Video Game Review: LA NOIRE PS3
Hey guys, long hiatus but I'm doing something new here as poker is on the backburner with several changes in my life since I last posted. I have had a few requests to do some gaming reviews since people who know me know that I am an avid gamer and generally tell it how it is. Keep in mind that these reviews are going to be for PS3, in the order that I'm playing the games currently at my disposal as I am going to be going for 100% completions and all trophies as well.
Plot : 8/10 - You basically play as a World War II vet turned LAPD detective in Rockstar's newest game. As Cole Phelps, you are greeting with on the fly street crimes, as well as story based mysteries that you need to solve in order to progress through the game. Some cases link up with each other and some don't, In-between cases you are treated to cut-scenes that depict Cole's time during the war, and it gives you as the player, a deeper insight on what makes him tick and do the things he does.
Gameplay : 7/10 - Not the greatest title out there currently in terms of gameplay. Hardcore gamers will find the clue gathering portion a little too easy, as the default options play a little musical chime when you can inspect an item and the music just stops when all clues have been found, Fans of the Phoenix Wright series will appreciate the fact that you don't have to tap all over the screen to gather clues, but it's equally is painful running around listening for chimes instead of actually being immersed into the scenery and looking at clues without musical help. Yes, you can turn this option off, but it shouldn't have been an option anyway. (I'm that hardcore) The interview process is where you determine if the suspect is telling you the truth, or you doubt his motives, or he's just flat out lying to your face. This would have been so much better done had it been possible to fail and let the guy get away scott-free. It's not, if you fail the interview process you just learn less about the background story and proceed. Such potential wasted.
Graphics: 9/10 - I'm not going to bullshit here, 37 cameras from every angle focused on each actor during gameplay and cutscenes pays off here. The facial graphics for this game are phenomenal. From the eyes darting around if they're nervous,or clenching their teeth or even the smallest of swallows when they're lying to you, this game details it all. Afterall, facial expressions are how Cole can sense if a suspect is lying to him or not. Then again, it can also be used against him as a little girl I interviewed after her mom died had darting eyes and I thought she was lying but before I made a silly choice, I thought to myself, if my mother just died and I was a kid, how would I act? Well needless to say she was telling the truth. L.A is perfectly recreated from the 1940's, From the landmarks, to the cars of the era, in stunning HD detail.
Sound: 10/10 Probably the best musical score I have heard from a game ever. And that's a pretty tall order seeing how there have been some great musical scores from other games in the history of gaming <Baron's Theme from Final Fantasy IV come to mind> The music is taken straight from Noire films of the 40's and suits the theme of the game perfectly.
Replay Value 3/10 : Not much really, once you finish the game and know how cases turn out there's really no point in replaying the game except to maybe get 100% completion and all the trophies associated with the game.
Hardcore Trophy Farming/Time to 100% Complete 8/10 : One of the more frustrating games to 100% complete because of needing to unlock all 95 different cars in the game. It's great that in order to unlock a car, you just have to get in and turn on the engine, sounds simple enough, however, due to a horrible design flaw, only certain cars appear during the game play. The cars you need never appear until AFTER you've unlocked it which is pointless to say the least. If you're going for the hardcore meter on this, be prepared to spend an additional 10+ hours hunting down cars after the cases.
Summary: It's a great game, if you are a fan of Noire genre films and enjoy games like Phoenix Wright or shows like Law and Order and CSI : whateverthefuck, pick it up as a rental. It's not worth the 50 bucks due to the low replay value, but in a solid week you can finish the game and immerse yourself with a very good story. Being Rockstar's first attempt at being the "good guys" I'll cut them some slack, as at the end of the day, I was entertained and fully in awe with the facial accuracy that this game provides. If you are hoping for a sequel, do not hold your breath as Team Bondi (Developer) and Rockstar (Publisher) are no longer on speaking terms due to horrendous working experiences from both sides while working on this game. 7 years in the making, I was truly expecting more but in a pinch, it does the job of being a Phoenix Wright meets Grand Theft Auto type game.
Plot : 8/10 - You basically play as a World War II vet turned LAPD detective in Rockstar's newest game. As Cole Phelps, you are greeting with on the fly street crimes, as well as story based mysteries that you need to solve in order to progress through the game. Some cases link up with each other and some don't, In-between cases you are treated to cut-scenes that depict Cole's time during the war, and it gives you as the player, a deeper insight on what makes him tick and do the things he does.
Gameplay : 7/10 - Not the greatest title out there currently in terms of gameplay. Hardcore gamers will find the clue gathering portion a little too easy, as the default options play a little musical chime when you can inspect an item and the music just stops when all clues have been found, Fans of the Phoenix Wright series will appreciate the fact that you don't have to tap all over the screen to gather clues, but it's equally is painful running around listening for chimes instead of actually being immersed into the scenery and looking at clues without musical help. Yes, you can turn this option off, but it shouldn't have been an option anyway. (I'm that hardcore) The interview process is where you determine if the suspect is telling you the truth, or you doubt his motives, or he's just flat out lying to your face. This would have been so much better done had it been possible to fail and let the guy get away scott-free. It's not, if you fail the interview process you just learn less about the background story and proceed. Such potential wasted.
Graphics: 9/10 - I'm not going to bullshit here, 37 cameras from every angle focused on each actor during gameplay and cutscenes pays off here. The facial graphics for this game are phenomenal. From the eyes darting around if they're nervous,or clenching their teeth or even the smallest of swallows when they're lying to you, this game details it all. Afterall, facial expressions are how Cole can sense if a suspect is lying to him or not. Then again, it can also be used against him as a little girl I interviewed after her mom died had darting eyes and I thought she was lying but before I made a silly choice, I thought to myself, if my mother just died and I was a kid, how would I act? Well needless to say she was telling the truth. L.A is perfectly recreated from the 1940's, From the landmarks, to the cars of the era, in stunning HD detail.
Sound: 10/10 Probably the best musical score I have heard from a game ever. And that's a pretty tall order seeing how there have been some great musical scores from other games in the history of gaming <Baron's Theme from Final Fantasy IV come to mind> The music is taken straight from Noire films of the 40's and suits the theme of the game perfectly.
Replay Value 3/10 : Not much really, once you finish the game and know how cases turn out there's really no point in replaying the game except to maybe get 100% completion and all the trophies associated with the game.
Hardcore Trophy Farming/Time to 100% Complete 8/10 : One of the more frustrating games to 100% complete because of needing to unlock all 95 different cars in the game. It's great that in order to unlock a car, you just have to get in and turn on the engine, sounds simple enough, however, due to a horrible design flaw, only certain cars appear during the game play. The cars you need never appear until AFTER you've unlocked it which is pointless to say the least. If you're going for the hardcore meter on this, be prepared to spend an additional 10+ hours hunting down cars after the cases.
Summary: It's a great game, if you are a fan of Noire genre films and enjoy games like Phoenix Wright or shows like Law and Order and CSI : whateverthefuck, pick it up as a rental. It's not worth the 50 bucks due to the low replay value, but in a solid week you can finish the game and immerse yourself with a very good story. Being Rockstar's first attempt at being the "good guys" I'll cut them some slack, as at the end of the day, I was entertained and fully in awe with the facial accuracy that this game provides. If you are hoping for a sequel, do not hold your breath as Team Bondi (Developer) and Rockstar (Publisher) are no longer on speaking terms due to horrendous working experiences from both sides while working on this game. 7 years in the making, I was truly expecting more but in a pinch, it does the job of being a Phoenix Wright meets Grand Theft Auto type game.
posted by Patrick Lee at
18:09
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