I'm surprise to see nobody mentioned this before. I while ago I read the confirmation of the pc version, looks interesting
LA Noire: Gameplay Video Trailer - YouTube
LA Noire: Gameplay Video Trailer - YouTube
[Game] L.A. Noire
- Thread starter Moyako
- Start date
In short this is a well acted story that must be experienced, but with lame gameplay it is not enough of a game to warrant a high price.
The story is pretty much perfect, the acting is perfect, the visuals are excellent.
What breaks it for me is the fact that the core gameplay is an interactive film. The game is like having a friend with you that has already seen this film and even if you ask him not to spoil it, he will gleefully give you tiny hints through his body language. I'm not saying the game plays itself but if you have doubts this game idea can really be made into interesting gameplay, it is probably as bad as you fear. Walk around the crime scene, look for tiny objects and tracks and have your character comment on them, occasionally solve simple puzzles, interview people that for the most part know nothing about subtlelty (Some will surprise you, but most are overplayed and obvious).
Occasionally, or actually rather frequently, you must engage in pursuits and shoot outs which is like a stripped down GTA, very bog standard gameplay mechanics but with rather jagged presentation, there is no smooth transition between investigation and action, it's like suddenly being thrown into a whole other game once the gun is drawn. The amount of bad guys you kill (to no consequence) and the amount of cars you completely demolish is bizarre, not at all very noire. The car chases are probably the weakest part of the game, the driving is not fun and flipping over the bad guy's car over and seeing all the wheels, doors and windows pop off with poor physics leaves a really bad taste in your mouth. Where is the subtlelty? This feels like it belongs in a much older game, not a mature cop noire story.
The saving grace for this game is that the characters are excellent. The writing is the best of the best, the story has it's surprises and unusual character dynamics (especially the main character is an interesting do gooder who comes into conflict with pretty much everyone in the game in some way). The ending is a little rushed and over the top, but excellent and natural feeling dialogue makes it work. It took me about 20 hours to get through my first playthrough and I completely botched a few cases, the interview mechanics can be a little confusing the first time around (especially how to accuse someone of a lie) and there are a couple of cases that feel very counter-intuitive to me. The overall experience however is awesome and unique if you can forgive the game for it's damning short comings in gameplay.
The story is pretty much perfect, the acting is perfect, the visuals are excellent.
What breaks it for me is the fact that the core gameplay is an interactive film. The game is like having a friend with you that has already seen this film and even if you ask him not to spoil it, he will gleefully give you tiny hints through his body language. I'm not saying the game plays itself but if you have doubts this game idea can really be made into interesting gameplay, it is probably as bad as you fear. Walk around the crime scene, look for tiny objects and tracks and have your character comment on them, occasionally solve simple puzzles, interview people that for the most part know nothing about subtlelty (Some will surprise you, but most are overplayed and obvious).
Occasionally, or actually rather frequently, you must engage in pursuits and shoot outs which is like a stripped down GTA, very bog standard gameplay mechanics but with rather jagged presentation, there is no smooth transition between investigation and action, it's like suddenly being thrown into a whole other game once the gun is drawn. The amount of bad guys you kill (to no consequence) and the amount of cars you completely demolish is bizarre, not at all very noire. The car chases are probably the weakest part of the game, the driving is not fun and flipping over the bad guy's car over and seeing all the wheels, doors and windows pop off with poor physics leaves a really bad taste in your mouth. Where is the subtlelty? This feels like it belongs in a much older game, not a mature cop noire story.
The saving grace for this game is that the characters are excellent. The writing is the best of the best, the story has it's surprises and unusual character dynamics (especially the main character is an interesting do gooder who comes into conflict with pretty much everyone in the game in some way). The ending is a little rushed and over the top, but excellent and natural feeling dialogue makes it work. It took me about 20 hours to get through my first playthrough and I completely botched a few cases, the interview mechanics can be a little confusing the first time around (especially how to accuse someone of a lie) and there are a couple of cases that feel very counter-intuitive to me. The overall experience however is awesome and unique if you can forgive the game for it's damning short comings in gameplay.
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prepare for necro bump !!!
buyed this fine piece of software for a finaly reasonable price from our allwellround loved steamsale
Eventho it runs like **** on my machine and i had to tone it down a notch its still amazingly well made and i really really enjoi the story as it unfolds.
buyed this fine piece of software for a finaly reasonable price from our allwellround loved steamsale
Eventho it runs like **** on my machine and i had to tone it down a notch its still amazingly well made and i really really enjoi the story as it unfolds.
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I was here a couple of days ago...
Thanks @Sufyan for a decent review and a little bit to BlackLabel for the vid posted a few days ago in the Steam sales thread and P. Steele for liking the game...
I bought it and I'm loving the atmosphere, the face animations, the game play and everything...
Did you guys play in B&W ?
Really does give it a Humphrey Bogart feel, excellent.
Thanks @Sufyan for a decent review and a little bit to BlackLabel for the vid posted a few days ago in the Steam sales thread and P. Steele for liking the game...
I bought it and I'm loving the atmosphere, the face animations, the game play and everything...
Did you guys play in B&W ?
Really does give it a Humphrey Bogart feel, excellent.
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I started playing it in color, but I haven't gotten too far into it yet, and I'll probably switch off and on, see which way looks best.
It's really an interesting game so far. I do agree with Sufyan about the slightly jarring jump between action and investigation, though. I'm enjoying it quite a lot, and for $12.49, it was a hard value to beat.
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I wish there were more games like this. It's the closest I've come to experiencing the same feeling I had when I first played 'The Last Express' in 1997
The only problems I have so far are sometimes the voice acting makes characters sound like they are on a sound stage rather than in the game world. Way too much echo at times.
It's also way too easy even with the help turned off. Facial tics and giveaways are too easy to spot. It's also as though the game wants to play itself at times, such as when walking the character is being guided down a particular path.
The tacked on street crimes feel out of place and arcadey. I guess the reason they're included is to create a false sense of action which isn't needed. These break the illusion and remind me I'm playing a game.
I would have also preferred car handling more akin to Mafia 2 with the Simulation/Arcade option as well as the speed limiter option from the Mafia games which would make driving across the map more enjoyable.
The only problems I have so far are sometimes the voice acting makes characters sound like they are on a sound stage rather than in the game world. Way too much echo at times.
It's also way too easy even with the help turned off. Facial tics and giveaways are too easy to spot. It's also as though the game wants to play itself at times, such as when walking the character is being guided down a particular path.
The tacked on street crimes feel out of place and arcadey. I guess the reason they're included is to create a false sense of action which isn't needed. These break the illusion and remind me I'm playing a game.
I would have also preferred car handling more akin to Mafia 2 with the Simulation/Arcade option as well as the speed limiter option from the Mafia games which would make driving across the map more enjoyable.
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Yeah harb, I resulted to letting my partner drive, and not going to any of the side crime events.
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exactly what i do..even if they hand me the keys those cooky bastards..whould be nice if theyd refuse at that point...
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