime scene you must check for clues and evidence. Many of the items can be examined and picked up, once an item has been picked up by the player, the camera zooms in for a close up of the object in Phelps' fin, uh...hand and it can then be manipulated to have a better look at it. This often reveals secret switches, blood stains or marks on what were seemingly innocent bits of rubbish that you've picked up. The only problem with this is that there are a `lot' of useless items dotted around the scene (beer bottles, cigarette packets) that you have to wade through in order get to the relevant bits. This is kind of necessary though, as it would be too easy if the only items you could interact with at the scene were all to do with the case.After a shootout, a chase scene, a bit of questioning and a lot of driving, Phelps' ambitious nature and intuition is recognized and you (the player) are given the chance to interrogate a suspect. The chief (or whoever he is...some angry Irish bloke in a suit) tells you in no uncertain terms that if this goes well you'll go far, but you'll remain on the beat for a long time if you `balls it up' as it were (though I think he phrases it slightly differently).This is where the main selling point and, um...'unique-ness' of the game comes in. The interrogation sections follow a set pattern, whereby you sit the suspect down and using your handy notepad, go down your list of questions and select one to start with. Following this, Phelps will ask the..uh...'perp' the selected question, then you (the player, yes...you) have to decide if the answer is basically true, slightly dubious or a downright lie! You can usually get away with casting doubt on an answer without any negative repercussions, but if you accuse somebody of telling a massive, sweaty porky, you have to have proof, and the sweaty suspect will ask you to provide evidence (sweaty or otherwise) that you believe them to be lying. This refers back to the crime scene evidence gathering the player does before hand, and a piece of evidence found at the scene can be selected from the good `ol, trusty notebook and thrust in the suspects face to wipe the smile off it (their face, that is). This all works pretty well and makes it all the more important to thoroughly search each crime scene to uncover the relevant clues and evidence needed to get the full story. There isn't really a way to fail these missions as such, although you get higher ranks and score etc if you get more questions right. You can also earn an `I want to be a millionaire' style bonus which eliminates one of the three options (Truth, Lie or Doubt).The highly touted and much publicized `Motion scan facial recognition technology' works really well, as it was doubtful whether a video game character would be able to display the range of emotions needed to figure out if they were lying through their polygon teeth. Every single character in the game is voiced and played by a different actor and their faces have been recorded and basically `pasted' onto the animated characters' head, and while motion capture is not new these days (that bloke who played Golem makes a film featuring a different motion captured character approximately every seven seconds), it is used in a new and frankly extremely realistic way in this game. This technology allows you to see a character's brow furrow, eyes shift about or even the tendons on their neck tighten...it really is incredibly impressive. The only problem is that the actors tend to `over exaggerate' and overact. So the performances end up looking kind of over the top, though you might not see anything wrong with it if you watch a lot of CSI, NCIS or other cop shows with letters in.Phelps works his way up the ranks starting in Traffic going up to Homicide then all the way up to Vice. At this point in the story, Phelps (who is portrayed as a fairly realistic character, with realistic character flaws) is demoted down to Arson after publicly disgracing his department by cheating on his wife with a hot German lady singer person. A lot of the cases come together at the end of the game when it turns out some of the murders and arson incidents are related and traced back to the same shady organization (mwa ha, haaa).Not wanting to spoil the end of the story (but I'm gonna'), for the last few missions the player takes control of a private detective, formerly from Phelps' regiment during the war, who helps Cole unravel the sinister plot at the finale. This is a strange and unwise move to go through so much of the game with the same character only to suddenly switch `heroes' for the last three short (ish) missions. Also, for such a (mostly) realistic game, the final `final' confrontation is so over the top it's almost laughable! Continuing to not want to spoil it (but still continuing to do so) the private dick (he,he) straps on a flamethrower and mows down wave after wave of baddies in some abandoned tunnels (I `wish' I was making this up).In summary, the game is another classic from Rockstar, though a slightly flawed one. They tried something new and it works well for the most part, with just a couple of minor but irritating niggles. As with all Rockstar games, the difficulty seems to be set a little low, so there's never really a problem getting through the game and even if you mess up the questioning or miss some important evidence, there's always another way to find the suspects and continue on with the story. Added to the setting and the novel interrogation sections there are also plenty of side missions that appear on your (good `ol) mini map such as shoot outs, chases, hidden secret cars and secret, hidden, secret locations to discover (which are secret). These gain you experience points (sort of) that can earn you the `assistance' mentioned earlier during the interrogation scenes.It's `True' to say this is a great looking, original game, it's `False' to say it's perfect and it's, uh...what was the other one? Oh, yeah...it's `Doubt' um......something......just buy it.......Overall score: 4 Flamethrower Finales out of 5
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22.5.2011

LA Noire is a stunning looking game that falls somewhere between the open world game play of Mafia II and the interactive movie style of Heavy Rain. At its best it is an amazing looking game world that perfectly captures the noir movie style and allows you to play out the role of a 1940's detective. At its worst though it is an extremely linear game with little freedom of action or oportunity to do anything but follow a prewritten plot.Whatever its flaws though it has to be said that LA Noire is a revolution in computer graphics. The motion capture technology used by Rockstar Games has allowed them to make it an inherent part of the gameplay. Recognising when someone is lying or not plays a major part in the game,and if the graphics had not been up to scratch this would not be possible. Fortunately they are superb, and the characters you talk to look extremely realistic. I think I even spotted a few television actors making cameos. There is an excellent mix of suitably sleazy characters in the game and some excellent voice acting throughout.The bulk of the game involves you playing an LA cop who moves through the ranks of the LAPD to make a name for himself as the one good cop in a bad town. Depending on which department you are currently working for you will be called to various investigations around the city of LA. Each investigation takes the part of a seperate mission, like an episode of an old black and white TV serial. Turning up with your assigned partner on the scene of each crime you never know quite what to expect and its to the credit of the game designers that each crime shows a lot of imagination in making them as varied and interesting as possible. I gather from what I have read that it will also be possible to download further investigations online, giving the game some future replayability.Each crime scene requires you to look around for clues and gather the physical evidence. This has pros and cons in that it does feel pretty cool investigating the scene but as it gives an audio clue once you have found all the evidence it removes the chance that you will miss something. Also there are a lot of red herrings around to be picked up which are automatically eliminated as irrelevant by the game. I found myself wondering why a book of matches in one case was a clue, and in another it was automatically dismissed. I was also puzzled by the lack of forensic procedure as your detective picks up, handles and moves every bit of evidence,including bodies, and all without gloves ! Unfortunately though this is one area where you have very little freedom, it may look like you are investigating but really you are just going through the motions.Having examined the scene there are inevitably witnesses to question. This is where the motion capture technology comes into play as you need to pay close attention to peoples responses to determine whether they are lying or not. Again it is unfortunate that despite these amazing graphics the gameplay comes down to just three possible responses - believe them, shed doubt on what they say or accuse them of lying. What you don't get to see though is exactly what your character is going to say. Time and again I wanted to ask a specific question but was forced to listen to my detective saying something completely different. For example when casting doubt on one particular answer he might start throwing accusations at the suspect, accusing him of the crime. I was left sitting there thinking that if I had known he was going to say that I would never have chosen that response. It would have been so easy to have copied games like Mass Effect II and Dragon Age and actually had a selection of written responses to choose from.The game does not allow you to replay interviews so you may completely mess up and get no useful answers from a suspect. This does not seem to effect the plot however as you just keep going with what you have got. There have been several cases where I have failed to get half the clues and still solved the case anyway. The impression I got from looking at my game statistics was that the challenge is to get a perfect score in finding the clues and interrogating suspects. It is not essential however as your success just means you progress through the ranks faster. As you do you will gain access to new outfits and to intuition points which give you hints to help in your investigations.Aside from the particular investigation you may be working on at any one time there are emergency calls that you may choose to respond to. The game tells you from the start that there are 40 such calls to be completed and each takes the form of a mini-scenario with a lot more action than the normal game. Most are well thought out with a variety of different situations to deal with. There is a familiar system of cover and shoot, with an auto-aim function to make things even easier. Most of these calls involve armed robberies or similar so when you take one of these calls expect to get involved in some combat. I did find that these tended to be a little too easy and although they break up the slower paced investigations they interrupt the story somewhat.There is an overarching plot to LA Noire which I do not want to give away but the majority of the game involves this mix of investigation and fast paced action. The city is beautifully depicted with an amazing amount of detail and once again fans of 1940's cars have a vast selection to choose from. It looks even more realistic than the city used in Mafia II, however once again the majority of it is just for show. You have little opportunity to explore as you are normally busy on a case and there is no option to wander into shops or other buildings at random. You can only enter buildings with a gold door handle, which are those connected to the investigations. Driving is again, exactly like Mafia II and you can spend a lot of time driving slowly around, stopping at every light and taking in the view. However, if you want to get on with the game faster you can get your partner to drive, in which case it cuts the journey to the point you arrive at your destination.Given the complete lack of freedom I've described some people may wonder why I have given this game four stars. It all comes down to the style and graphics of the game which are without equal. LA Noire looks fantastic, it has so much detail in both the environment and the people who inhabit the game world. It perfectly captures the noir style detective feel it aims for with the mode of talking, the music and the visual style of the game. Even though your gameplay options are limited it can fool you into thinking you are working the clues and solving the case all by yourself. If you like the style of books like LA Confidential, The Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep and others then this game is going to blow you away.It does have its limits though and I would have much preferred a game which covered a smaller area in more detail with a more sandbox style approach. Random citizens you can talk to and shops and other buildings you can go into would have made all the difference. I'd also have liked to have had the option to mess up more fully. Each investigation proceeds at pace as the game rushes you through whether you do well or not. At no point are you stuck trying to think of what to do next or left puzzling over the evidence as you are always pointed in the right direction from the start.Overall then I would reccomend this game to those who read the box and were attracted to the idea of taking part in a 1940's detective movie. For those who want a more open, challenging game though I would avoid this and stick to Grand Theft Auto. Whether you like it or not though LA Noire is looking like one of a new breed of games which are becoming more like an interactive cinematic experience rather than a game. Just imagine what they will be able to do in ten years time.
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2.6.2011

Ho ho ho... I can see many many people feeling a little mislead by what this game actually is by this point as Rockstar break with type to deliver a sandbox title that not only puts you on the right side of the law for once but pretty much forces you to stay there, obeying the rules and keeping your guns holstered for about 90 percent of the game. Those of you going into LA Noire with the intention of indulging every destructive anti-social fantasy you keep locked in the darkest recesses of your psyche? You gon' be disappointed brah!Casting you in the role of former soldier Cole Phelps, a rookie beat cop in late 1940s Los Angeles as the world is still recovering from World War 2,the story kicks off when Cole ends up solving a murder he stumbles across and he is promoted to detective duty soon after. The game chronicles his rise through the ranks of the police force, as he transfers from one precinct to another tackling different departments as he goes, starting with the mundane Traffic desk before moving to the far more interesting Homicide desk and so on... Each desk brings it's own challenges to the table, but for the most part the cases in the game usually revolve around you finding out who killed who, but the individual cases are all well enough put together and distinctive enough to keep the narrative from becoming too stale. There are very interesting uses of running plots that run throughout your time on each desk and usually touch every case on that desk you work on in some fashion. For example the homicide desk sees you investigating the 'Black Dahlia' killings at several points. There is also a fairly interesting sub-plot running throughout the whole game about Cole's time in the army during the war and what has become of his former squad mates, with regular flashbacks to their time together in the war. The story and cases on the whole are extremely well written and acted, with everything about the game just oozing authenticity and believability. There are some fairly major missteps taken with the writing at some points I thought though, in particular the lack of real character development for certain characters, most especially Cole himself for the majority of the game. You literally walk this guy through his working life, but you learn nearly nothing about him away from the job beyond the fact he was a soldier. What hit this home for me was when about halfway through the game Cole's boss says to him "Go home to your wife" and I was taken aback as I had no idea he was married, and considering I'm supposed to BE this guy and not know important details like that seems wrong. Also, the last hour or so of the game, including the ending, were pretty unsatisfying and actually kind of disappointing after how fantastic most of what came before was.The gameplay in LA Noire can be summed up pretty easily: It is Heavy Rain, just set in a sandbox environment and with very infrequent shooting bits. That's not even a slight exaggeration either, because the way most of this game is put together is pretty identical to Heavy Rain, with you regular led by the nose towards areas that you have to wander around to find objects to interact with until you have enough clues to start tracking down suspects, leading to lots of talking where you have to ask the correct questions to get the desired results while interviewing witnesses or suspects... with cases occasionally climaxing in a shoot out or chase sequence. It is an extremely narrative heavy game, with little action and virtually no advantage taken of the sandbox design, with the game actually allowing to 'fast travel' between locations rather than drive there yourself. It feels like a wasted opportunity and puts me in mind of Mafia 2, which had much the same problem with it's design. The 'clue' gathering may irritate some as it is essentially just walking around crime scenes tapping the interact button until you find something to inspect for signs of relevance to the case and the interrogations are essentially multiple choice question affairs, with it often being hard to judge how Cole is going to act when you select a response type from 'Truth', 'Doubt' and 'Lie'. It can easily descend into a checkpoint reloading case of trial and error if you let it. The action sequences are fine though, playing more or less the same as GTA IV or Red Dead Redemption, but more 'confined', with chase sequences seeing your suspect always following the exact same escape path for example, and shooting sequences being essentially shooting galleries. This may sound incredibly formulaic and linear, and to an extent it is, but I cannot stress enough how major a factor presentation is here. The whole affair looks so fantastic and every area of it has so much attention to detail that it isn't hard to get lost in the narrative and just enjoy it. There's no getting away from the fact that compared to other Rockstar sandbox titles LA Noire is going to feel very very restrictive to most people, with you not being allowed to draw your gun except during the infrequent shooting segments and virtually none of the city being destructible or interactive (Meaning you can't even drive through a simple wire fence in your car if you want to). Don't let the sandbox fool you basically, it is all but wasted on this game. If you didn't like Heavy Rain, then chances are you won't like LA Noire. That's the most simple way I can put it for you.Visually, this game is easily the best looking sandbox title to date. The level of detail in every aspect of the presentation is staggering, most especially in the much hyped new facial animation technology, which does look just phenomenal, looking incredibly lifelike in motion and in cases where the characters are played by known actors (Like Greg Grunberg from... haha... 'Heroes' and John Noble from Fringe and Lord of the Rings for example) the faces of those actors are instantly recognisable and look eerily accurate compared to their real life counterparts. Aside from occasional frame rate issues, this game is a virtually flawless visual achievement. Soundwork is equally solid, with faultless voice acting and a decent, era-appropriate soundtrack... though I personally would have liked a little more in the way of songs, but that's just me.This is a superb game and a true benchmark in so many respects but a lot are going to be seriously put off by the heavy narrative focused nature of the game and the slow, deliberate pacing together with the relative lack of regular action sequences. If you're a fan of games like Heavy Rain and Telltale games' style of 'point and click' adventures, then this is going to be hog heaven for you. There are some bad ideas within the game's story and the whole experience can feel a little too much like it's holding your hand at times but these are comparatively minor gripes when the game excels so much in so many other areas. Get it now, but don't be under any illusions about what type of game you're getting, this is one step removed from a visual novel almost as much as Capcom's Ace Attorney games are, but if you like that, then get set for the best "Noir" detective game yet... well, that wasn't set on Terry Pratchett's Discworld at any rate.
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1.12.2011

LA Noire is excellent...!!!! let me explain just how good it is in a minute, but first off, i need to sort out some misconceptions some other reviewers on here have mentioned.Now i`m sorry if this review upsets all those on here who are complaining about the game being sluggish, or the installation going wrong and connection problems with the internet patch update, but when i got my copy (thanks Amazon - prompt service as usual)i placed the first disk into my drive, installed it with no problems, second disc did the same, then i started the game, signed into the Rockstar Social Club with no hitches, and finally downloaded the patch again without any difficulty...Do i own an "uber-overclocked" pc with infinite hard drive space and mega amounts of ram? no... i have a Packard Bell I-xtreme series pc, with 6GB ram and an Nvidia card. As purchased from PC World and not altered in any way. This pc is quite capable of handling the game. The game does not require to run at 30 fps, thats only on maximum setting and the one Rockstar would like you to see it in all its glory, but you don`t have to use it. The game will auto-detect your settings anyway. I believe the main problem is people who have purchased fairly cheap desktop pc`s with a standard graphics card built into the motherboard, so called dedicated cards, which are simply not powerful enough to run LA Noire on any setting, thus resulting in lock-up`s and problems running. Likewise the patch problem is really down to your connection speed when downloading, although i concede its not the case with everyone. It would seem from reading the comments on here that you are all quick to slag off the developer of the game and Amazon for supplying it, before looking more closely at your own pc`s and working out if its compatible or not. The game spec is clearly listed and is the first place to look - anything on there which does not match your own pc configuration is likely to conflict and cause a problem. Check the spec`s first!!!Now... the game....Taking the role of Cole Phelps, your first missions start off with you and a partner as ordinary beat cop`s, however its not long before you get to solve one crime which is described as a make or break point in your career. Solving this crime allows you to impress with your skills at interrigation of the suspect, and if you get a confession then you get promoted to Detective in Traffic division. But thats only the start... LA Noire throws you into a murky world of 1940`s America, period style cars and trams run along the streets, and music, sounds and the ambience of the era are all faithfully recaptured too. The game is closest in feel to GTA IV, without freeform play though, LA Noire wants you to follow its clues and villains on set pathways leading to various cutscenes and playable sections. This does not mean its predictable - i shot a guy who was running from me in the leg to slow him, and was politely informed that the mission had failed because the suspect was injured!Much has been made of the facial motion captured graphics, and it must be said, they are stunning - its the first game to even come close to living inside a film with belieable characters. The acting and voicework is spot on too! The investigations seem to break down into arriving at a crime scene, searching the scene and interviewing witnesses, then tracking down prime suspects, sometimes involving a chase or tailing them, interrigating the suspect and hoping you have solved all the clues to get a confession. Sounds simple, but its possible to solve a case without getting all the right answers, one suspect confessed to me, then on the next screen it told me his accomplice would have folded and turned him in if i had questioned him a little harder - so even when i complete LA Noire, there is insentive to return and try it all differently again.I think this game will appeal to alot of those players out there who miss the interactive Adventure games that LucasArts used to release, its a different style but no less thought provoking. Interigations in particular require you to read the eyes, gestures and mood of a suspect to determine if they are telling the truth or not, again making excellent use of the motion captured characters.1940`s Los Angeles is definitely an alluring place and i can see it being quite sometime before i pick up my Shogun 2 disc (another astonishing game, well worth playing and using up your spare time with...) because for whatever small faults it may have, there is something about helping Detective Phelps solve cases that hooks into you and won`t let go.I really hope customers reading this are prepared to try the game and not just read the negative comments on here. The rules are simple - if your pc can handle it, then i urge you to try it.Now, Los Angeles is calling me again... time to don my 40`s coat and hat and see what dark deeds await Detective Phelps this time....!!!
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15.7.2011

LA Noire is the newest game from Rockstar who have an uncanny ability to turn games into gold after working their magic. Red Dead Redemption was a fantastic game and Grand Theft Auto speaks for itself in terms of quality. So after working seven years on LA Noire, the company obviously had a lot to live up to. So does LA Noire deliver? Well it does and it doesn't.Set in the late 1940s and following war hero/LAPD star Cole Phelps after the war, the game plays out like a typical detective story as Cole works his way up the ranks in the police force. Starting at the very bottom, the feeling of progression is felt throughout with more complicated cases coming to the table as you progress through the four different areas of traffic,homicide, vice and arson.Right from the off its clear that LA Noire is unlike any other game out there. The facial detail is astonishing and is clear to see even from the opening credits. The setting of LA is brilliantly realized and the detail put into the area and the buildings is excellent. The feeling of being pulled into the time and the crazy goings on is really felt here but never truly explored fully. What I mean by that is the one big downside to LA Noire.The game is strictly linear and although there is opportunity to go off and explore, do street crimes (more on that later) and collect things the nagging feeling that you're supposed to be doing the cases is always felt. There's never a moment away from a case and the only deviation is when you're supposed to travel between crime scenes etc. and you venture off and explore. This is a real drawback as you can't fully get immersed into the world like other Rockstar games and I think personally the game could have been made less linear.The cases themselves are excellent though and form the main bulk of the game. Every case is handled to perfection with a crime scene always the starting point and then as clues are found by wandering around the crime scene and pressing X, more locations and suspects are discovered. Being thorough is the key to this game and unlike other games not paying attention to the cut-scenes can actually hinder your experience.The interviews in particular really boast the facial detail put into this game and you'll find yourself staring intently at the screen during the interviews to find the slightest little twitch or eye rolling to try and suss out a lie. Interviews are handled via three buttons to press. Triangle for a lie where you can pin hard evidence against what a person is saying that doesn't quite add up, X for the truth and Square for a doubt. This sounds simple enough but as the game gets going it becomes very difficult and really does challenge you.The game is made slightly easier by the inclusion of some goodies including 'Intuition Points'. These can be gained by going up a rank and gaining experience points via finding landmarks around the city, finding collectables, finishing street crimes or getting questions right in interviews. These 'Intuition Points' can then be saved up and used during crucial interview sessions to Ask the Community what they did via a percentage marker or removing one answer so its a 50/50 gamble. It's an excellent system and one that is well implemented.The action is well spaced out and although Rockstar have been given a lot of stick for the lack of action by fans, its not an action game after all and I personally found the different emphasis refreshing and something a bit different and this needs to be addressed as its the one thing that many people have complained about in the game. It's a detective game at heart and the action comes second as it should do in a game like this.The biggest problem with LA Noire, as seems to be the case with many Rockstar games, is the ending. Without spoiling too much, I found it to almost ruin the whole experience and the infamous "Oh...is that it?" as was the case in Red Dead Redemption and to an extent Grand Theft Auto, is even more evident here and the lack of exploration and continuation after the game has finished also hinders the experience.Furthermore all the usual Rockstar bugs come into play here including buildings that pop into view as you drive past ruining the experience. It's not a deal-breaker but after numerous games with the same problems, its shocking that the errors are still in play here, especially after seven years of production on this game.Overall though, LA Noire is a fantastic experience that breathes a breath of fresh air in the videogame market and delivers something fresh and different. The graphics are excellent and the facial design is the best seen in any game. The music and sound design are also very good and although the bugs are annoying and the ending is almost a dealbreaker, the rest of the game is sensational and one of the most unique experiences on PS3. A must have.
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7.6.2011

I bought this game after hearing much hype and seeing copies of it pile up in stores all over. I thought; "Wow, everyone seems to be going nuts about this new game".Quickly you can appreciate the new motion sensor technology for facial animations. Being a Brit, I didn't recognise most of the actors although did notice that a murder suspect was clearly the mind-reading guy from Heroes. The graphics on the face look gorgeous, as well as the environment, however much of the other graphical content has not really progressed past GTA IV. By this I mean body animation. It is great having great faces but when they are stuck on rigid bodies it still doesn't have total authenticity. Apparently,this is planned for the supposed sequel.I am going to concentrate mostly on the flaws but that is not to say this game is not brilliant, as I have given it a 4-star rating:1. General Gameplay: The movement and driving is almost identical to GTA. Cars are not as fast (obviously) and the shooting is more basic than other games in a similar genre. At times the game can feel linear when you may want to roam about the huge map for a bit. However, the excellence of the cases means that most of the time you won't be bothered to roam around as you really want to crack the case. 7/102. Clues: The controller vibrates and there is a little piano motif which plays every time you pass a clue. This is very useful but does make the game a little too easy at times. It also makes it a bore when you walk around picking up bottles of beer which the computer identifies as clues. Clue finding can be repetitive. 7/103. Interrogation: This can be annoying as sometimes you will think that a piece of evidence is admissable yet the computer thinks otherwise. In fact, the interrogations are harder at the beginning of the game. Maybe I just had to get used to them. It is easy to tell whether they are telling the truth or lying. The difficult thing is whether to go for 'Lie' or 'Doubt'. Both basically mean the same thing as you know they are lying but one requires you to provide evidence of the accusation. At times you will select 'Lie' only to find out that what you think is hard evidence is a load of rubbish. Similarly, you may select 'Doubt' when in fact they were lying. Even though you know they are lying. This can be frustrating if you are going for top scores on cases. 8/104. Story: The story is great though I do agree with certain critics who claim that certain plot revelations do appear to come out of nowhere and aren't really plot twists as there really is nothing to twist in the first place. In a sense, it is like the movie LA Confidential which deliberately tries so hard to be the most clever movie of all time whereas really it's just pretentious. The characters a good but it seems that just as you get to know a partner, you get moved on to another one. 8/105. Graphics: New facial technology is amazing and will change gaming forever. It is a shame, however, that the same detail has not been reserved for other aspects of the game. Especially body animations. 8/106. Epicity: A word I use to explain how 'epic' a game is. Meaning how big/long it is. I like big long games and LA Noire is pretty long (though nothing on your standard RPG). It clocks in around 25 hours, not including side missions and other things. Epicity: 7/10So there are great things in this game but there are flaws. Some cases can drag as the process is very repetitive. Luckily I enjoy repetition and I like the case work much more than chasing and shooting as there are lots of other games to play to do that mindless rubbish. The problem is that sometimes you feel as though you are trapped in a movie. Whilst this makes you really involved, and it makes the story incredible, it does cause massive frustration when you cannot do anything to change the course of the story. This is where the game gets confused as the complete immersion with your character kind of gives the game an RPG feel but then you see your character going into certain directions that you don't want and you can't do anything about it. You just have to play along the linear path and put up with what is happening. I think a dialogue optioning system, like that found in Mass Effect, would have been a welcome addition to give you some control over the character.Overall a great game and I only accentuate the flaws as that's what an unbiased critique should do. I have considerable praise for this game, it is a marvellous achievement, and I recommend you buy it if you have patience and an interest in detective/crime drama.
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8.2.2012

Firstly I would like to address the point that this game is not GTA and therefore should not be compared against it, they are two completely different games apart from having some comparisons in terms of themes and violence. La Noire takes you into the shoes and life of World War II veteran Cole Phelps, who also received a silver star after the events of a battle on Sugar Loaf Hill and was promoted to First Lieutenant. I won't go further into the background of Cole Phelps as that is readily available in the game guide. Cole Phelps is now working for the Los Angeles Police Department in Los Angeles, California on the Patrol Desk.The game starts you off right into business in your first case as Cole Phelps where you must drive to the scene of the crime with your partner.La Noire is very much a detective game, you must find evidence and investigate crime scenes, without evidence not a word you say against a suspect will stand in court or rather the interview room. When in a crime scene music will play to inform you that there is still evidence to be found, therefore when all evidence is collected the music stops and you can take your next lead on the case whether it be a new location or a person to find.At the end of each level you are ranked for how well you have done in a case, they way this is judged is determined by how much evidence you have collected , how many questions you have answered correctly against a suspect or witness and how much street damage you have caused. Collecting all evidence and getting all the questions right will earn you a 5 star rating and from that you will gain XP which moves you up the ranks and gains you intuition points which can be used during interviews and whilst investigating the crime scene.You follow Cole through the ranks of the police department and you get to experience many different roles in the police from Patrol to Homicide. The storyline for this particular game I feel is exceptionally brilliant, this is by far my favorite game of the year and tops GTA , which is something some people wouldn't agree with however LA Noire is fresh and GTA has a repeated theme in its games and the storylines are pretty much the same. However it all depends on what a person prefers in a game and I for one rather enjoy playing the detective.. you take pride in getting answers right and you can actually learn to observe people in real life from this game.The graphics, now where to start? the graphics are absolutely amazing , they are so very realistic and the facial technology is 100% realistic ; the new facial technology plays a huge part in the interview system as you must judge peoples faces to see whether or not they are lieing; you are given 3 options during an interview ; Truth , Doubt ( doubt someone when you think they are lieing but have no evidence# , Lie# note for Lie you must provide evidence to back up your claims#. The buildings are just as good as the facial animations and the landscape and locations are heavily realistic as well.The driving in this game is brilliant as well however you do find some of the cars hard to handle from time to time as with any game which has driving enabled. The only flaw I can find with this game is the fact that there isn't really much to do when you're not doing a case and you find yourself aimlessly driving around forced into doing cases. Free Roam isn't exactly Free Roam as you are always radioed for help in mini cases and it lacks the freedom GTA has with it's open diners and other buildings. Saying that there are some open buildings however your character does not have the ability to eat out or get drunk with his partners# such a shame). I also feel it would be nice if we where able to customize the character a bit more in terms of clothing and what not. It would have also been cool if as Cole you could take Elsa or his wife on a date like in GTA Sanandreas and IV. I also find that when you find a hidden car you lose it as soon as you start a new case; there should be a garage system like in True Crime: NewYork City.In conclusion this is a masterpiece of a game and I would definitely buy another game like this if it had corrected a few of its flaws. La Noire has truly got me more interested in detective games , books and movies and I find myself wishing for more of this game. There are downloadable cases which require you to be signed up to the PlayStation Network however.
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27.5.2011

Let's make no mistake about it, this game was hyped up to a frenzy before it's release. The trailers and screen-shots looked incredible and the genre chosen was refreshingly different. Having previously enjoyed Rockstars past productions, namely the Grand Theft Auto series and Red Dead Redemption, i too was swept into the pre-launch hype tornado and expected to be thrown onto distant cloud nine itself. I've just gone through and concentrated on the completing story missions thus far, the second time i play the game at a later date i will complete the side missions, such as finding the cars, places of interest and small side missions.So my view so far:* Graphics - the new facial animation is pretty impressive and certainly helps to give you that extra edge when interviewing witnesses and potential suspects, as well as getting to see the actor behind the computer character. As far as the general game graphics go well they are pretty clean cut and smooth as to be expected from a new release. Though i can't help thinking that the unique facial animation is a big factor in taking your attention away from that.* Game Play - I have to agree with a few reviews on here about this game, it is very linear. Aside from the odd distraction of a call out on-route to a destination there is not much to the game other than the cases. You certainly don't have the freedom of a Grand Theft Auto utopian city. Theres no going off to buy clothes or drink in a bar or having your own place unless it's in a cut scene. During missions your character only runs one speed and only on certain cases are you allowed to draw a weapon. It can be frustrating chasing a criminal as it seems to be impossible to catch up and tackle them, yet there are on-screen instructions saying tap the X button repeatedly to tackle. There have been countless times where i have wanted to draw my weapon to warn them to stop only to find that i no longer have the option to even though in a previous case i have already done this. When it comes to wounding a fleeing suspect/hostage taker well that seems impossible too. I have aimed a singular shot at a leg only to find the next cut seen showing them being taken away in a body bag.Although the game mission is in itself linear and i can understand why people found this part boring, personally i enjoyed it. I'm a huge fan of the CSI game franchise and so walking round a crime scene full of red herrings and clues/evidence was enjoyable. Sure you don't get to process alot of the evidence but being able to compile the information for future interviews in my view was a nice touch. The interviews themselves were the hardest part of the game in my view, unless you have substantial evidence then the line between the truth and doubt was finer than ever. I think it would take quite a few replays of this game to get every interview question right, which in turn gives it greater replay value.I felt it was a mixed bag when it came to the controls. The steering of the cars felt a bit go-kart like and it was easy to destroy at least 4 or 5 other passing cars before your car became immobile. I liked the time saving parts - asking your partner to drive to a location, musical hints and vibrations when your near a clue, and your character helping you out after a while on a particular riddle. Though this in the end just makes you complete the game quicker.* Overall - I only came across one bug so far in the game and that was character freeze. Usually someone who i would start to chase would just stand there still as if frozen, even knocking into them had no effect. Also when i went to look at a hidden car my partner followed me into the garage only to freeze at the entrance. In both of these situations i just had to restart from the last save point which luckily was not far into the game. This happened few and far between and barely made an impact on my game play.I think it is defiantly a game worth playing simply for the great graphics, music, story line and character acting. This game feels like it could be a great starting point in an era of new graphics and game play and hopefully more sequels set in later periods. Who knows, im hoping for a Dirty Harry style 70's San Francisco sequel personally.....
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6.6.2011

This game plays a lot like Heavy Rain in terms of the detective side of things. LA Noire is Rockstar by name but team Bondi by nature. So anyone who thinks this game would be like GTA or Read dead Redemption will be sadly mistaken.StoryYou play as Cole Phelps, a police officer who later becomes a detective. While working for the LAPD, Phelps discovered that Los Angeles was not what it seemed to be. It was a city full of crime and corruption and it's his job to help make it a better place. At the beginning you're unlikely to feel connected to Phelps however, as the game progresses you start to understand why Phelps's personality is the way he is and you will begin to feel empathy towardshim.GameplayThe game is a lot more linear than most open world games as it tends to focus mainly on the story and only has one type of side quest. The game focuses on cases and completing them to improve Phelps's rank. You will play most of the game with a partner, this works very well but it would have been better if Co-op were included. In the cases you're briefed by your Captain, you and your partner head off to the crime scene to search for clues. Depending on how many clues Phelps finds will impact the interrogation procedures which can then lead to who gets arrested. Despite the fact you might fail in this area the game will still progress regardless and this makes it a little too easy, even for casual gamers. You also car a notebook which has a list of all the evidence collected which can be used interrogate someone you think might be telling a lie.You can also drive (or let your partner drive which is much quicker), use guns(Keep in mind you are a good guy and can ONLY kill enemies), change outfits etc. The cars themselves don't drive too realistically but still do a job, the shooting is a watered down version of Read Dead Redemptions but also does a job when applicable. However, the major let down is Phelps's movement. He just doesn't have any sense of speed and general movement doesn't feel as good as you would want it to be.Graphics and PresentationThey are both amazing in this game although the graphics are not as good as games like God of War3 and Uncharted 2, its presentation and graphics are still top notch. The best thing about the game that is better than others is the presentation. The way the characters speak you can feel the emotion coming out of them. It cannot be described it can only be seen so at least watch some footage. Even the designs of the different racial groups are done to an unbelievable detail never seen in a game before.SoundThe sound is also top notch as expected with Rockstar's input in Bondi's game. The characters provide emotions that compete with any of the best detective or CSI program. The sound of gunshots, driving and other action even radio project what I would assume it would sound like in 1940s. The only thing that can get a little irritating is the looping in the sounds when searching for clues.FunThis depends on the gamer as someone who plays GTA, RDR, Mafia2 etc cannot look at this game and think it will be the same style. Gamers who also like games such as Heavy Rain or detective type programs are more likely to have greater joy. I found this game very fun as it gave me something different from the usual games that involve allot of shooting. The cases can feel like they drag on and have a random feel about it but later on after a drug mission you won't put that controller down.PS3 ownersBeware as some PS3 owners of the older models (60gb Fat) have had problems playing this game. Those gamers buy with caution.OverallTo keep this short this game is a great game but could have been much better. The animation, design and acting is practically flawless but the game doesn't provide allot outside the main story. Progression can be too easy and the cases can start to feel repetitive at times BUT, in the later stages you won't be able to put your controller down till the end. It was a long ride but had great intense moments near the end which made me begin to understand why Phelps's is trying to clean the streets of crime. I recommend this to anyone who views the game for what it is and not by the Rockstar name.8.7/10
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9.6.2011

L.A Noire, a game which I bought as soon as I could get my hands on it. Why? Well, for starters the life-like characters portrayed in the game was like nothing I had ever seen before. One of the key things that intrigued me about the game though was the chance to play detective or the "good" guy. This in itself goes against the typical Rockstar approach seen in games such as Grand Theft Auto but the key question, is as to whether playing as a detective really is all that fun? Or is giving the player the sandbox joy of other Rockstar titles still the way to go?L.A Noire is different to its fellow counterparts. To start off with the negative, the game is a lot more restrictive and limited in what you can get up to.The game does boast the excellent story and outside of that you will find side missions as well as collectibles, such as new cars. The problem is as seen in other Rockstar titles the side missions tend to get rather old quickly, that being said though their are some truly great set pieces for the player to engange in within the side missions, even if they are repeated far too often.The combat in L.A Noire, works but is just generally uninteresting and super easy. In defence, it isn't the core part of the game but all the same if Team Bondi perhaps could have done a little bit more with the combat it would have been welcome.Now on to the good stuff. The investigation work that you'll find yourself doing in the game as well as questioning suspects is fantastic. This is where L.A Noire really shines and at times you really do feel like you're watching a movie. The voice-acting to the scarily life-like characters are perfect. To an outsider they may well look at L.A Noire and see it as nothing more than a buffed up tech demo. Those claims are completely unfounded though, as the facial expressions as well as mannerisms of certain characters is something that you as Detective Cole Phelps will have to decipher. Using current technology would have made this impossible to immerse you in the experience as brilliantly as L.A Noire does, thanks to this new exciting technology.Then there's the little details. Los Angeles is perfectly re-created into the 1940's, from the vehicles to the music on the radio to the people of the city itself. One of the little things that really surprised me was a Richard Nixon banner who at that time would have been representing California, in the House Of Representatives. It's these little meticulous details which are only reinforced by the new technology which sinks you into the story and setting, all so easily.---Summary---Graphics 9 Truly fantastic most of the time. The occasional niggle does pop up though such as texture pop in. Hopefully, this will be patched in due course though.Sound 10 As close to flawless as you can get all adding to the immersion of the game.Gameplay 8 Inspect. Question. Combat. Repeat. This dosen't sound too appealing but with only the combat really being a let down the gameplay is solid.Lifespan 8 16+ hours for the main story arc plus factor in collectibles and DLC and you have a fairly decent package.L.A Noire, is something I like to see. It's essentially Team Bondi and Rockstar taking a risk, going against the grain and trying to revitalise a stalling genre in point and click. This isn't for everyone considering a large amount of the game is not action orientated. Whatever you believe though and whatever camp you may fall into this is an exciting time to be a gamer with the continued advancements being made. L.A Noire does for the point and click genre what Resident Evil 4 did for the action genre. It not only brings something once adored back to life but manages to improve upon the foundations and give the gamer an even greater experience. If you love shooters and over the top action then L.A Noire probably isn't for you. If you like puzzle solving mixed with various different elements executed with precision and excellence then get your pencil handy and your thinking cap on as the Department needs someone like you. 10/10. John Mitchell.
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30.12.2011

Released by Studio Bondi amidst huge controversies between its founder and his employees, L.A. NOIRE is a video game that got stuck during seven years of 'development hell' (2004-2011). Set in 1946-1947, it is the story of a young police officer (Cole Phelps) who quickly becomes a popular detective in the LAPD, but also uncovers a Los Angeles filled with corruption. Drugs, rapes, thieves, arson, there's in this story enough dirty laundry - based on true incidents from that time period - to please all fans of David Lynch (Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive, Twin Peaks) and of Mad Men. Speaking of Mad Men, many actors from that show got to perform roles in L.A. NOIRE, most notably Aaron Staton (Cole Phelps),either by voice acting or by motion capture of their faces reactions as the story goes on.So far the animation is very credible to the player's eyes, as much as the design of this virtual portion of Los Angeles which has been apparently well-replicated based on what L.A.'s streets looked like at this time period. The props, buildings and outdoor effects are a treat to look at, though the only criticism (small one mind you) is that some of those textures will take a longer time to completely load during cutscenes or the gameplay, even when you have installed the whole game on your Xbox Drive. As for the soundtrack, players get to listen both to real radio shows that were broadcast in the forties and to an official soundtrack made by various artists (Andrew and Simon Hale, Fly, Claudia Brucken). What a treat for fans of the forties; who can also, in the game's options, play the game either in color or in 'black and white', as if they were watching an old movie.The gameplay mixes both the main storyline and secondary situations that Cole and his partner (depending on the department) have to deal with. Players can do those secondary situations either during an investigation or during a free play where they can roam around the city and solve cases that they may have missed. So far there are no achievements that seem to me impossible to complete, but there are others which you will maybe have to retry again and again to succeed, (example: using every weapon in the game, finding all the movie reels, all the police badges, shooting a certain prop during a fight, etc.).The X Box Live marketplace offers a few investigations not included in the official game, but have to be bought on its online service (either manually or with a special ticket available on the X Box Marketplace/Copy bought at a store). You don't necessarily need those investigations to complete the game, but those stories add more details to a game that was supposed to offer more levels in the beginning (six departments), but didn't get to as the Studio Bondi's management problems took a toll on the game's quality.So why the five stars even though the game has been done under a cruel and traumatizing work atmosphere, during which certain employees never got the credits they deserved, or came out swearing to never work again in the video game industry? Because it is a rare chance to play a game that forces players to be action efficient and to be also very observant during the investigations and interrogations as everyone's reactions (voice, winks, smiles, eye contacts) may reveal if the person interrogated tells the truth or is in fact lying; if he is, it is then that showing the right proofs can confirm his involvement in the case.Then again, I do hope that the Behind-the-scenes events that happened during L.A. Noire's making - and which have been further detailed in many articles and websites - will force the video game industry to reevaluate its working methods and offer decent working conditions. But I also hope that it will encourage all video game employees to unite together and to better defend their working conditions; making sure that they won't tolerate any rubbish from their employers, and that they won't be leaving the game development industry traumatized and with a sour taste in their soul.
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20.5.2011

Working at a game retailer I got to have a hands on this a few days ago and played the first few hours and my copy came in a day ago. Barlely put it down.First off. If you are looking for a game as free as GTA or Red Dead Redemption then you've came to the wrong place. The game is a lot more linear than those and you wont be able to get away with jumping into a car and going on a killing spree (I've never attempted to even hijack a car so I'm not sure if that is possible too.) You play a cop who works his way up the ladder while doing various investigations. During which you will have to interview witnessess, search for clue and chase down suspects.The game totes an 'amazing'set of graphics making it feel more realistic. Although I personally don't feel it's anything we have seen before and doesn't feel like a huge jump from what we got with Heavy Rain and Final Fantasy XIII. The main idea behind it is that it makes the world feel real. I found nothing wrong with the world however the faces didn't feel entirely real. Remember how you saw Heavy Rain and kinda felt it was lacking something to make it realistic? This suffers the same fate.The game mentions that these graphics are to be used to help when you are speaking to witnesses/suspects as they will sometimes pull a face. For example they could look away when lying, or bite their lip. You will have to deduce whether they are telling the truth or lying, however if you do suspect they are lying you better have some proof. It actually plays out like Phoenix Wright/Miles Edgeworth as you badger the witness (even they managed to do the whole facial thing.)Soundtrack is rather nice, even accomodating in order to allow you to pick up clues. Voice acting is rather decent too.Gameplay is kinda average. The first time I played through the missions I enjoyed them. However once I got the game in my hands I felt bored by the first few missions as I'd already played them out before. The game feels like it has very little in terms of replayability. This further dampened by the fact that after a while you do feel like the missions are becoming repetitive.Getting around on foot and in car is very much the same as playing GTA, although despite being a good cop I found myself being forced to driving like a maniac. You'll never get anywhere in this world by obeying the highway code. With the siren on cars will move out of the way as much as move into your way. And people will stand in the middle of the road daring you to try and knock them over. Shooting is much the same as Rockstar's other games so if you have played them you'll be right at home here.Another thing I wish to comment on is that there is no free mode as such. You will always (or at least as much as I've played.) be tied into a mission. However while driving to and from mission points you can always do sidequests such as stop a bank robbery, chase a thief, stop a madman with a shotgun etc. They aren't exactly meaty and feel like little more than diversions. There is also a wealth of locations and hidden cars to find and unlock. (I have heard you unlock a free mode after the main game.)Playtime all depends. I'm personally into the 12th hour mark however I've heard people finishing it in just over 10 hours. It all really factors in on how much side-stuff you do.Overall I think that L.A Noire is a decent effort hampered by the feeling of dullness, the game feels linear, no matter what you do the story plays out the same, the lack of being able to do what you want when you want. (Yeah it's a cop so not gonna happen.) and the general feeling that the investigations side has already been done better in the Ace Attorney series (especially Edgewoth.)I feel that it is a game best rented first, or at least try it some other way. While it will make the first few missions way more dull playing through them again. It also allows you to decide if you want to invest in the full game. DO NOT look at the rockstar logo and base it off their past games.
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18.7.2012

Rockstar took a big risk with L.A. Noire, and it certainly hasn't been as popular as Red Dead Redemption or GTA, but I urge you to give it a chance - there's no other game like it, and I think that it represents a brave new direction for the future of action games.It amazes me how many reviews compare this to GTA - Rockstar already make GTA, so if you want to play that, go ahead! Set aside the familiar gameplay engine and the open world setting, and L.A. Noire really is a very different game from GTA; in fact it's a game far closer to Mafia II in its drip-feed approach to action, building up suspense before delivering short but polished sequences of car chases and gunplay.Coming from the developers who brought us GTA and Red Dead Redemption,these sequences are, as expected, tense, exciting, and well-paced. But you'll spend much more time searching crime scenes for clues, chasing down leads and interrogating witnesses, and this is what really gives L.A. Noire its unique atmosphere. You can take leads in whatever order you choose, and when you receive your end-of-case report after solving a crime, you'll often be told of a different way you could have approached the task. Solving crimes in L.A. Noire could so easily have become a repetitive button-bashing affair, but this variety of angles and the possibility of solving crimes in different ways gives each case a fresh feel. As in many Rockstar games, you'll become aware of a formula as you go through the cases, but everything about the experience feels like it's been blended in neatly to distract you from the fact that you're playing a game: rather than show your route on the mini-map, you can press a button to have your partner describe directions as you drive; side missions become available as calls for help over the radio from other police officers; and the attractive yet functional notebook interface lets you scroll through clues and locations without the immersion-breaking feeling of trawling through a normal game menu. These touches all work together to create a polished product that has you gripped from the start.However, one of L.A. Noire's downfalls is the fact that it is a game: while it treads brave new ground, it also reveals the limitations of the current generation of hardware. The new facial animation technology means that characters are the most believable I've ever seen in a game, but it also means that characters are repeated throughout the story for no apparent reason other than what I assume to be the difficulty of rendering hundreds of different actors' faces in such a level of detail. Similarly, damage to your vehicle sustained in a chase will suddenly disappear the minute the game re-loads after a cutscene, instantly shattering the sense of hard work and tension that has built up to that stage in the case. Also, the Los Angeles setting doesn't feel nearly as alive as modern day Liberty City: driving from one case to the next, there really is little incentive to stop and explore. This is something I found with the Mafia games too, so perhaps it's a symptom of the historical setting (1940s, less to do in the city, perhaps?) but when you're playing an open world game like this it can be hard to swallow such a sense of shallowness, particularly when we've grown used to being spoiled by Rockstar in terms of the rich selection of characters and settings in their other games.L.A. Noire is far from perfect, that much is clear. But it's good to see a developer trying something new, so Rockstar should be applauded for that. Whilst it might not be to everyone's taste, it certainly shows the potential for games to come; with so few games out there that don't rely on quickfire action and speedy thrills, it was always going to be a game that divided opinion, but at least Rockstar dared to do that, which is more than can be said for most developers.P.S. I downloaded the game from Steam and had no problems at all with installation, and there were no crashes at all.
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