L.A. Noire (Team Bondi/Rockstar Games)

[Dilla]

While ending up somewhat disappointed with how GTA IV turned out, I can't help but be excited for a game that has been delayed for almost three years. The name is L.A. Noire and it finally has an established release date, September of this year.

L.A. Noire is an upcoming video game developed by Team Bondi and published by Rockstar Games. Initially announced as only for the PlayStation 3, the game was later reported to also be scheduled for release on the Xbox 360. L.A. Noire is set in "a perfectly re-created Los Angeles" of the late 1940s, with players being given an open-ended challenge to solve a series of murders.

As the title suggests, the game draws heavily from both plot and aesthetic elements of film noir - stylistic films from the 1940s and 1950s that shared similar visual styles and themes including, but not limited to, crime, sex and moral ambiguity and were often shot in black and white with harsh, low-key lighting.

The game uses a distinctive colouring-style in homage to the visual style of film noir. The postwar setting is the backdrop for plot elements that reference the detective films of the '40s, such as corruption and drugs, with a classical jazz soundtrack.

Though little information has been disclosed so far about L.A. Noire, Rockstar gives an impression of the game in the first trailer. L.A. Noire is also notable for using Darksprint's real-time global illumination technology.

Screenshots

[Bonta Kun]

This game seems to have stayed off most people's radar but I'm interested in it. It's a got a setting I'm fond of but one that you don't see too often.
I liked Mafia but the old Gangsters series on the PC was great fun for me.

Will keep an eye of this.

[SoldierOfDarkness]

Hands on preview

http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/adventur...?mode=previews

This looks interesting, if it's as good as they say it is and has a nice balance between detective and gun fights then I might get it. I wouldn't like it though if it's just bang bang bang gun fights.

[MakubeX2]

I'm more concern about the replayability on this title.

Is there more then one set way to solve a crime ? Is the conclusion pre-determined no matter how the player goes about solving the case ? Can I take the corrupt cop route instead of being a straight-arrow one ?

[jonli]

Originally Posted by MakubeX2

I'm more concern about the replayability on this title.

Is there more then one set way to solve a crime ? Is the conclusion pre-determined no matter how the player goes about solving the case ? Can I take the corrupt cop route instead of being a straight-arrow one ?

The conclusion is set, but there are various ways to approach a case, they said each case has about 9 endings or less. So maybe if you're really pushy you might lead yourself into a car chase or a gun fight, where as you could be smooth and get out of it with just a few words.

Unfortunately if I remember correctly, you can't take the corrupt cop route. You can only take the incompetent cop or the competent cop. There is no good or evil meter like in RDR, but I don't think this means that you can't take more drastic approaches or choices that "good cops" don't usually take. These choices are just not reflected as a game mechanic.

Replayability is probably scarce in this title, it is a detective game and the large part of the catch is the mystery. Once the mystery is solved a lot of its value is lost (very much like Heavy Rain, great game but same problem). This game still seems super intriguing to me and it feels like a must-try experience for this gen. At least rent it if you don't feel like buying it (or borrow it from a friend if there are no game renting services around you).

[Mr Hat and Clogs]

when I first heard about this game I was so very much looking forward too it... till I found out it was console only - then I cried and died a little inside. Finally have a game that I could relive the Police Quest vibe and they do that... makes me almost tempted to go buy another xbox so I can get it (since my brother moved across the country and took my old one.)

[SoldierOfDarkness]

Originally Posted by MakubeX2

I'm more concern about the replayability on this title.

Is there more then one set way to solve a crime ? Is the conclusion pre-determined no matter how the player goes about solving the case ? Can I take the corrupt cop route instead of being a straight-arrow one ?

I don't think so, it looks more like your suppose to be the "hero" cop

The only route I think we can take is the good cop bad cop routine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlUghi64npI

But yeah as others have pointed out it's like Mass Effect/Hard Rain where it's the one suspect but there are different ways to obtain it and it can end differently.

Who here thinks they'll try to go for a 0% casualty rate through just pure negotiaions

[MakubeX2]

So, linear cases with non-linear approach huh. But whatever, as long as the Cases are long, with lots of twists to keep us hook.

And is there a mutual feeling that Rockstar will milk this game with DLCs (namely with Crimes and Cases) for years to come ?

[jonli]

Originally Posted by MakubeX2

So, linear cases with non-linear approach huh. But whatever, as long as the Cases are long, with lots of twists to keep us hook.

And is there a mutual feeling that Rockstar will milk this game with DLCs (namely with Crimes and Cases) for years to come ?

Most probably. We're already getting a cut off of some of the extra cases that comes with the limited edition. They'll be released later as DLCs. If I remember correctly it's the traffic case, and some actress' murder case.

Honestly I think Rockstar did a great job with DLC so far. I didn't like GTA4 but what they did with Lost and Damned and Ballads of Gay Tony is what I think developers should do with DLC. They should be miniature expansions instead of content that was originally suppose to be in there and forcefully taken away.

They also did a good job with Undead Nightmare for RDR. The multiplayer DLC on the other hand, I can agree that I felt cheated...although I didn't care much for the multiplayer on RDR so that didn't affect me much.

If they keep the spirits up for LA Noire, I'm confident to see good content in the DLC department. However, let's keep in mind that LA Noire is developed by Team Bondi and co-developed by Rockstar. There is an obvious heavy-hand from Rockstar but I think the actual content is still made internally by Team Bondi and I have no idea how they treat their DLCs. So in the end one can only hope Rockstar is good influence.

[SoldierOfDarkness]

Alrighty got the game and I got the exclusives as well such as NAKED CITY and THE CONSUL extra cases.

I am at homicide right now and it's pretty good.

This game felt like Mafia 2 with the driving around the city except you can do more.
-> Search for landmarks instead of porn magazines
-> If your driving, you'll get a radio call asking for police assistance in miscellaneous crimes which can range from burgulary, shoot-outs, or stopping people from jumping off of roof tops so there's something to do while your exploring the city.
-> If you just want to get from A to B, get your partner to drive you and you can skip all that stuff which is nice.

Interrogations is something that takes getting used to. Eventually after reading through online stuff you really have to bog it down to two things.

-> Body language (Fidgeting, looking around, etc.) if they're lying
-> Do you have evidence? If not then you can bluff them or if you do have evidence you can back it up. Sometimes though you have to rely on the evidence and the general aspect of the story to guess the correct answer (ex. woman claims she's not involved in her husband's business with a straight face but looking back at the evidence and the general outlook you feel that's impossible but you can't back it up so the correct answer is "Doubt")

The shoot-out and chasing scenes are okay, I was worried this game would be like all other games where it's bang bang bang but it has a nice balance.

I also found out that things could work differently too. The endings are the same but there's several ways of getting there depending on how close you follow the evidence and interrogations.

Overall I think it's a nice game that tries something new and bold since most games these days are about mindless violence.

on that matter many people seemed to have been under the impression that this game would be a carbon copy of GTA where you kill anyone and hook up with prostitutes instead of actually being the good guy and a cop.

http://v.cdn.cad-comic.com/comics/ca...0518-8cc03.png

[DingoEnderZOE2]

Not a bad game at all, seeing as how Red Dead Redemption and GTA 4 failed to impress me I was actually quite surprise by the game. The fact that you CANNOT go around on random killing sprees like you can in both of those games is a HUGE bonus but also a pleasant surprise.

[Firefly00]

Amusing tidbit: the guy who started this thread's counterpart over on MegaTokyo called this 'The First "Paragon" path Rockstar Game'.

That said, ever since playing GTA: San Andreas, and having rented True Crime NY out of curiousity (and was disappointed by its poor execution), I'd always wondered how Rockstar would handle a game played from behind the badge. While I'm not sure I'll get to this title for a while (damn backlog), what I've seen and read so far leads me to believe this a damn fine effort.

Still, I do find myself imagining how the gameplay mechanics of True Crime NY would have benefited from Rockstar's production values...

[SoldierOfDarkness]

Something interesting in the Homicide cases.

It seems that you can choose which suspect you want to put into jail even if you get all the questions right.

The thing is, it seems through these cases like there's a bigger picture and people are being framed but in the end you choose who you want to put behind bars (ex. wife beater or the child molester)

One case I had the hunch that one suspect was just at the wrong place at the wrong time while the other suspect was being framed so the question is, who do you put behind bars?

[Dop]

I am absolutely loving this game so far, the style is excellent and while they've limited your actions (this is NOT your GTA style sandbox) they've done it where necessary in a way that makes sense and keeps you in character, as it were.

Principally, this is a game where you have to use those 'little grey cells' rather than your itchy trigger finger.

I agree that the replay value might be limited - you can replay to try and do better, I suppose, but then again I can see myself playing it again after a while anyway just for the experience. At times it's like watching a cop show, but one where you're the star.

I can see how they'd want to release DLC to extend the game somewhat. It's too good a game-playing mechanic to just use for the one storyline. I can also see inevitable sequels - a Sherlock Holmes style character in Victorian London, or a tough detective in 1970s New York, etc.

[synaesthetic]

I don't know why but I can't play games where I have to be a cop. I was really bad at all the SWAT titles.

I think it has to do with the fact that I tend to kill people who annoy me. That might be it!

[jonli]

Originally Posted by synaesthetic

I don't know why but I can't play games where I have to be a cop. I was really bad at all the SWAT titles.

I think it has to do with the fact that I tend to kill people who annoy me. That might be it!

What do you do with people who annoy you in real life?

[Rias]

Just got to Arson department in the story. The game is not bad, but several "unrealistic" things annoys me from time to time. Maybe because I was spoiled by other recent games I've played (Red Dead Redemption, Assassin's Creed Brotherhood).

1. Most of the time, you have to kill the criminal in street crime. I didn't know you have to kill all of them, instead of bringing them. They die automatically if you shoot their weapons off, and shooting their legs 3 times? Dead. Can't avoid it. In RDR, you can shoot their guns off = surrender. This game, shooting their guns off = mysteriously dead.

2. Chasing criminals. It's ridiculous how all of them are as fast, if not faster, than your running. It doesn't matter what their age or build is. I thought it was weird when in the beginning an old man of age 60-70 ran as fast as the character did. The only time you can catch them is they stop at the pre-scripted point, or if they allow you to tackle them. This often leads to the fact that you have to kill them.

3. Siren. Now I don't live in LA, so I can't be sure how they operate there back in the 40s, but I always assumed that siren = you move out of the way, or at least stop. Nope, in the game, that means cars will drive into you at an intersection, or sometimes you get a car that's moving out of the way from the opposite side, which ends up ramming into you. Now I just get my partner to drive.

4. Tailing events. Again, thanks to Assassin's Creed, I thought this element could've been better. For starters, give the person a suspicious meter. They do that for the cars, but for some reason they thought they don't need it for the on-foot ones. It's sometimes stupid how they can spot you down a long alley just because you form a line of sight with them. Everyone must've had 20:20 vision in the game.

Overall the game is still good, as the good parts do outshine the bad parts. However, it's not going to be a keeper for me.

[Firefly00]

Originally Posted by synaesthetic

I don't know why but I can't play games where I have to be a cop. I was really bad at all the SWAT titles...

I can't really say much to this aside from 'practice makes perfect'; SWAT 4 (reference) in particular is very insistent on your knowing (and following) police procedures for use of force.

Interestingly, for all its other flaws, True Crime NY does manage to incorporate aspects of police procedure (badge flashing, frisks, warning shots, arrests, as well as disarming and mobility-kill shots)...

Spoiler for Reference video:

Now, a couple of ironic-in-hindsight cases..

• in Crackdown, you could force tangos to drop their weapons by winging an arm (they would shortly after pull a secondary) or temporarily immobilize them with leg shots - these tactics became useful for setting up certain kinds of kills or just plain increasing your odds of surviving firefights at higher difficulty levels;
• Sega's Virtua Cop games (VC2 in particular) keep track of 'justice shots' (arm hits);
• busting might not make you feel good in the original NARC, but it's worth much more points than a kill

[synaesthetic]

Originally Posted by jonli

What do you do with people who annoy you in real life?

Deal with them if I have to, avoid them if I don't.

But that's not to say I don't wish I could activate a Stealth Boy and plug them with a silenced 9mm for massive damage and no faction loss.

[kenjiharima]

Still hesitating to buy this game said to overheat PS3 and Xbox units.

but overall though the game looks quite excellent.