The new point and click adventure game

In a world where the FPS and 3rd person shooter reigns supreme, Rockstar and Team Bondi bastardize the RAGE engine to tip their cap to a dying breed of game. On the surface, you would make comparisons to GTA or cross your fingers that its like Mafia. This game, fist and foremost, is a re-imagining of the point and click adventure game. With that in mind and not comparing apples to oranges (like this game to GTA); you will be quite pleased with the outcome.

The games mechanic is quite simple but it is the set pieces, story, and characters that truly drive the game forward. The driving, shooting, walking is just a vehicle to go you to these scenes.

For what it's worth I think the game is brilliant. It isn't perfect but it's the first of its kind. I pray Team Bondi and Rockstar continue to make experimental games like this.

Amazing. Get it, play it, roll around in its awesome.

L.A. Noire is a great, & it was a real treat to play. Though I have mild complaints, the overall gameplay won me over.

The interrogation process is not for people who don't like critical thinking. Of course, it's simple enough to just Google for a guide to get some guidance...use your "Intuition" or use the Social Club to help you. It's not impossible to get all of your questions right, but if you go at it alone (without any help) relying on simply their facial expressions is not helpful. Someone who looks as if they're guilty end up telling the truth. So it's all about critical thinking.

The design is beautiful. The city & scenery is perfect, & I love the fact that the characters/people look real & hold expressions not commonly seen in a video game.

The protagonist Cole Phelps was an interesting character to play. Uncovering his story by bits & pieces until the end was a nice touch. His own personality puzzled me, though. I guess that was the beauty of it--he at first seems like a wholesome person, out to protect people; but as it continues you find out why he's so adamant about doing so & in turn, discover how flawed he is in character. I could never fully "jump in," however. Perhaps that was the way he was supposed to be made.

The storyline was great; great encounters with supporting characters. The crime scene investigations are great, especially for forensic junkies like myself.

Slightly repetitive at times, but a great 360 game overall. If you're an avid GTA gamer like myself, you'll find yourself having to constantly remind your brain not to hit pedestrians, that you can't shoot people that make you mad with their stupid driving, yada yada yada...

You could finish this game in about 30 hours (including all the extras), but it's well worth a play!

L.A. Noire won't disappoint the film noire buff or crime lover. Great game.

I bought L.A. Noire for 2 reasons: 1) I am a criminal investigator, 2) I love L.A. Bottom line: I love the game.

Initial impressions: Graphics great; easy to follow b/c it is similar in a few ways to GTA4; mental challenge of interrogating suspects using clues found at scene fantastic; sufficient action that it doesn't bore; nice pacing of game, but not for the all-out action buff; reality of L.A. very convincing.

If you love film noire, are into crime shows, and game, you won't be disappointed with L.A. Noire. Shot in 1940's Los Angeles, L.A. Noire captures the seedy underside of the city. You begin as a beat cop working cases, quickly climbing the ranks to detective.

From there, you work various cases such as auto theft, burglary, robbery, and murder. During your investigations you respond to crime scenes, collect clues, interview potential witnesses, tail suspects, and engage in gun battles and car chases.

The real challenge of the game besides the intense shoot-outs and harrowing car chases (which if you don't like driving in GTA4, you will hate in this game b/c you have to worry about damaging the city and setting off your police siren when tailing suspects) is the crime scene analysis and the interviewing and interrogation of witnesses, victims, and suspects. You have to really search the scenes to collect all the clues, and then use them strategically to interview and interrogate.

For example, let's say you find a gun at a scene. You might go to a nearby gun dealer to trace the serial number. If the gun dealer has any history with the gun, that becomes a clue. Then when you confront the suspect with gun ownership and they deny it, you would then present the information you gathered at the gun shop to challenge the validity of the suspect's statement. That can lead to a breakthrough, which leads you to alternate lines of questioning.

The graphics really come into play at this point b/c the faces of the actors you interview are shot using a new, innovative photo technique that captures their facial expressions so clearly, it's unnerving.

I won't give away any of the plot line, but if you are interested you can reference Rockstar's L.A. Noire site to get a preview of some of the different types of cases and their plots.

All in all, this is the perfect game for the crime aficianado, the CSI buff, law enforcement, and gamers who love puzzles, even though the cases are a bit slow at first.

Hope this helps.

LA Noire

The game takes place in 1947 Los Angeles, a city of glamour, fame, and wealth, but also where crime, vice, and corruption are rife. The player assumes the role of Cole Phelps, an LAPD officer who rises through the ranks of the department. He has joined the police force to "right the wrongs" he committed during the Second World War. He starts off as a patrol-man, then advances to traffic detective, homicide, vice, and finally arson investigator. Each rank gives the player a partner who will help Phelps in his investigations, fights, and arrests.

Classic Rockstar game with great gameplay

What's Good:
-You get to play in 4 different departments (Traffic/Homicide/Vice/Arson), so you learn a lot
-Detail on faces helps bring out a lot of the characters emotions
-If you love this time period ('40s, Hollywood, Suits/Fedoras, White Walls, etc.) - you'll love this game. There's a lot of eye candy to go around.
-3 discs (plus DLC) means a lot of time to enjoy the game

What's Not So Good:
-Gameplay gets a little repetitive after awhile
-Car chases (as usual) are difficult
-Try not to read too much into facial expressions during interrogations. Stick to the clues.
-Excessive gameplay mechanics - climbing buildings, mini-puzzles

Similar Games:
Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption - except you can't carry your guns everywhere you go.