L.A. Noire

If, like me, you missed out in 2011 when LA Noire first launched, I highly recommend trying it now on Switch (or on PC, PS4, and XB1 where it was recently released. The Switch version feels right at home and has me clamoring that somehow Rockstar will bring more of its catalog to the console.

If you didn't already go thru the dark corners of L.A. Noire when it came out on PS3 and Xbox 360, now is the time to do it as the Motion Scan hasn't aged a bit even if the visuals aren't quite up to modern standards. A must play overall.

Finally Nintendo Switch receives a high level port. L.A Noire was ahead of his time and still looks great. Its complex narrative not only delves into a genre not too common as the detective, but also is a crude reflection of the USA after the Second World War. A must-have.

While it’s currently available on the other two super-systems, we reviewed the game on Switch and, if you own one, suggest you look to the little console that could for your L.A. Noire experience. It’s a wonderful fit on Switch and shows there’s a mature lifeline on the horizon for Nintendo, and the Nintendo loyal above the age of 15, ahead.

L.A. Noire for Switch is simply one of the greatest ports for the console seen to date. It retains all the content from the original versions and adjusts it to the functions of the system in an outstanding way. Maybe the graphics pale when compared with the recent remastered editions, but believe us when we say that playing this game on the go is a complete delight.

Even though the changes in this remastered version are subtle, L.A. Noire holds up as the ultimate detective simulator. If you didn't play it back in 2011 and love the noir aesthetic and detective films, then you don't need any clues to know that this is a must have.

In the end, L.A. Noire holds up. It’s a little odd to play as an open world game because of it’s strong focus on story, but the immersion is unreal. Every aspect of my detective work felt like a genuine adventure in a world I could never be a part of. There’s plenty of content here to be played, and I strongly recommend giving L.A. Noire some time, even if you’re not a shooting, car chase thrill seeker. The focus are the cases themselves, and that’s awesome.

The Switch version may suffer visually, but the modular nature of this narrative makes it a perfect companion for gaming on the go.

L.A Noire is a fantastic game that finds a home on the Nintendo Switch, and the portability aspect really helps. While each case is pretty large, the ability to save (along with auto-saves) at any time makes this a perfect game for on the go or at home. Rockstar put the effort into this port and it shows. Sure, it’s a bit of an older game and does show some age from time to time, but L.A. Noire is another great triple-A third party release that shouldn’t be overshadowed by games like Skyrim and DOOM. If you are looking for a fantastic story-driven game with unique gameplay, L.A. Noire should be in your Switch library.

Nintendo Switch offers the best version of this remastered Rockstar gem thanks to the use of the touchpad, which gives a new dimension for the investigation parts. A great game that takes us back in time.

L.A. Noire was a very different title from the rest and still is. The two versions that Rockstar has remastered are more than correct, increasing the resolution with high quality textures and making some improvements in the game's own mechanics. PS4 and Xbox One bet on the image quality, while Switch, a little more humble in technical terms, looks really good and has the advantage of portability, which suits the game well with respect to many of its cases.

LA Noire is a very special adventure. An interactive thriller with interrogations, detective sources, charismatic characters and a great plot. Good remaster in PS4 & One and great port for Switch.

L.A. Noire remains unusual in its approach and is as astounding today as it was back in the day for it. Switch continues to have one of the best launch years (in terms of content) of all-time; with the inclusion now of L.A. Noire, fans have yet another reason to flock to Nintendo’s new system. This is a great port of a great game and shouldn’t be missed.

I give preference to the switch version, because I can take it everywhere and barely compromise. Rockstar has delivered an impressive port here and even incorporated an intuitive touch screen control.

L.A: Noire is an unique game, charming and with a unique concept no one has tried to replicate again. If you want to rediscover the game or play it for the first time, these versions will get you the full experience.

An exceptional move, an inimitable and precious game, imperfect but amusing. Like the Hollywood (land) of the golden years.

Even all these years later, L.A. Noire is still an interesting and distinctive experience. [Issue #31 – January/February 2018, p. 36E]

There are so many big games these days, it's easy to forget the details of one even as recently as last gen, and L.A. Noire does a fantastic job in reminding just how good it is. The story is engaging, the investigations are fun, the world is deep and immersive, and the interrogations are truly unique. Even with the slight performance woes, the game is very impressive on Switch, especially in handheld mode. This, along with titles like Skyrim and DOOM, sets a promising precedent, and open the door to many other games well deserving of remasters that would be amazing to be able to play on handheld.

The Nintendo Switch version of L.A. Noire maintains everything good about the original release, while adding a few new tricks to the mix to make the game a little bit more interesting, including ‘touch’. Beyond the Switch tricks, L.A. Noire is still a game I enjoy playing, especially in a portable form. It’s like a violent Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego mixed with the open world structure of a Grand Theft Auto, both intelligent and dumb fun.

It’s a fascinating, if flawed game and this Switch version isn’t a rush job either. It runs well on the console (even if it’s so big you will need an extra SD card) and takes advantage of some its unique features. Playing LA Noire on the go in handheld mode is tempting enough, but it also brings in motion controls for investigation when playing at home.

LA Noire remains a one-of-a-kind game and the Switch version successfully translates this gritty crime drama to a portable platform.

The Nintendo Switch version of L.A. Noire finally does justice to a game that deserved a little bit more consideration when it first came out, six years ago. The porting is far from perfect (especially in TV mode), but the gameplay perfectly suits the idea of playing on the move.

If you never played L.A. Noire before is a great time to do it. The Switch version is a well made port from a game that is not perfect but it’s unique in its genre.

L.A. Noire still delivers a solid, compelling experience, improving the original graphics in many ways.

L.A. Noire remains an absorbing run through crime-ridden 1940s Los Angeles, and the Switch port runs well and looks excellent.

The most important parts of LA Noire have aged beautifully, with incredibly detailed faces, diverse characters, and unique, challenging crimes to solve as a detective. The top-notch writing and voice acting bring 1940s Los Angeles to life, but are let down by a dull open world with frequent frame rate drops. Aside from difficulty aiming in gun fights, it’s a smart port with accurate motion controls and the ability to play almost entirely touchscreen, too.

L.A. Noire for the Switch is a masterclass in third party support – the full experience you can get everywhere else without any compromises. Every feature, every gameplay beat, and every mode is included here just as you’d find it on any other console. It may come across as a little bit too pricey for those who have played it before – and quite frankly it is – but for those who haven’t L.A. Noire has a lot of content to sink your teeth into. Despite this, L.A. Noire isn’t perfect and the issues it had in 2011 largely remain here in 2017. The open world is a visually stunning and authentic rendition of the city of angels and yet feels ultimately pointless. The MotionScan facial technology is a great idea but marred by some shoddy performances. The bottom line, however, is that if you play L.A. Noire on Switch then you’re playing the same game everyone else is on other consoles. And that’s how it should be.

Rockstar ports the underrated L.A. Noire over to The Switch and actually adds some interesting new control dynamics to the old title rather than just tossing on some gimmicks. That’s a good thing.

L.A. Noire on Nintendo Switch is a fascinating experience that everyone that owns the console should try.

Whether it's exploring the open city of Los Angeles or pointing fingers at suspects, LA Noire feels right at home on Switch. The mature, serious film noir storyline is just as effective as ever, filling a much-needed gap in the Switch's lineup of games.

L.A. Noire isn't the prettiest project, but it still holds up because there isn't anything quite like it even today.

L.A. Noire still is a unique detective game that is worth playing. The things we did not appreciate about the original are still there, but in the end this is still an amazing videogame.

All in all, L.A. Noire is still an enjoyable story-driven adventure game with an incredible atmosphere. The issues that it had in 2011 are still present, but they're more noticeable today, so it's not as enjoyable as it was back then. It may make more sense for people who skipped it in 2011 to enjoy it in small doses while they're on the go. It is unfortunate that the Switch version is priced higher than the other versions. Players who have access to another platform and aren't interested in a portable gaming experience may be better served by the PC, PS4 or Xbox One version.

Unnecessary additions are irritating. [Issue#196, p.88]

L.A. Noire on the Nintendo Switch brings back the best of this criminal investigation game, as its excellent actor performances and facial animation still look impressive. As unique as L.A. Noire is, however, the conversion to the Nintendo Switch also has its flaws and it doesn't add anything too significant to the original game.

This L.A. Noire remaster is more than worth revisiting, even if it is lousy with issues that just start to seem more apparent with time. It's the definition of flawed ambition, shooting for the stars and never quite reaching it. It's rare to find a game like this that is willing to be so simple and down-to-earth, about a cop with a wife (who's never even threatened or fridged!) just doing the work. Hopefully Rockstar's remastering of it is a suggestion that they're on their way to starting the franchise back up – it may still be enjoyable, but there's a lot that could be improved.

L.A Noire is still a unique game, even if it has some problems. The Switch version looks great, and is overall the best way to experience this.

This new version of L.A. Noire is like the original game, with a few tweaks. The graphics look excellent, but the story and repetitive gameplay are not amazing.

L. A. Noire deserves a second look. The new version is mostly a couple of new text lines and camera angles, and the game still has the same flaws, but I enjoyed the journey anyway after not having touched it for six years.

L.A. Noire wasn't a faultless game back in 2011 and that hasn't changed in 2017, yet it somehow manages to be more than the sum of its parts. We suspect it will be regarded as a pioneering classic for the next few years regardless; few games treat the player to such a grown-up and mature experience as this, and that's important for the video game industry as a whole.

Still arguably the best detective game, and an impressively ambitious example of adult storytelling – despite a few structural and narrative flaws.

If sharp visuals and higher frame rate are huge factors in your enjoyment, then you're better off playing L.A. Noire on PS4 and Xbox One, which sport added bells and whistles that elevate the game's performance. But if you're charmed by the idea of experiencing it portably, then L.A. Noire on Switch comes recommended. It may not work the best under pressure, but it's well worth replaying or experiencing for the first time on Nintendo's convertible console.

L.A. Noire transcended quite well into this console generation. The crime solving adventure still has some highly captivating elements. But it also kept its deficits like the boring fist fights, the trivial shoot-outs or too little mechanical variety overall.

LA Noire on Switch isn't perfect, but a lot of that's down to its age and the mechanics. As a port, it plays great on Switch.

If you didn't have the opportunity to play it since 2011, you can go for the Nintendo Switch version of L.A. Noire without fear as it's still a good adventure game with some great investigation and interrogating systems that have an impact on the way you solve cases, and an amazing atmosphere with some excellent acting. The port is true to the original game and has some issues, on TV and docked mode, but it doesn't prevent the game from being an immersive experience.