L.A. Noire

 PlayStation 3
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1212 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 848 out of 1212
  2. Mixed: 259 out of 1212
  3. Negative: 105 out of 1212
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Moviebuffreview
    May 28, 2011
    10
    People who compare this to Grand Theft Auto really need a life. L.A. Noire is not trying to be Grand Theft Auto at all, it is trying to be fresh and unique, and that is what it is. You have to use your head, but using your head is more fun and rewarding than tiring and no fun. The game looks gorgeous, has incredible face technology, has excellent controls, and the gameplay is overallPeople who compare this to Grand Theft Auto really need a life. L.A. Noire is not trying to be Grand Theft Auto at all, it is trying to be fresh and unique, and that is what it is. You have to use your head, but using your head is more fun and rewarding than tiring and no fun. The game looks gorgeous, has incredible face technology, has excellent controls, and the gameplay is overall revolutionary and exciting. L.A. Noire is one of the best games of 2011, go buy it!… Expand
  2. TheOnlineGamer
    May 28, 2011
    10
    This is my Favourite Game of all time (Mainly because im a big Noir Genre fan) it is full of exciting missions and it is a BIG Game! I love the Story, its classic Noir at it's best! The Gameplay is Fresh and unique and the Graphics are Remarkable. Go out and Buy this Game!
  3. CPB
    May 28, 2011
    8
    A fun game, but also a disappointing one. There is some screen taring, some of the cases are just rinse and repeat, and the ending is unsatisfying. But most cases are fun, sometimes having the choice to charge suspect A or suspect B, and a pretty good story (minus the ending and one thing that happens that doesn't have a reason behind it).
  4. Mezinger
    May 28, 2011
    9
    LA Noire picks up a 9/10 and a coveted spot on the podium of my all time favourite games.

    Pros:
    Fabulous period piece atmosphere
    Most realistic in game characters ever
    Challenging & fresh gameplay mechanics
    Gripping story lines
    Great expandability with case structure, and big free roam worldâ
  5. borrrden
    May 28, 2011
    8
    I was anticipating this game for quite some time, and I am happy to report that it did not let me down. I will start off with the good things. Of course, the facial animations are absolutely gorgeous and I found myself sometimes staring at them so much that I realized I wasn't paying attention to the interrogation. The game has a great story, and for me it had replay value because whenI was anticipating this game for quite some time, and I am happy to report that it did not let me down. I will start off with the good things. Of course, the facial animations are absolutely gorgeous and I found myself sometimes staring at them so much that I realized I wasn't paying attention to the interrogation. The game has a great story, and for me it had replay value because when I played it a second time I found subtle references to later events and I was able to perform some of the things that I had missed the first time. Yes, the result is almost always the same, but there are different ways to get there. The majority of the voice acting is superb, and really helps to draw players into a cinematic experience. Now for some bad. I found myself very annoyed on more than one occasion when my character drew their gun in the wrong direction, and it takes so long to spin around that I got shot to death. This usually happens when I enter an area and there is a guy sitting there about 3 feet away. Also, sometimes there is a huge lag for repeated tasks that gets on my nerves. The notebook, in particular, is guilty of this. I get sick of waiting for the character to put his pencil down onto it so that I can make a selection. Also when examining evidence there is a lag between when you push the stick and when the action actually happens. So, yes, the controls are a bit hokey, but it's not impossible to get used to them (Heavy Rain had a similar situation). Overall, this is a very solid game, and I barely noticed glitches at all. If you are looking to give your trigger finger a rest, this might be a good game for you!… Expand
  6. Jblack0928
    May 27, 2011
    7
    Allow me to be the one to say, this game is not for everyone. The story is relatively linear and the story moves slower than any other rockstar game go date. I found myself questioning if inshould have rented brink instead on many occasions. After about 6 hours of gameplay and still not having Played brink I can safely say this game is ok. On one hand I truly felt like a criminalAllow me to be the one to say, this game is not for everyone. The story is relatively linear and the story moves slower than any other rockstar game go date. I found myself questioning if inshould have rented brink instead on many occasions. After about 6 hours of gameplay and still not having Played brink I can safely say this game is ok. On one hand I truly felt like a criminal investigator, asking my wife to quiet down because I was on a case. On the other I literaly fell asleep during a long period of dialogue. The facial animations are a neat distraction but do they make the game? Let me leave on this note, I no longer purchase video games but I am an avid renter of the art. It is games like this that make me glad to adhere to this standard, I do not regret the playthrough but i would not need this game in my library.… Expand
  7. Deadatthescene
    May 27, 2011
    7
    This is a great game, but has it's flaws. First, this game is much different in a sense where there is a minimal amount of shooting and the focus is on the interview system and finding clues. I thought finding clues was fun, but it was still a bit too linear for me. I wanted it to be challenging to figure out why something was a clue. But as soon as you pick it up, it gives it to you.

    The    This is a great game, but has it's flaws. First, this game is much different in a sense where there is a minimal amount of shooting and the focus is on the interview system and finding clues. I thought finding clues was fun, but it was still a bit too linear for me. I wanted it to be challenging to figure out why something was a clue. But as soon as you pick it up, it gives it to you.

    The interview system was okay, I found some cases pretty frustrating and bizarre when I would get 0/5 questions wrong and didn't understand why clues would bring certain outcomes. It worked well in most cases, but it was still hard to judge at some points in the game.

    The facial animations are by far the most positive thing about the game. They are amazing and absolutely on top and ahead of the current trend. This technology should become standard in future games that need realistic faces. Of course, that means you need even better actors but the face makes all the difference. Really impressive with the characters visually, and the acting in this game in general is very good. There are some side characters that are a bit corny and awkward, but overall the main characters are well done.

    I absolutely loved the music when I first heard this game. I thought it would be moody and really help move the game along. In Red Dead Redemption (I know, different developer, but just as an example of how well music is done), I got chills when the music would play, riding into the sunset. It provoked a certain emotion, and it was at the perfect time. There was a lot of unexploited areas in terms of music. There were times where things could've had more emotional impact but there was no music, no mood. Sometimes it can be perfect to NOT have music, but it was generally missing in many areas. It just overall lacked a bit of flavor.

    A lot of the sound effects in the cutscenes were off. I don't know how that happens, if there is latency in reading the disc, or what. But it was a little obnoxious hearing punches almost 2 seconds later then when you visually see him throw the punch.

    A lot of the car chases were the same. How these big trucks maneuvered with such agility is beyond me. They all had staged events that were non exciting. Everyone else stopped for me except for one big semi-truck that just happened to be crossing my path. Things like this just pulled me out of the experience.

    The story-telling is subpar. It was not cohesive, not necessarily confusing, but it was not revealed in an appealing and understanding fashion. There was no "Ah ha!" moment and the ending which I will not spoil was boring and non-climatic.

    You're probably thinking, this guy gave this game a 7 and he's talking so much crap? Well. This game offers a unique experience I have no experienced in many other games. If you liked Heavy Rain, you'll likely like this game. There are not many interactive movie style games out there. And this is sort of a hybrid. It's easy to play, pretty engaging from the start, and much slower paced which is refreshing. They do a lot of things right, but there are too many major weak points to consider this an absolute fantastic must buy.    … Expand
  8. Keoki
    May 27, 2011
    5
    Not a bad game, but far away from being one of the Rockstar jewels that they use to create. The open world it's just limited to driving, leaving the game with a single predefined path making it so linear. The best feature in the game is the graphic part.
  9. The_Hamster
    May 27, 2011
    9
    This genre of mystery solving peaked in the 1980's, and for people expecting a typical Rockstar "anything you can think of goes" approach, you will be disappointed. The role you play in the game is that of a Police officer- which means that by and large you don't run people over, you don't jack cars, and you don't carelessly fire your weapon for the sake of playing "what if". For manyThis genre of mystery solving peaked in the 1980's, and for people expecting a typical Rockstar "anything you can think of goes" approach, you will be disappointed. The role you play in the game is that of a Police officer- which means that by and large you don't run people over, you don't jack cars, and you don't carelessly fire your weapon for the sake of playing "what if". For many people who are conditioned for instant gratification or ignorance to the storyline via what has become a typical game, this is not going to be an enjoyable game for you. It is a game you sip, not gulp, in terms of game time and activity. There are several reviews that claim you can only play this game one way- this is patently false as I have already found more than 3 outcomes in the case that results in your first interrogation experience. In terms of correct outcomes, I think it mimics life quite well. You attempt to use what you know to form intuition, ideas, focus and outcomes- and you get it wrong as often as you get it right. I also appreciate the value of the actors and their voice work. The beauty of matched pitch with visual expression is just phenomenal. Call this the next stage, or the first stage of the next stage in realism for gaming. The last time a police game was this engaging was Sierra's Police Quest / SWAT series, so I applaud the appeal of this game. I have been telling friends for the last 2 years that the world needs an engaging game based on Justice and this delivers on several levels. I'm half way through the game, would I play the first half again knowing the outcomes? Yes- the fact that I have discovered you can capture fleeing suspects in multiple ways is interesting in itself and it makes me wonder what other nuggets there could be. I also would be interested to see expansions for this game- the dynamics of the game could very well go in so many directions.… Expand
  10. Sceptic
    May 27, 2011
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. L.A Noire turned out exactly as I feared.With a great soundtrack and pretty visuals to be expected,I was more concerned with the gameplay.Unfortunately there's little to be had.The game is so heavily scripted that everyone who played it has done so almost exactly the same way as everyone else.Whether you find the clues or not,are successful with your interrogations or not,means nothing.You cannot fail.There are plenty of side missions consisting of a foot chase,car chase,or shoot out but all are very dull and poorly done.If you care enough to find all of the newspapers or landmarks,I pity you.The world and characters of L.A Noire are very well done but I almost hesitate to call this a game.To sum up,entertaining for a few hours and then extraordinarily dull.… Expand
  11. atr7
    May 27, 2011
    5
    This is not an open world game. It has open world elements but since every single one of them can be skipped or failed a couple of times before the game can skip them for you i can't see what is the purpose of them being there at all. I played 4-5 missions and i love the way that you have to base your reactions on the face-sync and basically the acting of the P.O.I.'s. Its the singleThis is not an open world game. It has open world elements but since every single one of them can be skipped or failed a couple of times before the game can skip them for you i can't see what is the purpose of them being there at all. I played 4-5 missions and i love the way that you have to base your reactions on the face-sync and basically the acting of the P.O.I.'s. Its the single fresh and truly great thing about this game. And that is why i gave it a 5. Everything else is just. Not present. You see a video of your character in boot camp for WWII and then you get a mission. And then you can tell your partner to drive you there. Oops no open world for you.
    And then the victim is dead and uncooperative, the perps (because if a single person in the 40's new what a P.O.I. is i will self immolate) are trying to **** with you and that is about it. Go solve a case, see video of boot camp, solve case etc. I hope it gets better because i just might forget about getting the driver treatment and going for the mission and just drive around town. As long as i don't kill anyone and i don't bust up the town... What is the point of driving around in a game if you are supposed to obey speed limits and not crushing cars. And that is why i didn't give the game more than 5.    … Expand
  12. Dani061094
    May 26, 2011
    8
    Great game, not perfect, slightly clunky combat system but the superb voice acting and investigation game play more than make up for it. Can't wait till LA Noire 2!
  13. tekshow
    May 26, 2011
    9
    There are mature games where the meaning of the word is defined by bloodshed, gore and violence. Grand Theft Auto has lived up to these descriptions for years. Comments on the interwebs and message boards where fans of consoles linger decry "Mature" games as something to achieve through your age. Much like the drinking age in America, people consider themselves adults when they hit thatThere are mature games where the meaning of the word is defined by bloodshed, gore and violence. Grand Theft Auto has lived up to these descriptions for years. Comments on the interwebs and message boards where fans of consoles linger decry "Mature" games as something to achieve through your age. Much like the drinking age in America, people consider themselves adults when they hit that magic number of 21. Once you arrive, at 21, you might feel as I did that being a real adult is completely elusive. It takes a few more years for seasoning and experience to set in. Then there are other "mature" games, but you may or may not find an M rating on the title. Hotel Dusk and Heavy Rain to name a couple examples, stand out as games of maturity without the need for gratuitous red paint everywhere. It's the narratives and experiences of games like these that propel the industry not only as a medium of story telling but as art. A tale of two dicks and mad men: Team Bondi has crafted an incredible tale of kitchy 1940's action that plays like an interactive version of L.A. Confidential. Phelps the main protagonist is as straight and rigid as they come. From the beginning you always get the sense as if he's going to have one glaring flaw to bring his world crashing down. Can he be as upright as he portends? Questions like these run rampant in L.A. Noire. Who is good or bad? Did I convict the right man, was justice served? Frankly they're questions we're rarely asked in our daily lives, and if we are we don't want to share it with other people, and even more scarce in the landscape of gaming. Rockstar's 1940 version of LA oozes with charm like the series Mad Men. Down to the details in cigars, whiskey lounges and Jazz the city seems abuzz with all the appropriate nuances. Some have decried the game as there not being much to do. Well if you mean you can't hit someone with a baseball bat and grab a rocket launcher while driving down the sidewalk with your gat, then no, L.A. Noire doesn't allow for those kinds of freedoms. It does however put you on your toes and give you the freedom as a detective to act like one. Who to investigate, what you deem evidence, and where to search for your next answer is up to officer Phelps. As a company known for those other "mature" titles Rockstar has hit a homerun with L.A. Noire. There's a few things they've tightened up from other 1940s and period pieces. For instance driving never feels sluggish, unlike some of the Mafia games where they try to give a real time impression of driving an old Plymoth. Traveling is quick and easy, but the city is huge so it's even better that they threw in a fast travel feature. It's about the A to B here, but if you want to explore you can. The music, and the production values are all top notch, needless to say so is the acting. By now you may have heard that one of LA Noire's biggest selling points is the evolution of facial animation. They have done it. Real, believable faces in sync with the audio are ready to interact with Phelps at every turn. It makes getting attached to characters an easy windfall, and contributes to the games premise of discovering who's telling the truth and who isn't. That's what you have to go on, a wink here, pinched lips, a glance to the side. It's amazing how far they went with the level of emotion, some looks can be the difference between telling a lie, and a question rolling around the person's noodle. Without this feature I doubt Noire would have achieved the level o game it became in the end. Things aren't one hundred percent roses in Noire either. As an initial effort the game is a creative success. There's some minor flaws in the gun play, the cover system feels tacked on, and the fisticuff sequences are too easy and bland. One time I was out numbered 3 to 1 and quickly dispatched two of the thugs. I'm a trained Ninja in real life, that probably helped. Next I was given a cutscene showing my character getting a good thrashing, I wasn't supposed to win the fight. It immediately took me out of the fluidity of the experience. There's tons to build on here and I bet with the success it's getting we're guaranteed to see a sequel. Some people used to the Rockstar formula may be quick to judge this title. Those missing rocket launchers and strip clubs may be immediately turned off. For the rest of the intended audience willing to take a chance on something refreshing, to savor it, you are in for an incredibly adult experience.… Expand
  14. josh671
    May 26, 2011
    9
    Really great game, the motion capture works remarkably well. The presentation is near faultless especially in the cut scenes at the beginning of each case. The pacing of the story is done really well and Team Bondi have done really well to create a 3-D protagonist in Cole Phelps. I do wish there were different difficulty settings and the latter street crime call outs seem to be moreReally great game, the motion capture works remarkably well. The presentation is near faultless especially in the cut scenes at the beginning of each case. The pacing of the story is done really well and Team Bondi have done really well to create a 3-D protagonist in Cole Phelps. I do wish there were different difficulty settings and the latter street crime call outs seem to be more difficult than the action sequences in the final cases. Other than that a great game that has plenty of replay value as you try to get a correct response for each question you ask and get 5 star rating on every case… Expand
  15. T-K47x
    May 26, 2011
    9
    Overall great game one of the best you will play in 2011 and also this gen, my only problem is there are a few hiccups in the stories plot line that has made me think less of the game, nevertheless I think that LA Noire deserves a solid 9/10.
  16. desertofthereal
    May 26, 2011
    9
    The game is enjoyable and the new way to play video games. The cases are fun and some remind me of things from movies like LA Confidental. The cases are sometimes straightforward but you have some choice in how you solve them.....All in all it's a great game to kick off the summer and lead us into all the fun that will be arriving later....
  17. smk123
    May 26, 2011
    8
    First thing's first; this is like no other Rockstar game you've played before, the good news is that it has a fantastic story rich in plot twists and engaging gameplay, the bad news is that it is very lacking in terms of content. The fact the game is entirely linear may also not be to your taste; no matter how poor or impressive you are at investigating crimes or interrogations you'llFirst thing's first; this is like no other Rockstar game you've played before, the good news is that it has a fantastic story rich in plot twists and engaging gameplay, the bad news is that it is very lacking in terms of content. The fact the game is entirely linear may also not be to your taste; no matter how poor or impressive you are at investigating crimes or interrogations you'll still always have the same outcome which although not game ruining, it may put some people off. Obviously much praise deservedly should be given to the facial motion scanning, you may not think you'll notice it whilst you play but believe me you will! As previously stated the plot is superb but when you've completed the game the replay value is effectively non-existent; the lack of multiplayer and the linearity are to blame for this. However if you like a good, convincing plot, some of the finest acting in a videogame to date or a murder-mystery esque game then you should give it a try. It may be worth renting, rather than purchasing though as I purchased the game on release day and finished it that very weekend, nonetheless it was a thourgoughly enjoyable experience which unfortunately is a bit on the short side.… Expand
  18. Captain_Morgan
    May 26, 2011
    9
    L.A. Noire is truly a unique game. Never before have I played a game quite like it. All my life video games have trained my eye-hand coordination, but L.A. Noire teach gamers something different. L.A. Noire teach people how to think. How to read people. How to create scenarios in your head and weight evidence. Who is likely to be guilty? Who is lying, and who do you trust? Other than aL.A. Noire is truly a unique game. Never before have I played a game quite like it. All my life video games have trained my eye-hand coordination, but L.A. Noire teach gamers something different. L.A. Noire teach people how to think. How to read people. How to create scenarios in your head and weight evidence. Who is likely to be guilty? Who is lying, and who do you trust? Other than a truly unique experience, L.A. Noire looks fantastic, with excelent light and color. The facial expressions are just as beautiful as they are flawless, and 1940's Los Angeles is a sprawling city, full of life and constant movement. Rockstar and Team Bondi has created a true masterpiece.… Expand
  19. Gamer44
    May 26, 2011
    4
    La Noire on of the best games of 2011 in my books everything about this game is awesome but I agree the driving and chase aspects is really a let down I love how they got the facial expressions so realistic it is some of the best I have ever seen in a game for me when I finish this game I will not play it again this is one of those games you play once and then it collects dirt andLa Noire on of the best games of 2011 in my books everything about this game is awesome but I agree the driving and chase aspects is really a let down I love how they got the facial expressions so realistic it is some of the best I have ever seen in a game for me when I finish this game I will not play it again this is one of those games you play once and then it collects dirt and eventually you give it to someone else to play or for me I will trade it in. I really loved this game the first 5 days I played it and now I'm getting a little bored the game needed more action and some surprises around every corner and i wish a could have shot people that would have been amazing but overall the game is awesome don't get me wrong but it could have been much better if they took a little more time and used more imagination as well.The game does have a few let down for me and also a few upsides… Expand
  20. ModernUnit
    May 25, 2011
    9
    This game is amazing. The majority of negative reviews are dumb because if you click on the user profile, you will see that person is just a hater. Who gives a zero to a game like this? LA Noire's story is great. The free roam is cool. But the story is where its at. You have to really look at the person you're questioning to crack the case. It's not a GTA game like so many people assume.This game is amazing. The majority of negative reviews are dumb because if you click on the user profile, you will see that person is just a hater. Who gives a zero to a game like this? LA Noire's story is great. The free roam is cool. But the story is where its at. You have to really look at the person you're questioning to crack the case. It's not a GTA game like so many people assume. It's a combo of Heavy Rain and GTA.… Expand
  21. mandem
    May 25, 2011
    10
    LA Noire, is set in a gloriously convincing depiction of Los Angeles in 1947. The controls are similar to GTA, the game style is very different to GTA. You are a LAPD detective, question suspects and witnesses, solving cases. You have to analyze facial responses and bodily twitches, just like in real life. Overall it is an outstanding game, very fun, well worth the money. BreathtakingLA Noire, is set in a gloriously convincing depiction of Los Angeles in 1947. The controls are similar to GTA, the game style is very different to GTA. You are a LAPD detective, question suspects and witnesses, solving cases. You have to analyze facial responses and bodily twitches, just like in real life. Overall it is an outstanding game, very fun, well worth the money. Breathtaking camera work, well done rockstar and Team Bondi for producing an outstanding game. Very addictive… Expand
  22. Amiganoid
    May 25, 2011
    2
    I really wanted to like this game, but then, i didn't. I like all kinds of games, except sports and some simulation games. But no, this is no game for me, sure the graphics were all right on 30 fps, but the game is so damn boring.

    I sure hope Rockstar doesn't mess up Max Payne 3, and please...PRETTY PLEASE...make sure Max Payne 3 runs at 60 fps !!
  23. Xpadsyx
    May 25, 2011
    8
    One of the most anticipated games of the year and only really the second or third massively anticipated release so far this year L.A Noire promises much with its revolutionary face capturing technology and its deep investigatory game play but has it delivered? The story of L.A Noire is the titles strongest facet. You play as Cole Phelps (Aaron Staton), a former military hero returning fromOne of the most anticipated games of the year and only really the second or third massively anticipated release so far this year L.A Noire promises much with its revolutionary face capturing technology and its deep investigatory game play but has it delivered? The story of L.A Noire is the titles strongest facet. You play as Cole Phelps (Aaron Staton), a former military hero returning from the War in the Pacific to become a member of the LAPD. You start as a street cop but are quickly promoted to the Traffic division. This is where the detective fun really begins. The Traffic Desk is one of the most enjoyable out of the four that you work in throughout the game (traffic, homicide, vice and arson), because the cases are the most varied. Each case is individually interesting and enjoyable. All the way through the story there is the undercurrent of a larger case which ultimately builds to a superb climax at the end of the game. What makes the story so immersive are the great characters that you encounter throughout. This is bolstered by the great face animation Rockstar has implemented as well as some of the finest voice acting in video game history. Characters are multidimensional and often not what they seem. The setting of the game is also terrific. Late 1940s Los Angeles is a fine setting for this crime drama. The developers have gone to great lengths to replicate the feeling and ambiance of the period and this makes the experience all the more immersive. The golden age of Hollywood and Jazz is wonderfully replicated throughout. The Map is massive and diverse. You are able to skip driving between locations throughout the story by letting you partner drive but you feel that doing this would not do justice to the work the developers have put in replicating every detail of 1947 LA. The investigatory part of the gameplay is executed very well. Whilst questioning a suspect or speaking to a witness or victim players are given three options of dialogue, truth, lie, or doubt. Basically, the player picks truth if he knows that the person he is talking to is telling the truth, the player selects lie if he knows the suspect is lying and has evidence to prove it, and doubt if you know the person could be lying but you have no truth. This system works well, but sometimes you do feel that your character is not questioning exactly what you want him to. Overall the investigation mechanics are solid. Where the gameplay falls down slightly are the open world controls. To cover system feels dated as it is basically the same the one in GTA 4. One other mildly irritating issue emerges whilst the player is engaged in an on foot chase. Players are able to fire a warning shot, tackle the fleeing suspect or simply shoot them. However you never have the option to do either of the three, it is always one or the other. You also cannot shoot people in the leg to stop them running, if you shoot someone they will die no matter which area of their body you target. It may have been more realistic to be able to choose one of these options in order reprimand a fleeing suspect rather than having one method chosen for you. The game also seems a little buggy. I played through the 360 version and do not know if the same can be said for the PS3 version. Cars often disappeared as you were driving by them. This is especially annoying if you are trying to collect every car in the game. All this said the controls and gameplay mechanics are good and it is only on one or two occasions that they become problematic. Graphically this game is one of the best on the consoles. 1940s LA is stunningly diverse and interesting and the character animation is second to none. The environmental detail is outstanding, particularly the 95 vehicle models. Each car is beautiful spurring players to drive all 95. The graphical wait of this game is underpinned by the fact that it shipped on 3 disks for the 360. LA Noire must have one of the largest casts ever assembled for a video game. There are hundreds upon hundreds of individually mapped faces throughout the game and it is no wonder it took five years to develop. Overall LA Noire is an extremely fun gaming experience. Rockstar is able to replicate the splendour of its other marquee sandbox title making this game a must play especially if you want to experience something new and different to what you may normally play. The story is diverse and interesting from beginning to end even if the dated on foot controls let it down slightly. LA Noire is a marvellous game that furthers the notion that video games are as an immersive experience as film, literature, and theatre if not more so. Score 8.8/10 http://padsysblog.blogspot.com/… Expand
  24. trescharmant
    May 25, 2011
    8
    PROs: A true gaming breakthrough, facial animation wise. The gameplay was amazing. Intriguing cast of characters. CONs: Lagging in some parts. A bit repetitive at times. Awkward body animations. Although it has a great story, it kinda got confusing and fell flat in the end. Plot holes here and there. Overall, a great game and worth playing but don't set your expectations too high.
  25. boom_shuckalaka
    May 24, 2011
    7
    A great showing of the facial mapping technology and quite entertaining to watch; however, the game largely rides on this component alone with shallow game-play elements injected. After the glorified point and click mini-game of finding clues, the interrogations are frustratingly difficult for the wrong reasons, that is if a person has a blank face --> true (rare occurrence) , if after aA great showing of the facial mapping technology and quite entertaining to watch; however, the game largely rides on this component alone with shallow game-play elements injected. After the glorified point and click mini-game of finding clues, the interrogations are frustratingly difficult for the wrong reasons, that is if a person has a blank face --> true (rare occurrence) , if after a second (for the facial sequence to load) there face moves then you have to pick doubt or lie. If you pick lie you have to pick a piece of your evidence to get the question right. The problem being that this is often not logical and there is only one right answer so instead of thinking your guessing what the developers want at this particular point. Much more satisfaction would result from system where a certain amount of information was divulged based on how effective the evidence is and the questions leading up to that point (suspect's current emotional state); albeit this is more complicated to create and again at the subjective mercy of the developers "rating" the effectiveness of the evidence, imo it is better than a black n white you are either wrong or right system. I consider the interrogation sequences to be part the heart of the game and b/c this ultimately feels shallow (almost mini-game feeling) I was left unsatisfied. I won't go into detail on the other parts of the game since it feels clunky and tacked on to simply get from point A to point B or to add in some action. A significant amount of time must have been spent creating details of old L.A., but it seems to go mostly unused or will be unnoticed. I wonder how many reviewers bought the game day one and proceed to give it 10 (supposedly a perfect game score) and overlook any kind of obvious critique in an attempt of preventing buyer's remorse (or maybe to counteract the zero ratings of the haters but that's an issue in itself). I suppose if your thoroughly entertained it makes no difference..though I would be interested to see what kind of scores people would give L.A Noire if it had the voice acting / facial animation typical of most current games because it is hard to argue that the game-play is carrying this game.… Expand
  26. spango_joe
    May 24, 2011
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A masterpiece... but a flawed one. While the game play mechanics maybe ingenious and innovative, it suffers from repetition mid way through the game. The story is is engaging but is paced poorly, and the characters are never quite developed enough, with certain motivations seeming strange to the player. Graphically it is top notch and when combined with the excellent soundtrack, creates a memorable atmosphere. Replay value is limited but a definitely worth at least one play through.… Expand
  27. M3chaGr4n
    May 24, 2011
    0
    VERY PRETTY, unfortuately it is pretty dull, pretty boring, pretty repetitive and pretty predictable. It is , because it is rockstar, also pretty disappointing. the whole thing drags like walking through mud, there is precious little action and the side missions are utterly repetitive. In comparison to Red Dead (yes, thats action based but still sandbox) its a step backwards. Dont get meVERY PRETTY, unfortuately it is pretty dull, pretty boring, pretty repetitive and pretty predictable. It is , because it is rockstar, also pretty disappointing. the whole thing drags like walking through mud, there is precious little action and the side missions are utterly repetitive. In comparison to Red Dead (yes, thats action based but still sandbox) its a step backwards. Dont get me wrong, i like the use of intuition, i like the thought behind it but in focussing on desperately trying to be different and engaging it has completely missed the fact that it still has to be interesting and fun. Yawn… Expand
  28. illmtu
    May 24, 2011
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game is a beautiful example of how taking some risks can pay off. This game is fairly unique in what it does. It reeks of Rockstar. Yeah, I know Team Bondi had the bigger involvement in the development but you can can tell that Rockstar had a hand in this and that's in no way a bad thing.

    The characters and plot in this game was for me gripping. There is an arc that stretches across the length of the game, first being quite subtle and unimportant but building up as the game goes on. My only complaint would be that there wasn't enough normal cases and a lot of cases actually weren't properly solved until later on in the game. Stand-alone cases such as those you encounter in 'Traffic' are amongst my favourite - though of course these are the sort of cases that will become available through DLC in the future.

    The driving and shooting are pretty much pulled straight out of GTA, so fans of that series won't be disappointed in that department although they aren't the main focus of the game. That of course is the investigation. The investigation side of things is remarkable, I have seen a lot of people complain that there is always a set outcome which is a fair complaint I suppose. Though at least 3 times you have to choose between two suspects, and which suspect you pick will determine what rating your case gets at the end and how those above will either be pleased with Phelps or not so pleased.

    What I developed an obsessive compulsion for was collecting all of the evidence and getting all of the questions right to secure a good case rating at the end. This didn't always work out, but for people who are like me and have a perfectionist streak in them should get more out of the game than the cynics who will scoff and say "Who cares what happens, it's the same result" it's less about the result and more about how you reach that result that is important.

    Personally, I would buy a sequel. Give me a new setting or era to work in to spice things up some more and I'd happily work through another load of cases, I just can't wait for the DLC to come in June.    … Expand
  29. Dpacm
    May 24, 2011
    2
    Well where do I start with this game. This is going to be a long one. This game is best described as superficial, lacking in both content and any real character. At first it feels like a whole new experience, both creative and original. However after 'X' amount of hours of game play I can tell you it is anything but.

    The whole focus of the game is on the cut-scenes and story; although    Well where do I start with this game. This is going to be a long one. This game is best described as superficial, lacking in both content and any real character. At first it feels like a whole new experience, both creative and original. However after 'X' amount of hours of game play I can tell you it is anything but.

    The whole focus of the game is on the cut-scenes and story; although this is it's greatest triumph it is also it's greatest downfall. For all the innovation they put into this, none of it adds to the game play of the game. The story at times feels familiar and predictable, the cinema-tics although superior to other games I have seen, just don't make for a better gaming experience. If it were a movie I would be saying otherwise.

    The cases are way too easy, practically child-like for what is an adult's game. You go from point A to B and back again, essentially clicking a button whenever the controller vibrates alerting you to a clue. The investigative side of the system just doesn't exist. It's as if the game holds your hand and guides you all the way through. The realistic expressions are good outside of interrogations, but ruined by the fact that they all over-act their expressions - the opposite anyone in a real interrogation would do. Some of the missions are at best said to be grueling and tiresome. One particular missions involves finding excerpts from a killer - but you don't figure them out the AI does. You drive round completely and utterly aimless until the game's hidden timer moves the story along with dialogue from the protagonist.

    The combat is not much better, in a game like this it is far from realistic. You simply can take multiple gun shots without flinching, whilst the AI is as daft as ever practically wanting and embracing death. Melee combat is also overly simplistic - Phelps performs like a professional heavyweight boxer, knocking opponents down yet the AI has the demeanor of a drunkard fighter. Button bashing punches at it's finest. I would also like to point out this game lacks a lot of action and when you do reach it, it is few and far between.

    My next problem with this game is content. Beyond the single player experience of this 'sandbox' game there is nothing. Literally nothing. No incentives what so ever to carry on playing once you have completed the game. The developers have created a fantastic world, but there's no reason to explore it. Unlockables are also at a minimum and are purely awful - worse than team fortress 2 or even the call of duty games. A gigantic world that looks beautiful, but has very, very little to do in it.

    It's almost like the developers took everything that made GTA games a like-able sandbox experience and cut all of the content, beyond the single player experience. The game has zero replay value. There is no reason to replay a case outside of perfectionism. And with a complete lack of multiplayer I have to say this game is truly one of the most over-hyped and overrated games I have experienced my whole life. I simply cannot understand how the reviewers scored this in the '90's zone.

    Superficial. Over-hyped. Overrated.    … Expand
  30. codfather96
    May 24, 2011
    9
    A beautiful game with only slight flaws that can be forgiven because this is so amazing to look at, to feel as who try to find a killer to a young families mother, great game!
  31. sometown
    May 24, 2011
    10
    Beautifully recreated world. The textures and style are amazing and the sound design is incredible. I suspect this game will get people playing it that never gamed before. I'm pretty sure my 64 year old Dad would get into this because of the historical accuracy of the buildings and cars, not to mention all the subtle flavors of the time creeping in through overheard conversations and radioBeautifully recreated world. The textures and style are amazing and the sound design is incredible. I suspect this game will get people playing it that never gamed before. I'm pretty sure my 64 year old Dad would get into this because of the historical accuracy of the buildings and cars, not to mention all the subtle flavors of the time creeping in through overheard conversations and radio programs. The window displays and billboards are great too. I've heard some people complain that this game isn't action-packed enough...well, you're entitled to your opinion, but I haven't been bored for a second. I'm constantly in awe of this game. Maybe not the best game for little kids that just want to get head-shots over and over.… Expand
  32. Notorious
    May 24, 2011
    9
    Rockstar have done it again; they've created another game with a richer story than you'd get from a modern Hollywood blockbuster and combined it with a new style of game. L.A. Noire tells the story of Cole Phelps, an LAPD detective in post-war Los-Angeles. While the game has the same look and feel of GTA IV and Red Dead Redemption, L.A. Noire's gameplay is completely different. Gone is theRockstar have done it again; they've created another game with a richer story than you'd get from a modern Hollywood blockbuster and combined it with a new style of game. L.A. Noire tells the story of Cole Phelps, an LAPD detective in post-war Los-Angeles. While the game has the same look and feel of GTA IV and Red Dead Redemption, L.A. Noire's gameplay is completely different. Gone is the ability to shoot up the average passer-by; as Cole Phelps you're a good cop in a world of corruption. Instead of pumping lead into the criminals you now have to coerce information and confessions out of them. Suspects must be interrogated in order to open up new avenues for you to investigate. This game takes a bit of brainpower and skill in order to read whether your suspect is telling the truth, or if they're trying to serve you a plate full of stinking lies.

    Revolutionary, refreshing and compelling. L.A. Noire will keep you hooked as long as you can appreciate it for what it is - gamers looking to pop caps need to look elsewhere.    … Expand
  33. Commen0136
    May 24, 2011
    8
    Good game but L.A. Noire could have been better. The map is pretty big but the city just doesn't seem as alive as Rockstar's previous games and there isn't really much to do in free-roam. The graphics are good. The faces look excellent but the bodies are not as good. The gameplay is pretty good and unique. The story and voice acting are solid. The music of the game is great. L.A. NoireGood game but L.A. Noire could have been better. The map is pretty big but the city just doesn't seem as alive as Rockstar's previous games and there isn't really much to do in free-roam. The graphics are good. The faces look excellent but the bodies are not as good. The gameplay is pretty good and unique. The story and voice acting are solid. The music of the game is great. L.A. Noire isn't GTA in the 40s. Its much more different. Its not better but its still a good game.… Expand
  34. Dyalad
    May 23, 2011
    8
    A game with a tremendous amount of details. Every crime scene is flooded with props and objects that give a sense of realism and depth. However, after a while, genuinely paying attention to detail is meaningless - I've disabled the shaking and sound cues, and I was still able to figure out if I missed a clue in a scene.

    Facial expressions and acting are believable. However, confronting    A game with a tremendous amount of details. Every crime scene is flooded with props and objects that give a sense of realism and depth. However, after a while, genuinely paying attention to detail is meaningless - I've disabled the shaking and sound cues, and I was still able to figure out if I missed a clue in a scene.

    Facial expressions and acting are believable. However, confronting a witness through a lie was sometimes frustrating - there were clues that would've made a lot of sense, but they served no purpose. The game reacts instantly if you picked the right or wrong answer during an interview; I didn't find a way to disable those and it often ended up being a huge turnoff.

    Controls felt very akward; I had a hard time the whole game juggling with running, crouching, aiming and shooting. Fortunately, after a few mission failures, you may decide to skip the action part (given you picked the gameplay option for it). For instance, you have to hold down the right trigger while steering with the left stick, as opposed to most games that prefer to use x as the running button.

    I've enjoyed the storyline. Plots are intertwined together, and there are a few twists. What is unfortunate is that there are events that are left unexplained, and it left me bitter, not in a good way. It might leave one frustrated, especially considering how much certain things left unexplained affect the whole story.

    Overall it was a pleasant experience. The graphics, level of detail and conversations were astonishing, but the controls could've been improved. The interviews were interesting but not intuitive at all, and not very rewarding.    … Expand
  35. Prantare
    May 23, 2011
    10
    This game is amazing. It's innovative, beautiful, has a great story and great gameplay. Instead of putting us into gun fights a lá Call of Duty it makes us think. I really love this game. For me, Rockstar is growing in maturity, artfullness and thought each year. This and Red Dead Redemption makes Rockstar my alltime favourite game company. This game is NOT for people whoThis game is amazing. It's innovative, beautiful, has a great story and great gameplay. Instead of putting us into gun fights a lá Call of Duty it makes us think. I really love this game. For me, Rockstar is growing in maturity, artfullness and thought each year. This and Red Dead Redemption makes Rockstar my alltime favourite game company. This game is NOT for people who like action.

    This game is for people who like art, wit, intelligence, great graphics, a good story and great acting. 10/10.    … Expand
  36. Tonkatsu
    May 23, 2011
    0
    L.A. Noire could have been a wonderful game, but this game does so much wrong that it's hard to enjoy myself. The whole game feels like a waste of time, considering that I've yet to have any fun while playing it. The interview system is terrible and doesn't add much other than a frustrating mini-game. I wanted the crime-solving aspect of this game to be engaging and interesting, but itL.A. Noire could have been a wonderful game, but this game does so much wrong that it's hard to enjoy myself. The whole game feels like a waste of time, considering that I've yet to have any fun while playing it. The interview system is terrible and doesn't add much other than a frustrating mini-game. I wanted the crime-solving aspect of this game to be engaging and interesting, but it just falls flat. I played interactive movies back on the Sega CD, and they weren't any good then either. Rockstar is officially on my 'Rent before Buying' list thanks to L.A. Noire. I wish I could get a refund on this game!!!… Expand
  37. HAMMERBS3
    May 23, 2011
    9
    Unique in every aspect,great graphics,storys and crimes are amazing.Its not GTA,Its not red Dead,ITS BETTER!!Total game immersion for me.In one simple sentence..ROCKSTARS FINEST HOUR so far on The PS3.Gonna take ages to complete and so much to do its a welcome breath of fresh gaming air!!
    GENIUS
  38. Magik300
    May 23, 2011
    10
    beautiful, detailed, Game of the year for me. Like being in a movie. Watch LA Confidential and decide whether you like/live this movie. If yes then that's the game for you
  39. SlyDragons
    May 23, 2011
    8
    Just for some background, I'm about 14 hours in and 60% complete. I've played some of Rockstar's later releases (GTA3, GTA4, Red Dead Redemption), and while this game does have the same feel from a character control perspective, you shouldn't go into the game expecting the same type of sandbox. This is a detective game, not a free-for-all game with missions. That means you'll spendJust for some background, I'm about 14 hours in and 60% complete. I've played some of Rockstar's later releases (GTA3, GTA4, Red Dead Redemption), and while this game does have the same feel from a character control perspective, you shouldn't go into the game expecting the same type of sandbox. This is a detective game, not a free-for-all game with missions. That means you'll spend most of your time wandering around crime scenes looking for clues, interacting with witnesses and suspects and checking your notes. There's some shooting in the 40 or so street crimes, but those are usually quick and best serve as a reminder of the controls to use your weapon, so that you'll be ready in the main story. In fact, in plain old walking around, you can't even pull your gun. Despite not being much of a sandbox, the map is huge; More than you'll probably ever have a need to see. I did spend about an hour just driving around, crashing cars, falling through buggy buildings into the blue abyss below the map, trying to hit pedestrians, etc. I pre-ordered, so I would get some free DLC, but because the Playstation Store is Fubar right now, that content is inaccessible. I don't blame the game for that, but instead only give a slight knock against Rockstar for it because going into the DLC screen from the game locks up the console every time and requires a console reboot.

    The characters are great. The face acting is pretty good. The stories and cases are compelling. The interaction with suspects can be frustrating and if you're a perfectionist or completionist, you might get a little frustrated at wrong answers which even in retrospect seem to be right. The only replay value might be replaying individual cases to get a better score. You're almost discouraged from exploring during a case because hitting cars, causing damage, etc, can negatively affect your case score. I've found that I mostly let my partner drive to avoid it. It's a solid detective game, and I'll probably buy a few DLC cases just to keep the experience alive. Outside of the case load, there's not much there, but the case load may be enough if you like detective games.    … Expand
  40. Gazmando
    May 23, 2011
    5
    Having been reserved about this game, and now having had a chance to play it, my reservations were justified. So far I have found the game boring, linear, and nothing more than a glorified point and click move from A to B game. The facial animations are a truly amazing feat unlike any I have seen in a game prior, they don't hide the flaws of the game. Aside from those facial animations,Having been reserved about this game, and now having had a chance to play it, my reservations were justified. So far I have found the game boring, linear, and nothing more than a glorified point and click move from A to B game. The facial animations are a truly amazing feat unlike any I have seen in a game prior, they don't hide the flaws of the game. Aside from those facial animations, everything else has been very average. I wouldn't call it a bad game, just very very average. I would recommend renting before buying.… Expand
  41. Gagnar
    May 23, 2011
    9
    Rockstars history is violent and bloody for sure. Known for creating Red dead redemption, Bully, Manhunt and ofcourse the 'notorious' Grand theft auto series. Rockstars team Bondi does things differently and places you on the opposite side of drug dealers, murderers and the mafia. Story

    You play Cole Phelps, a veteran who fought the japanese in the second world war and started working in    Rockstars history is violent and bloody for sure. Known for creating Red dead redemption, Bully, Manhunt and ofcourse the 'notorious' Grand theft auto series. Rockstars team Bondi does things differently and places you on the opposite side of drug dealers, murderers and the mafia. Story

    You play Cole Phelps, a veteran who fought the japanese in the second world war and started working in the city of Los Angeles for the police as a street cop. Through out the game little will be told about cole's social and personal life. Information about he's experiences in the war are told by cutscenes after certain cases you solve. They provide some info about cole's personality and past but later in the game these cut scenes will occur less often. Not much is givin away about Cole nor he's family or social ties. You will occasionally get some additional information about the protagonist from the conversations with you're partner while driving to a location but this is not enough for me to make me care about him. The entire story aspect however is not bad. As the cases you must solve have plenty of good story telling in them. They keep you interested and there are plenty of plot twists in them to make you keep guessing and investigating. Together with the sublime voice acting and face animations it will keep you hooked till the last second. Gameplay

    L.A. Noire is a sandboy game but with it's restrictions. I found Mafia 2 quite a linear sandbox game with little to do outside story progressing missions. If this made you dissapointed and trade back or not buy mafia 2 then you should not even attempt at trying this game out. There are no real side missions except for the occasional dispatch call. You are givin all the time in the world to visit all the landmarks, collect all movie reels and read all newspapers but it doesn't fit in a serious game like this as you are always investegating a case. There are 5 kinds of gameplay in L.A. Noire: Investigating, shooting, driving, interrogation and chasing. Investegating and interrogation are the primary gameplay aspects in this game. This game is about detective work. To find evidence and exctract evidence from suspects in order to succesfully solve you're case. Shoot outs are rare but a good diversion and chases on foot or car are exciting and make the experience less repetative. Investegating a crime scene or a another location is simple. Walking near an object you can investigate will make you're controller vibrate. Once you have picked up the item you are able to inspect it from different angles, making you search for information about the item you picked up. once you have discoverd all clues the investigation soundtheme will stop playing. Interrogation is not as simple as gathering clues. When interogating a suspect you will pull out you're notebook which is a tool mainly for marking a destination on the map, writing down clues and asking questions. People you interview will react differently to the questions you ask. After you asked someone a question they will either Lie, tell the truth or are in doubt. Judging by how they react to a question you can select one of the three options. It is really awesome, But there are also some little flaws here in there. Judging if someone is lying or is in doubt can be really difficult as the facial animations are alike. And since a question can only be asked once this can be frustrating. To claim that a person is lying you must always have evidence to back up you're claim. This is a risky business as you must always have the right evidence in you're notebook to prove them wrong. sometimes evidence seems most likely to prove that a person is lying. This is not always the right one and sometimes after you claim that you're suspect is lying, the clue you thought that would prove it becomes the wrong clue because sometimes after you stated that the suspect is lying the suspect will raise a question irrelivant to the question you asked. It is still very well executed never the less.

    Shootouts and chases are situations you won't come across often although chases are more common. I noticed one thing almost immediately. You don't have a weapon reel nor can you store weapons anywhere. Everytime you pull you're gun you will always use you're standard pistol. You can pick up weapons from fallen enemy's. Unfortunatly you can't keep them. Chasing someone in a car or on foot is easy but fun. the routes and car crashes are all scripted but they still managed to impress me. Presentation & Sound

    L.A. Noire looks very good and ofcourse the main selling points of this game is it's revolutionary face animations. This game would not have been that special if they did not use this technique. Graphics look smooth, realistic and the mechanics work fine. This game is very special no doubt. This game is the best in what it offers.    … Expand
  42. nbozinator
    May 23, 2011
    9
    my first rockstar game (aside from chinatown wars on DS)

    it is better than i expect i thought all the reviews for everything else where over exaggerated. but it isn't as good as i expected with people lying for no real reason which annoys me why lie it didn't involve you? >:( it is however a lot of fun to take up the time between now and the duke nukem release date it think that this is    my first rockstar game (aside from chinatown wars on DS)

    it is better than i expect i thought all the reviews for everything else where over exaggerated. but it isn't as good as i expected with people lying for no real reason which annoys me why lie it didn't involve you? >:( it is however a lot of fun to take up the time between now and the duke nukem release date it think that this is a great entry level point for me, can see myself liking it due to the fact that unlike the others you can't get this sort of thing anywhere else (RDR + GTA + flying + grappling hook = Just Cause 2) and the focus on art and character development is great here

    a good buy if you like, detective stories or want something long to take up the time    … Expand
  43. Lucleonhart
    May 23, 2011
    9
    I do not like GTA at all. That's why I really have to say: wow! What a great game! Story is great, game mechanics, too. Love the setting, the sound, the characters. Go buy it!
  44. Rory379
    May 22, 2011
    5
    There seems to be a pretty large split between gamers when it comes to what they think of the game. I gave the game a pretty low review in comparison to many others which would put me on the negative side of the fence. I noticed someone posted a comment stating anyone who gave a poor review didn't know what they were talking about, in the same comment he stated that the many outcomes ofThere seems to be a pretty large split between gamers when it comes to what they think of the game. I gave the game a pretty low review in comparison to many others which would put me on the negative side of the fence. I noticed someone posted a comment stating anyone who gave a poor review didn't know what they were talking about, in the same comment he stated that the many outcomes of the investigation was fascinating which, of course, is wrong because there is always only one outcome to the investigation: either you convict the guy, or someone else does.

    The pros to this game: The facial recognition is very impressive!

    The vehicle handling is better than in GTAIV

    Interesting plot and good acting

    Well researched and feels like an authentic 40's experience



    Cons of this game:


    Absolutely zero return value after you've finished the game (15-20 hours worth)

    Irritating lag between opening the note book and selecting items from the notebook

    Flawed Map directions (You have to literally find out where you're going or ask your partner for help)

    You cannot buy weapons, clothes, cars or houses (This is what really disappointed me). You're supposed to feel fully engaged with the character but there is absolutely zero personalisation of the character. You have a selection of five outfits and if you don't like them then tough. Red Dead had about 15 outfits.

    Interrogating suspects can be vague (by this I mean you doubt someone for your own ideas only to have them dismissed by the character your play and therefore fail the interview)

    Very very linear storyline. In the Black Dahlia murders I had the temp barman pegged for it from the first murder, he was even mentioned twice by a barman in one of the other murders but the character brushed past questioning him further on the matter.

    The Newspaper's "Behind the scenes" articles can confuse more than they enlighten. I made the mistake of being too sure while questioning a suspect after watching one of the stories that tells you flat out that he's guilty (Ad Vice case).

    There is no real shooting in this game. Many people demonize other gamers for calling this a flaw, stating that they're unintelligent violence addicts and that there are other games to buy for mindless violence but I think they're missing the whole point of action in an action adventure game. By that I mean there is no real action. The shooting camera is also difficult and clumsy. In the human shield situations I first shot them in their pistol hands (it worked in Red Dead!) only for them to clutch their stomach and kill the hostage.

    What I really don't understand is that in GTAIV and Red Dead there are plenty of crimes that you can stop. They appear randomly and provide some sort of rewarding experience for your troubles. In L.A. Noire, a police game, you can only stop 40 crimes and that is the end of it.

    Finally, there is no multiplayer or online game play. In this day in age this is a huge let down. Of course you can ask, what would multiplayer entail? For start there could be online cases added every few months that can be cracked by you and a partner, there could be a "Cops and Robbers" type shoot out game or even better would be a sort of sandbox type Criminals try to commit crimes and Cops try to stop them sort of thing.


    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Overall I found this game very disappointing. I expected so much and got so little. This title has been in the works for 5 years and they've done nothing that hasn't been done better somewhere else. Red Dead Redemption actually holds up as a better crime fighter type game. Although the creators thought that immersing the player into the plot would make them feel more engaged with the title, it made me more distant. There's no point driving anywhere because all you do is cause damage to your car. For all the people who condemn the bad reviews, try and remember that it's a Playstation 3 game that we're talking about. There needs to be a certain amount of control and action to make it an enjoyable game. Most of the time this game just felt like work.    … Expand
  45. gamesreflexoes
    May 22, 2011
    10
    The review under green don't like videogames anymore, don't like inovations anymore. L.A. Noire is the best game of the year and Rockstar proved that sandbox is a kind of game that you can enjoy FOREVER.
  46. wildpitch
    May 22, 2011
    4
    L.A. Noire can´t live up to all the buzz surrounding it. The game mechanics are solid but if you dindn´t like driving in GTA IV you will probably not like driving through L.A. Luckily you have the choice to have your partner drive but then the game becomes even more like an interactive cutscene which it seems to be most of the time. The interviews, one of theL.A. Noire can´t live up to all the buzz surrounding it. The game mechanics are solid but if you dindn´t like driving in GTA IV you will probably not like driving through L.A. Luckily you have the choice to have your partner drive but then the game becomes even more like an interactive cutscene which it seems to be most of the time. The interviews, one of the supposed highlights of this game, turn out to be dialogs worse executed than in classic Lucas Arts games like Day of the Tentacle, the Monkey Island series or Zack McCracken. Only the didn´t have the amazing facial animations of L.A. Noire. Even so I can´t tell from them wether the suspect is lying or not. When others argue this is the first time you are supposed to use your wits and brain in a game I´m inclined to refer them back to the nineties and have them play some of titels above mentioned or even Police Quest, which in it´s time was a great game. The Crime solving is extremely repetitive and the whole game is linear to a point where I was reminded of titles like Uncharted. On finishing one assignment the next mission begins seamlessly not a chance to drive around in-between and discover the graphically well executed sandbox of L.A. The whole backdrop feels not like an actual open world and more like a canvas which offers different ways to get from the central station to the crime scenes. The sights are a pity excuse for players to drive around and discover it. The highly anticipated Film noire atmosphere does not engulf the player as one would expect. The game stays entirely on the screen unlike for example heavy Rain or even Red Dead Redemption where the prairie atmosphere struck me like lightning. The overall graphics are solid, the facial animation as mentioned before are truly amazing, nevertheless L.A. Noire lacks the luster other games brought along. The way in which Ezio moves in Assassins Creed looks way more natural than any move Cole Phelps ever does. On the upside the voice over is superb and the overall acting is impressive. One nice touch is the option to play the game in black and white. In the end there´s nothing to save this title and make it exceptional.

    L.A. Noire fails short of deserving more than 5/10 for the voiceover, acting and nice touches on the graphics.    … Expand
  47. Rickin10
    May 22, 2011
    6
    On the surface La Noire seemed intriguing; a detective game that combines investigation with combat , driving, and interrogation set in the seedy/glamorous setting of 40's LA. Despite its grand ambitions it fails on almost every level, because the whole thing is a mere illusion. The main crux of the game is - as it should be - about detecting. Scouring crime scenes for clues, talkingOn the surface La Noire seemed intriguing; a detective game that combines investigation with combat , driving, and interrogation set in the seedy/glamorous setting of 40's LA. Despite its grand ambitions it fails on almost every level, because the whole thing is a mere illusion. The main crux of the game is - as it should be - about detecting. Scouring crime scenes for clues, talking to witnesses, experts, and adding up the evidence. But all of this is very shallow and limited. Whilst the searching for clues is handled well, how you are able to use them in interrogation is frustrating, and in many instances plain illogical, reminding me of the old point 'n' click adventures, where rather than using logic and the clues in a 'real world' way, you had to second guess what the developers were thinking. There were many instances during the game that if it were for real, i would have shoved a slew of damning evidence in the face of a witness to intimidate and get them to spill, but the game will only allow you to ask a very narrow set of questions, where there is only one 'correct' answer. This renders much of the info stuffed in your notebook utterly useless. As a result interviews - whilst there is no denying the stunning nature of the facial tech - leave you feeling deeply unfulfilled, as do the end of many cases It gives you a whole beautiful city, but nothing to do in it (and no i wasn't expecting it to, nor wanting it to, be gta). The foot chases are simply a case of holding the sprint button and directing which way to run - you dont even have to press a button to time jumps. Also, in some chases you can't draw your weapon (because the game needs you to have the perp taken alive), whilst in others where the game wants you to kill them, it sets up a clunky cover-shoot scenario. And this really sums up the game. Where it should be a game of intellect and choices that have consequence, La Noire never takes off the handcuffs and lets you 'play'. You can't, for example, just go back to interview a suspect you've arrested, you have to wait until the game wants you to. You can't go back to re-interview people - again unless the game wants you to. You can't go and discuss things with forensic pathologist or your captain unless...you get the idea. Everything you do feels like you're being pushed - sometimes forced - down paths to arrive at the next cut scene or the 'correct' conclusion. This is never more clear than at the end of a case where you have gotten many of the questions 'wrong' but still automatically end up solving the case. For all it's faults the game is actually quite engrossing. It pulls no punches in crime scenes and the acting is generally superb. I can only hope that team bondi get another chance to deliver a game of more substance rather than this alluring fraud.… Expand
  48. jqm78
    May 21, 2011
    6
    Yawwwwn!! Wow, what is this? L.A. Noire had so much potential, but ends up being a snore-fest. It makes me really miss Red Dead Redemption. The graphics are amazing, yes. Everything else though is Linear and boring. Not to mention that the controls are terribly sluggish and "clunky". I'm really disappointed. I guess for what it is, L.A. Noire is pretty good, just don't expect anythingYawwwwn!! Wow, what is this? L.A. Noire had so much potential, but ends up being a snore-fest. It makes me really miss Red Dead Redemption. The graphics are amazing, yes. Everything else though is Linear and boring. Not to mention that the controls are terribly sluggish and "clunky". I'm really disappointed. I guess for what it is, L.A. Noire is pretty good, just don't expect anything nearly as engaging and entertaining as Red Dead Redemption or GTA, for that matter. If anything, I hope that the graphics and the facial animation tech gets adopted for future games and if they make more of this game in the way of sequels, they come up with a way to keep me from falling asleep at the wheel (which I literally did a few times while playing this game!)… Expand
  49. hir0
    May 21, 2011
    10
    Rockstar does it again! I played this game on my XBOX and i was in awe, so many fantastic, unique characters.... just imagine if all games are like this! Maybe game was bit short and repetitive, but good far outweights the bad. 9.6/10
  50. JoeKavalier
    May 21, 2011
    8
    All the positive reviews that start with "this game" "this is an fantastic achievement" all seem kinda similar, like they were written by some on-line reputation protection company.

    That said, L.A. Noire is fun though a bit frustrating so far ... I keep replaying the interrogations when I can't figure out what evidence to ask questions about next
  51. Madmaz
    May 21, 2011
    7
    Firstly this game does not deserve negative scores, but it doesnt deserve 9 or 10,s also. The technology used in this game is nothing short of ground breaking, it has to be seen to be believed, it truly is amazing. The graphics are just gorgeous, LA in the 40's is stunning the developers have really done a superb job. Now onto the game...It is a breath of fresh air, it is very original,Firstly this game does not deserve negative scores, but it doesnt deserve 9 or 10,s also. The technology used in this game is nothing short of ground breaking, it has to be seen to be believed, it truly is amazing. The graphics are just gorgeous, LA in the 40's is stunning the developers have really done a superb job. Now onto the game...It is a breath of fresh air, it is very original, unlike any other game ive played. You must use your wits here rather than brawn and i find that a pleasant change of pace. As you probably know it involves searching crime scenes for evidence interviewing witnesses and suspects to try to deduct what is true and solve the cases. The game also trys to break up those sequences with gun fights car chases , fisticuffs, and chasing down suspects through the streets, all of these things in their own right , are great , the problem comes in that you do those things over and over again. In every cases its more or less the same format, go to the crime scene, gather evidence interview suspects/witnesses, make the arrest, it gets tiresome. The other thing is you cant really fail a case, even if you get the interviews all wrong the case will still progress , its just means your final score wont be as good. There are side missions like foiling robberies etc but again they are repetitive. Despite those things this game will keep you playing as the stories and the animation technology will keep you hooked. Is it worth buying?...thats hard to answer as we all like different things in games I would suggest a rental to start with and see how you go...also the game doesnt offer much in the way of replay value....its a ground breaking game from the techology standpoint. and it is fun in places...but thats about it.… Expand
  52. Infocynic
    May 20, 2011
    5
    + Voice acting, writing, animation, music, investigation aspects are appealing
    -- Lack of saving, clunky controls, generic side assignments, flawed interrogation logic, driving system
  53. pandateddybear
    May 20, 2011
    5
    Great mrs but other then that game is very linear if you skip side quests you won't be using any weapons but just look at the dialogs.. Great rent but not worth 40£!
  54. jj350
    May 19, 2011
    0
    Worse game ever, no joke, I usually never make a statement like that, however, I am willing to make an exception this time. The good? Fantastic graphics and environment. The bad? Ultra linear gameplay (so linear it sucks all of the fun and emotion out of the game, that is unless you're seeking frustration), Highly limited interactivity, linear, one street responses for the ooh so necessaryWorse game ever, no joke, I usually never make a statement like that, however, I am willing to make an exception this time. The good? Fantastic graphics and environment. The bad? Ultra linear gameplay (so linear it sucks all of the fun and emotion out of the game, that is unless you're seeking frustration), Highly limited interactivity, linear, one street responses for the ooh so necessary interviews and interrogation (the type where you constantly need to reference a strategy guide in order to play the game "properly"), and so on. Honestly I could go on and on about everything that disappoints me about this game, but when it really comes down to it, I think that there's no point to go beyond this. What we have here is a perfect, text book example of a game that pretentious critics love that the average consumer hates. Avoid this game unless you're the conceited arthouse type.… Expand
  55. Musai
    May 19, 2011
    9
    Absolutely ridiculous to give this game anything below a 9. Anyone doing so is either trolling, or expecting this to be San Andreas in the 1940s. The story is superb, acting (not just the voices) is amazing, and all around this is a fine example of interactive storytelling. It pushes the medium forward, which can't be said of a lot of other games in this generation. There isn't a whole lotAbsolutely ridiculous to give this game anything below a 9. Anyone doing so is either trolling, or expecting this to be San Andreas in the 1940s. The story is superb, acting (not just the voices) is amazing, and all around this is a fine example of interactive storytelling. It pushes the medium forward, which can't be said of a lot of other games in this generation. There isn't a whole lot of replay value, as far as I can tell, but collectibles, street crimes, film reels, landmarks, and seeing how a case turns out differently depending on what you do still holds some kind of replay value, but then again, Heavy Rain has almost no replay at all, and I still bought it and enjoy it to this day.

    Anyway the negative reviews don't know what they're talking about. Great, great game.    … Expand
  56. Krykira
    May 19, 2011
    0
    Buggy glitched out **** fest this game is. Buyers remorse started setting in hard after the first day or 2. The game is boring, the world is devoid of any emotion or life, It plays exactly like GTAIV only its not fun, the interviewing sucks. Awful game. It bricked my PS3, so I played it on Xbox and it has graphical glitches everywhere. Shame on you rockstar. Never buying another one theseBuggy glitched out **** fest this game is. Buyers remorse started setting in hard after the first day or 2. The game is boring, the world is devoid of any emotion or life, It plays exactly like GTAIV only its not fun, the interviewing sucks. Awful game. It bricked my PS3, so I played it on Xbox and it has graphical glitches everywhere. Shame on you rockstar. Never buying another one these titles again.… Expand
  57. cheetah1
    May 19, 2011
    9
    I played this game quite a bit last night and was very impressed. While I was looking forward to it, at the same time I was a little apprehensive considering I thought GTA4 and RDR were only just good games, not brilliant. Firstly, the acting and storyline are the best I have seen, better than portal 2. The graphics are amazing and on par with the best this gen......much nicer on ps3 thanI played this game quite a bit last night and was very impressed. While I was looking forward to it, at the same time I was a little apprehensive considering I thought GTA4 and RDR were only just good games, not brilliant. Firstly, the acting and storyline are the best I have seen, better than portal 2. The graphics are amazing and on par with the best this gen......much nicer on ps3 than the previous 2 R* games. The game mechanics are nice and I instantly liked the brawling, driving and shooting elements, again, they are big improvements on previous R* games.

    It is still early days for me and there is always a chance it may get repetetive, but this game is definately worth picking up if you like more to your games than kill counts. I liked Heavy Rain and think this game is what that game should have been.    … Expand
  58. porkchop322
    May 19, 2011
    10
    This game is amazing! I love the new style of gameplay and the story of these interesting characters. This game is a innovation to the gaming industry. It has the same voice acting quality of Toy Story 3. The graphics and facial animations are astounding. If you are a gamer then you have to play this game.
  59. Jacksjus
    May 19, 2011
    8
    I think that this game is pretty decent. It's not meant to be taken too seriously as some may have expected. It has the mechanics of GTA and RDR, but it's clearly a different type of game based on paying attention. The graphics and sound are ridiculous. I have it on PS3 so I can't speak for the 360 version. A perfect 10 may be a stretch, but it's worth an 8 overall. It's not as goodI think that this game is pretty decent. It's not meant to be taken too seriously as some may have expected. It has the mechanics of GTA and RDR, but it's clearly a different type of game based on paying attention. The graphics and sound are ridiculous. I have it on PS3 so I can't speak for the 360 version. A perfect 10 may be a stretch, but it's worth an 8 overall. It's not as good storywise or interactivewise as Heavy Rain, and it's not as action packed as RDR, which are both 10's in their own right.… Expand
  60. Lennox666
    May 19, 2011
    9
    Great game! Rockstar & Team Bondi are genius! Best buy 100%! And it's true, that the new motion scan tech is definitely the best part of the game. Now, you are in the movie and you do the movie, like a director, like a main character.
  61. MAINEiac4434
    May 19, 2011
    8
    Not the greatest game ever, but a revolution in story telling and graphical engineering in video games. Sure, it's not GTA, but it's not trying to be. Rockstar has gone with a much more linear storyline than GTA. The game isn't perfect, but really, what game is? This game stands on it's own merits. Who cares that there's no online mode? This game wasn't made for online. L.A. Noire wasn'tNot the greatest game ever, but a revolution in story telling and graphical engineering in video games. Sure, it's not GTA, but it's not trying to be. Rockstar has gone with a much more linear storyline than GTA. The game isn't perfect, but really, what game is? This game stands on it's own merits. Who cares that there's no online mode? This game wasn't made for online. L.A. Noire wasn't made for your average gaming crowd. It wasn't made for everybody. It was made for those who would appreciate it.… Expand
  62. hotbread
    May 19, 2011
    6
    There's no doubt that visually this game is lovely, and that the subject material and basic storyline ideas are different and interesting. The problem comes with the actual gameplay, which is long-winded, repetitive and rather dull after the first couple of levels. These are some of my issues with LA Noire;
    1. the character movement is clunky and cumbersome, and often you have to keep    There's no doubt that visually this game is lovely, and that the subject material and basic storyline ideas are different and interesting. The problem comes with the actual gameplay, which is long-winded, repetitive and rather dull after the first couple of levels. These are some of my issues with LA Noire;
    1. the character movement is clunky and cumbersome, and often you have to keep moving the character backwards and forwards just trying to get into the right position to investigate a clue.
    2. there's a huge amount of lag between pressing buttons in certain investigation modes, and the character actually responding.
    3. you're supposed to interrogate suspects, basing your responses on their facial expressions, but these swing from being laughably obvious and silly to inscrutably stoney-faced, with no real middle-ground.

    The final straw for me is the completely linear gameplay, whereby even if you don't get everything you need from a suspect the plot takes you on another route to the same conclusion. There's no real option for failure, or experimentation. At least, not based on my six hours of playing so far.

    LA Noire has received a huge amount of positive reviews, but I think it's one of those games that will split the audience down the middle. Overall I found myself enjoying the look of the game, but not really caring about the characters, and sadly not wanting to play anymore. I'll be trading it in straight away.    … Expand
  63. Valemming
    May 19, 2011
    8
    The positives outweigh the negatives in this game. Definitely worth playing!

    Although I do agree with most critics saying that Phoenix wright and Police quest were more challenging than L.A. N. as this game is relatively easy, I still am having a great time playing it And let's be fair, the last successful detective game to have come out was 20 years ago! The atmosphere is superb,    The positives outweigh the negatives in this game. Definitely worth playing!

    Although I do agree with most critics saying that Phoenix wright and Police quest were more challenging than L.A. N. as this game is relatively easy, I still am having a great time playing it And let's be fair, the last successful detective game to have come out was 20 years ago!

    The atmosphere is superb, and the facial animation is really exciting and fresh. The environment, as mentioned before, isn't graphically up to the level of Mafia II & co. but I really like the little details the studios thought of (such as the breaking of shop windows when crashing your car) and the interesting mini-events that occur during pursuits (a garbage truck sometimes park right in front of me before I get a clean shot on my fleeing criminal etc...)

    The notepad idea is brilliant, works great and keeps you in the game. The art work in it is great, I love the pencil sketches and how you set your destination on the map etc. The music is wonderful, the start screen features a full 6 minute tune with 2 solos.

    The interrogations are hard (which is good!) and the clues are well hidden but still very easy to find (which is kinda too bad). I still wish they had polluted the crime scenes with more useless objects to put you off course on occasions. It would have been nice if R* had been more than just producers and put more money in this game to liven up the environment and put more side missions as the game does seem very short. Over all, if you follow the pace of the game, get a nice glass of Jack and smoke a cigar, you will most definitely enjoy this game, and its great music!
    R* have an eye for a great concept and I applaud them for finding the Australian studio that was working on this gem. Hopefully the success of this game will produce a sequel graphically capable of impressing young teenagers as well as us Parents.

    Can't wait for the DLC chapters to come out! Keep 'em rolling boys!    … Expand
  64. Mattaclysm
    May 18, 2011
    9
    First off this game is amazing. The graphics are very good for a sandbox game. Characters look and sound great. Actors were spot on. I was amazed by the facial expressions on everyone during interviews when I first turned the game on but as I played it kind of went away slowly. Everything is top notch. I've noticed a few times where in more populated areas I'll get minor lag but it's to beFirst off this game is amazing. The graphics are very good for a sandbox game. Characters look and sound great. Actors were spot on. I was amazed by the facial expressions on everyone during interviews when I first turned the game on but as I played it kind of went away slowly. Everything is top notch. I've noticed a few times where in more populated areas I'll get minor lag but it's to be expected. LA Noire's size feels enormous, but unfortunately it feels like you'll spend most of your time driving around then anything else. One thing that bothered me was the street missions. They will appear at the most random locations. When one pops up all the way across the city it starts to feel a little annoying having to drive back and forth. The story is great and actually it is quite fun solving crimes. I feel like this is a game I can play through a few times and still enjoy. The gun fighting is similar to red dead redemption with the targeting system, its good and works well with LA Noire. Hand to hand combat I'm not sure why but it feels off a tad. I just feel awkward doing it. I would have also liked to see a bit more customization maybe a few more guns too. In closing L.A. Noire is a very good game, Team Bondi did a fantastic job with everything and this game deserves the credit it's getting.… Expand
  65. ccwill36
    May 18, 2011
    10
    What a great game no its not gta, but so what it makes you think. The graphics are amezing voice over everything about this game is great. I give it a 10. GO GET THIS GAME IF YOU HAVE NOT.
  66. Zeph
    May 18, 2011
    10
    LA Noire is simply put, the game we didn't even know we wanted. It is revolutionary in so many areas, from the MotionScan tech to the way you interact with the game. Mess something up, you are going to spend longer trying to get the facts straight. This is an outstanding game of logic and ingenuity with the Rockstar charm added to it. I credit Rockstar with crafting a new path, andLA Noire is simply put, the game we didn't even know we wanted. It is revolutionary in so many areas, from the MotionScan tech to the way you interact with the game. Mess something up, you are going to spend longer trying to get the facts straight. This is an outstanding game of logic and ingenuity with the Rockstar charm added to it. I credit Rockstar with crafting a new path, and getting a lot of it right. Additionally, I credit Rockstar for not ruining details of building like in GTA4 to save memory. The whole 1947 Los Angeles is amazing. Do note, this is no GTA, you can't just decide to go bad cop on the world, if you can accept that and don't mind using your brain, LA Noire is a game for you. Highly recommend it.… Expand
  67. Heintzman
    May 18, 2011
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Before playing LA Noire I was unsure if Rockstar could live up to its previous titles such as Red Dead Redemption and Grand Theft Auto 4. However, I'm pleased to report that they have once again created a, very, very good game. Solving the crime cases in LA Noire is alot of fun and an engrossing experience. Finding the clues needed to solve the case felt challenging but it was never frustrating. Conducting interviews was very fun and there were obvious consequences for choosing the right and wrong dialogue options. In fact, I have never had so much talking to characters in a videogame. This is due to a mixture of Team Bondi's stellar new visual technology and very clever diolauge.

    LA Noire has lots of side cases, and collectibles that help to flesh out an atmosphere allready made vivid by detailed buildings,and a wonderful music score.

    LA Noire felt very reminiscent of classic film noir such as Chinatown and is all the better for it. I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it so far. I recommend LA Noire to everyone but Transformer fans.    … Expand
  68. MachoHombre
    May 18, 2011
    5
    It's slightly more boring than watching an episode of CSI, Law and Order, NCIS, Bones, or any of those cliché-laden cop dramas that make up TV nowadays.
  69. holla
    May 18, 2011
    10
    this game is a gem love it best game everrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
  70. franksss
    May 18, 2011
    10
    this game rocksssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  71. booby
    May 18, 2011
    10
    this game is awesome all these people that give it a 1 are losers. Best game of the year. I have played it dor over 7 hours and I still love it. Cant wait for rockstars next game.
  72. SaltyGator
    May 18, 2011
    9
    Really, really cool game. No, it's not a first person shooter and it's not GTA IV so understand that up front. Fun, interesting, creative and innovative. The type of game you have to play to understand it. I can't stop playing it. Thumbs up.
  73. Chopper1957
    May 18, 2011
    1
    The awesome thing about games is the sense of freedom and off script action that can happen. I think the acting was great in this game, but that hardy gives it the GotY potential. I want a little more game in my video game and less video. It aint fer me.
  74. 247Consoles
    May 18, 2011
    9
    A welcome alternative to the stereotypical, with a seemingly flawless backdrop and facial expressionism, this has potential to produce a strong branding and lots of happy gamers, and for 247Consoles that's what gaming is all about. Superbly un-rushed and a credit to the Rockstar community supporters.
  75. cameronhodgkins
    May 18, 2011
    10
    Innovative and gorgeous to behold. Sitting here at work today thinking about how I'm NOT playing it right now has been torture. I'm a huge fan of the adventure genre, and I've never really enjoyed running around as the bad guy in the GTA series (blasphemy, I know) so it's been refreshing to be the cops for once.
  76. Groteska
    May 18, 2011
    6
    Nice !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  77. Patman1234
    May 18, 2011
    9
    For anyone reading this review, i have a simple fact to point out. Metacritic is a site built on statistical averages, 90 from the critics at the time im writing this and 82 from users. Therefore the game is a brilliant one. Therefore all the negative user review's are from haters, not from people with actual intelligent opinions. Someone commented there isn't much else to do other thanFor anyone reading this review, i have a simple fact to point out. Metacritic is a site built on statistical averages, 90 from the critics at the time im writing this and 82 from users. Therefore the game is a brilliant one. Therefore all the negative user review's are from haters, not from people with actual intelligent opinions. Someone commented there isn't much else to do other than the story, this is true but shouldn't be that important. A game's foundation have always been on the story. If you want to go and mindlessly shoot something buy cod, if you want a true sandbox experience where you can muck around and do whatever get gta or red dead. If you want a combination of excellent story telling with revolutionary motion capture and a truly immersive world which plunges you straight into L.A in the 40's then buy this game. Team Bondi and Rockstar have created a masterpiece.… Expand
  78. Luisjoao33
    May 18, 2011
    9
    Very good game, the city is awesome and I´ve just played a few cases but there are so engaged, the art, faces and cars look so realistic. I think rockstar will change the manner to make games
  79. EMelo01
    May 18, 2011
    8
    This is one of many games that appears to be one thing before its released, then turns out to be something else once you play it. A lot of time and effort went into the mechanics for realistic facial expressions. In my opinion, its what really holds this game together. This is the most linear, sandbox game out there. There isn't much reason to explore. That doesn't mean it is a bad game.This is one of many games that appears to be one thing before its released, then turns out to be something else once you play it. A lot of time and effort went into the mechanics for realistic facial expressions. In my opinion, its what really holds this game together. This is the most linear, sandbox game out there. There isn't much reason to explore. That doesn't mean it is a bad game. It just means the Story needs to be THAT much better. What this game does do is put you into the mind of a detective, and it does it well. This game is very original and fresh. It is a nice change in pace and I think you should give it a shot.… Expand
  80. Hitteresp
    May 18, 2011
    10
    Really a breath of fresh air. The shooting and driving is a lot like GTA 4 but the remaining gameplay is amazingly intricate. When I first saw this game I though it would be gimmicky but it turned out to be exactly what it promised and that is a legitimate detective game that isn't as boring as watching paint dry. Also it must be noted that, although not at all a part of gameplay directly,Really a breath of fresh air. The shooting and driving is a lot like GTA 4 but the remaining gameplay is amazingly intricate. When I first saw this game I though it would be gimmicky but it turned out to be exactly what it promised and that is a legitimate detective game that isn't as boring as watching paint dry. Also it must be noted that, although not at all a part of gameplay directly, the voice acting is unparalleled. It's not something I thought I would care about but seriously there are moments in the game where I literally feel like I am playing an interactive movie which is really what this game is.… Expand
  81. kamelen
    May 18, 2011
    9
    Solid game play. Best game out now. If you only could play 5 games this year, this should be one of them. Must love it. The story, the graphic and the acting.
  82. matt95608
    May 17, 2011
    9
    Total revolution in gaming!! Finally something new and exciting makes you think.. Graphics control sound good job rockstar as always.... Plus its refreshing to have a game that goes back in a significant time in history!!!
  83. kenjuicemaster
    May 17, 2011
    10
    I love this game but it does have flaws like no multiplayer which would of made the game more fun once you where done with it. There is allot that they could have added but overall im really happy with the game.
  84. akelz7
    May 17, 2011
    9
    This game is suffering the "portal 2" effect, where morons are lying about the game and **** that it's a full game for full game price. Let's start off by saying that this game has one real flaw: The controls. It's easy to get over, however. Beyond that we have Hollywood level voice acting and script (quality Hollywood anyway), competent (but not stunning, save for the facial animations)This game is suffering the "portal 2" effect, where morons are lying about the game and **** that it's a full game for full game price. Let's start off by saying that this game has one real flaw: The controls. It's easy to get over, however. Beyond that we have Hollywood level voice acting and script (quality Hollywood anyway), competent (but not stunning, save for the facial animations) graphics, an interesting story, and a satisfying interrogation system that relies on YOU the player.… Expand
  85. shup
    May 17, 2011
    10
    I love this game because it is very different than other games. Even though it is not a perfect game I am given a 10 to counter the absurd scores of zero given by a couple of people. Even though some people might find this game boring it does not merit a zero as the graphics and innovation that the game brings alone should score this game a 4 at least. It is quite shocking that someI love this game because it is very different than other games. Even though it is not a perfect game I am given a 10 to counter the absurd scores of zero given by a couple of people. Even though some people might find this game boring it does not merit a zero as the graphics and innovation that the game brings alone should score this game a 4 at least. It is quite shocking that some people can score a game a zero and plain dumb.… Expand
  86. MajorTomTGC
    May 17, 2011
    8
    +Graphics/sound +Story -Control -Gameplay //////// +Amazing visuals, SFX, music and voice overs. +Story and characters really draw you in -Same GTA controls -Lacks the free roaming fun of GTA or even RDR -Poor saving system -Some frame rate issues //////// I will start off by saying I have always been a big Rockstar fan, from the top down GTA to Red Dead Redemption. So naturally I had very+Graphics/sound +Story -Control -Gameplay //////// +Amazing visuals, SFX, music and voice overs. +Story and characters really draw you in -Same GTA controls -Lacks the free roaming fun of GTA or even RDR -Poor saving system -Some frame rate issues //////// I will start off by saying I have always been a big Rockstar fan, from the top down GTA to Red Dead Redemption. So naturally I had very high hopes for LA Noire. Going into Noire one should expect certain restraints from what they have experienced in past Rockstar titles (setting, time, being for the other side of the law). That being said, something is really lost being a cop instead of a criminal. Gone are the killing sprees of GTA, but you can still take whichever car you want. Expect the same GTA style chunky controls for walking, fighting and driving. My biggest issue with the game is the saving system. Imagine playing GTA or Fallout 3 from start to end of a mission without saving. When I play games I have to get the best possible outcome every time, so this meant having to redo entire cases over just to get correct questions at the end. Seriously, you can only auto save, no save slots, no going home to save, only when the games wants to save. I even had to redo missions just because of auto save confusion. I have many problems with this game, but I still am having some fun with it. Ultimately, it's a step back from GTA/RDR, with better graphics. If you're hoping for GTA craziness, you will be very disappointed. If you're hoping for a nice story with some puzzles in between, here you go.… Expand
  87. Captiosus
    May 17, 2011
    6
    As a longtime fan of the old Police Quest series back on PC years ago, I anxiously awaited L.A. Noire. So, what is L.A. Noire? Simply put, it's a beautiful, story driven, game that involves investigating and some action sequences. The real nitty-gritty behind L.A. Noire is the open world investigations, not the action like the GTA series or even Red Dead Redemption. The problem, however,As a longtime fan of the old Police Quest series back on PC years ago, I anxiously awaited L.A. Noire. So, what is L.A. Noire? Simply put, it's a beautiful, story driven, game that involves investigating and some action sequences. The real nitty-gritty behind L.A. Noire is the open world investigations, not the action like the GTA series or even Red Dead Redemption. The problem, however, is that none of these traits are particularly new. Many games this generation are beautifully crafted and rendered and have well fleshed out stories. The investigation aspect of the game, while novel, isn't new either, as I previously alluded to; Anyone who remembers the old Police Quest series on PC years ago will immediately know how to play L.A. Noire, if not feel like it's a knockoff. --- L.A. Noire is a lot like a person you think is hot and want to get to know, only to find out when you get to know them that there's little long term substance. The game itself is terribly short, with very few side quests to speak of. There's zero replay value to it because once you've finished the story, well, you've finished the story. There's no way to go about completing the story a different way for a different result, a la Heavy Rain or even Fable 2 or Fable 3. Once you've finished the game, all there is to do is find newspapers, cars and locations, which barely qualifies as legitimate replay value. The fighting, shooting and driving sequences are, for all intents and purposes, directly copied from the GTA franchise/engine. I remember hearing people complain that Red Dead Redemption, compared to the GTA franchise, was too short and I can't imagine those folks will be happy, at all, with L.A. Noire which is substantially shorter than either. Essentially, the game consists of: follow the path, investigate (which is made trivial by audio and controller queues), interrogate and repeat along a fairly linear path until the game ends. --- In short, it's worth a play, but I really don't believe it's worth $60 because after you've finished it, you're not going to touch it again unless VERY compelling, decent-length DLC comes out for it. I would strongly encourage people to rent it first before deciding to put down $60 on a game you MAY get 10-12 hours on and then not touch again. I give them a 3/5 (6/10) for effort, but as far as games go, this one simply doesn't live up to its own hype, and will ultimately be forgotten about within a month after everyone has beaten it and has no reason to pick it up again.… Expand
  88. Devil_Man_X
    May 17, 2011
    3
    Highly overrated. Yes it is a solid game but a severe lack of engaging material ruins it. The story telling is sub par. The gravelly voiceover is terrible and instead of drawing you in to the story it just reminds you that you're not. Bad mechanics and subpar gameplay only enhance its failings. The game is as linear as a game can be. Yes you can roam the streets but the game gives you noHighly overrated. Yes it is a solid game but a severe lack of engaging material ruins it. The story telling is sub par. The gravelly voiceover is terrible and instead of drawing you in to the story it just reminds you that you're not. Bad mechanics and subpar gameplay only enhance its failings. The game is as linear as a game can be. Yes you can roam the streets but the game gives you no reason to do so. It is as simple as drive to point A. and pick up an item. Drive to point B. and show the item to someone. Drive to point C. and interrogate someone. Mission over. Yes the interrogations could be fun but they aren't. Especially when you realize that the game will only let it turn out one way. A complete disappointment. The only reason I can see it getting such good reviews is because of the graphics. I'm actually rating the game much lower than I think I should only to counteract the ridiculous amount of high reviews. Oh and P.S. Don't even think about replay valuse. This game has zero.… Expand
  89. gamer23
    May 17, 2011
    10
    There are allot of brain dead gamers as to give this game a zero is absurd. Even if you do not like the game how could you rate this game a zero when it does so much that other games have never done before. This shows that the gaming industry still has some low IQ players who just like the same shooter games with different names. This is a leap in the right direction for gamers.
  90. Tom-A-Pope
    May 17, 2011
    10
    Hate all you want but i thoroughly enjoyed this game. If you are looking for a brainless walk around and shoot stuff game then go play COD. This game is like if Heavy Rain and GTA had a child then that child was adopted and raised by John Alton and Michael Curtiz (and if you are too young or socially inept to get that reference then go play a nice lego game) Overall, its an amazingHate all you want but i thoroughly enjoyed this game. If you are looking for a brainless walk around and shoot stuff game then go play COD. This game is like if Heavy Rain and GTA had a child then that child was adopted and raised by John Alton and Michael Curtiz (and if you are too young or socially inept to get that reference then go play a nice lego game) Overall, its an amazing experience. Worth all of my $60. If you have the time, patience and mental capacity to comprehend that its about being a DETECTIVE then its well worth yours as well!.… Expand
  91. fininte
    May 17, 2011
    10
    One of the best games I have experienced in a long time. Gaming is heading in the right direction. Game is one of the best titles made all year, this is a game for puzzle solvers not shooters.
  92. tam
    May 17, 2011
    10
    Finally a game that is a fresh of breath air from the same old type of games. A game for the person that wants to think and not just shoot and kill.
  93. burjeffton
    May 17, 2011
    9
    A smart game that takes risks and goes places other games haven't. Don't expect to shoot your way through the plot - you have to use your head instead. Kudos to Rockstar and Team Bondi.
  94. MasterYi
    May 17, 2011
    10
    Thank you Team Bondi. Thank you. Seriously. Thank you for realizing that some of us out there want more. That we've shot enough people in the head, captured enough flags, and performed more than our fair share of super combos that this industry is long overdue for something new. Something new is precisely what comes to mind when I think of this game. I'm 14 hours in and not once have IThank you Team Bondi. Thank you. Seriously. Thank you for realizing that some of us out there want more. That we've shot enough people in the head, captured enough flags, and performed more than our fair share of super combos that this industry is long overdue for something new. Something new is precisely what comes to mind when I think of this game. I'm 14 hours in and not once have I been able to directly relate this to other games I've played. It's just so damn unique. The closest thing would probably be old school adventure games, but even those are left in the dust by L.A. Noire. I don't really know where to even begin. I could talk about the downright gripping narrative, the unmatched facial technology, the palpable atmosphere, the vibrantly recreated and supremely beautiful city of Los Angeles or the thrilling investigative elements. Maybe it sounds crazy, but yeah, finding clues and interrogating witnesses? Actually a hell of a lot of fun. Especially those interrogations. I seriously did not think they were going to be able to pull it off. That "talking" to someone would actually end up being interesting. Now that I have the full thing it's my favourite part of the game! The mechanics are great, but what really tops it off is the technology. The way L.A. Noire is able to capture an actor's performance makes it feel like you're actually engaging in a conversation with a real person, instead of all the lifeless, dead-eyed video game characters of the past. You truly have to read their faces and find out whether or not they're simply scared, or hiding an ocean of guilt. I could go on and on in similar fashion for just about every facet of the game, but I unfortunately don't have the space here. To sum it up, this is truly a new frontier for interactive storytelling. I feel lucky to be witnessing it firsthand and I can only hope that other developers take notice and will similarly strive to push the medium forward the way Bondi and Rockstar have. An absolutely spectacular achievement that feel lucky to be able to experience.… Expand
  95. gmat
    May 17, 2011
    10
    I do not understand how some people gave this game a zero. I understand some people might not like it but a zero come on people that is ridiculous. This is a thinking game and a new era for gaming all the brain dead shooter type of players need to get a brain.
  96. LandonR
    May 17, 2011
    10
    L.A. Noire makes me feel spoiled. It wasn't until I started playing this game two days ago that I realized how accustomed we've all become to the stagnancy in games today. I can't remember the last time I played something this fresh. It's really reinvigorated my love for the art of video games. Every thing about L.A. Noire just oozes detail and as I get further into the game it's becomingL.A. Noire makes me feel spoiled. It wasn't until I started playing this game two days ago that I realized how accustomed we've all become to the stagnancy in games today. I can't remember the last time I played something this fresh. It's really reinvigorated my love for the art of video games. Every thing about L.A. Noire just oozes detail and as I get further into the game it's becoming more and more evident that really is the product of the utmost love and care from Rockstar and Team Bondi. And more than the presentation and polish, the actual mechanics are a total blast. Something about the investigation elements is so damn satisfying, partly because they're truly unlike anything I've done in games before. Gaming's vocabulary when it comes to activities for its audience for so long has been mostly "punch, hit, shoot, kill, blow up" etc. But now, thanks to L.A. Noire, we can expand that vocabulary a little bit. Intelligent and mature gamers the world over rejoice. Something special has arrived.… Expand
  97. Alfred
    May 17, 2011
    10
    This is the next level for video game graphics. Hopefully this style becomes the standard for future games. Fun, thought provoking, and entertaining. Everything a great game should be.
  98. tommygun
    May 17, 2011
    10
    This is a great game and a must buy for the thinker. This is a defining moment in the industry of gaming as this game has broadened the gaming horizon and has made gaming more appealing to all types of people.
  99. 06Morrow
    May 17, 2011
    10
    The most beautifully crafted game since Heavy Rain, an immediate Game of the Year contender and the most ambitious title Rockstar have ever produced. So far this year it is equal only to Portal 2 in terms of ground-breaking game mechanics and it's sheer brilliance.
  100. fpadron
    May 17, 2011
    10
    This game is the best game made in a long time it is not like the same old shooters that drown the gaming industry with repetitiveness and and no uniqueness. This is a leap forward for man kind and a step backwards for brain dead individuals.
Page:

Awards & Rankings

13
#13 Best PS3 Game of 2011
8
#8 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2011
3
#3 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 78 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 71 out of 78
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 78
  3. Negative: 0 out of 78
  1. Pelit (Finland)
    Oct 19, 2011
    90
    At first L.A. Noire seems a bit too easy, then it gets interesting and reading people's reactions makes for some of the best gaming this year. The atmosphere is spot on and the late 40's LA really feels like an authentic, living place. [June 2011]
  2. Armchair Empire
    Aug 16, 2011
    75
    Team Bondi created a technical masterpiece with L.A. Noire. The problem is that they didn't create an artistic or even entertaining masterpiece.
    Read full review
  3. Absolute Games
    Jul 26, 2011
    66
    Look past the glitz of technical achievements, richly designed sets, ostensibly interactive environments, and you will see the real L.A. Noire – a vapid adventure with a hole-ridden plot, a boring unsympathetic hero, and rough stitches in places where content should be.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »