L.A. Noire

Technically there are not many changes, but the important core has remained: exciting cases, interesting characters, movie narrative, great atmosphere of the 1940s. L.A. Noire is a game like a few others, and despite some mistakes in a game design, the fun is same as it was six years ago.

Despite the years that have passed, L.A Noire still shows that nowadays why linear narrative doesn't have to be confronted to gameplay. A really good entry to the golden age of noir cinema.

I'm still a big fan of what L.A. Noire tries to do, and with the improvements to interrogations and visuals, it's certainly worth giving it a go.

The real star of the show here is the stunning facial animation which captures every detail of an actor's face.

L.A. Noire is a great game. The six years since its original launch haven't changed that. The imagining of 1940s Los Angeles is massive and detailed, and every aspect of the game feels meticulous and polished. The well-woven story edges out any gameplay complaints or issues that arose in the original game. All the DLC and additional challenges are here — albeit some of it has been inserted less than tactfully — making the Xbox One version a nice compilation for players who missed this gem from last gen, but the value drops significantly for returning players, partially due to L.A. Noire's engaging and memorable mystery. The appeal is snuffed out when you already know how every twist and turn in this detective tale goes, and Rockstar hasn't brought out enough meaningful changes to make L.A. Noire worth another visit from players who already donned their detective badges on the Xbox 360.

If you enjoyed Cole Phelps’ investigations the first time round, you’ll likely still get a kick out of them six years later. But if you’re new to the game, its flawed systems and dated visuals will likely tarnish the experience for you. It’s a game worth playing for the story and setting, but not for the detective work involved.

Even if visually not completely satisfying, L.A. Noire is still a captivating detective story with great acting. There's no reason to get if if you played the original game, but if you didn't and love narrative experiences, it'll surely be pleasing.

L.A. Noire is not the best choice for a HD remaster, but it’s still a charming and intriguing experience.

Though ponderous in places, there's nothing quite like this curious sandbox caper. [Jan 2018, p.90]

L.A. Noire was a unique game that deserved a second chance. My biggest hurdle in recommending this version though is the price. Sitting at $40 on XB1 and PS4, and a whopping $50 on Switch, that is a financial pill that is hard to swallow, especially when I can snag the 360 or PS3 versions for under $5 at any local used retailer.