BA6 - Contextual Studies - 'L.A. Noire' game review

L.A. Noire is a crime-thriller game, set in 1940’s Los Angeles. Made by Rockstar games, the player ventures through the story as ‘Cole Phelps’, an honest cop, eager to prove himself, after recently being promoted to detective. As the title of the game suggests, the game takes many cues from ‘film noir’, the classic movie genre. Evidence of this is apparent throughout the game. One such example of this is the stylistic GUI of the menu screen, with its distinctive slanted text, projected against the wall of a misty, back-alley. Another example is with a narrator filling the audience in on background information, in a dry, cynical tone, that echoes that of film noir. 

The game's main menu screen

‘Rockstar’ are best known for their successful, if somewhat infamous series: ‘Grand Theft Auto’. ‘L.A. Noire takes many features from ‘Rockstars’ seminal series. Including the popular sandbox gameplay, the shooting and driving mechanics, character customisation and elements of its’ GUI.

New technology in ‘MotionScan’ allowed Rockstar to capture human facial expressions in there most minute and subtle detail. This clever new technology allows a new level of detail into the game, which hasn’t been seen before. Interrogation is a major part of this crime-thriller game, and ‘MotionScan’ really helps with this pivotal game mechanic. 

'MotionScan' allows an unprecedented level of facial detail to be picked up

The soundtrack has all the features of a classic noir film, harking back to a bygone era with jazz and swing music. The game has it’s own original score, which was heavily influenced by music of the 1940’s. A particular feature of the game’s sound, is that certain notes and chimes will play out when the player discoverers something of significance.  Thus, accentuating the importance of the object and helping to point the player in the right direction. The game actually tells the player this, in game. 

Interaction exists in many forms in L.A. Noire. The player talks to characters within the game world. They also can navigate around the environment of L.A, as well as engage in gunfights and chases. The environment is very interactive, with shrubbery swaying and bending as you move through it. Streetlights can be collided with and can fall over. Nameless NPC’s will try to avoid you if you swerve to close to them in your car.