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!
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 »