L.A. Noire is a unique experience that should be played by all fans of crime games

User Rating: 8.5 | L.A. Noire X360
By J-Man2244 | Review Date:
As a general rule, I like it when developers take risks when making new games. While some level of familiarity is never a bad thing, there is a bit too much stagnation in the modern gaming industry - and, like always, we can expect Rockstar to deliver an innovative title to mix things up. While L.A. Noire was only published by Rockstar (the company known for Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption, Bully, and Manhunt, to name a few), the game does have the distinct 'Rockstar feel' that makes them so popular among gamers. That, and it is one of the most innovative titles that I've played in the past few years. L.A. Noire plays a bit more like an interactive movie than your average video game, as a good portion of a playthrough will consist of cutscenes, investigating crime scenes, and driving between locations. Though the game probably could've used a bit more action in my opinion, this is a nitpicky complaint when we're talking about something as good as this.

L.A. Noire takes place in a bustling 1947 Los Angeles, with you playing as detective Cole Phelps. Without going into too much detail, Cole begins the game as a renowned World War II veteran with a beautiful family and successful career, but things do change as you venture later into the game. The story is expertly written, and the cinematography is every bit as excellent as what you may expect from a 1940's film noir. The MotionScan technology captures every facial movement of the actors, and the other visual aspects of the game are also stunning - the voice acting is also spot on, and I can't find any complaints when talking about these aspects of L.A. Noire. The gameplay is also very solid, and although I do notice a bit of repetition later on in the game as well as a fairly easy difficulty and not quite enough action, L.A. Noire still stands as one of 2011's most original and greatest video games. This one is highly recommended.

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