The long anticipated Rockstar game finally saw its release a few days ago, and naturally, the whole of the interwebz fell to its knees in sycophantic praise after experiencing the rapture that is L.A. Noire. But the question remains: was it actually that good?
Well, everyone who has played it will form their own opinions, of course; here is mine: It was decent. Solid. I would give it a 7/10. But I don't think it was the greatest game ever, or Rockstar's best, or anything like that :/
There was a lot to like about it. It was a refreshing and original break from the typical kind of games dominating the market these days. I really enjoy detective stories and mystery solving, and Noire did a great job simulating the job of an inspector in its gameplay. Although the action and 'gun play' had been toned down significantly relative to past Rockstar games, I don't feel that it hampered the experience at all. It was a completely different kind of thrill solving crimes and interrogating suspects and witnesses.
The look of the game also did not disappoint: LA looked big and beautiful, and the hype about the characters' faces being super-realistic wasn't overstated. The music was old, but nice, and I generally enjoyed the game's aesthetic.
So what was my problem with it?? Well, I felt that the script/narrative was a bit of a letdown at some points, for one thing. The character of the protagonist in particular I found annoying: he was either being too intense and abrasive, or he was being too prude and mechanical. I didn't like him. Adding to my dismay was the fact that a lot of dumb things seemed to happen in the story...I don't want to spoil anything, but at the conclusion of the BD case, I wanted to put my fist through the screen.
Noire had so many characters that were actually interesting and well-played, but they only formed a small part of the story...Grosvenor, the club owner from the Henry case, the homicide captain, Johnny Stomponato, etc. all shone brilliantly for a few scenes before disappearing for good, leaving the focus again on the less-than-inspiring lead. The name of the game implies that it's going to be 'noiry', so why didn't they include more gangsters, femme fetales, expatriate night club singers, and the like? Isn't that what constitutes the seedy underworld that the game was trying to portray? Outside of a couple missions for the vice squad, I didn't really get a 'noire' sense from the game at all...it channels "LA Confidential" a lot more than "Chinatown".
Maybe I'm being too harsh on the game here, or splitting hairs, or whatever. I guess that I'm being tough on it because since a lot in the game was very good, the parts that weren't so good stand out all the more and vitiate the overall experience.
My biggest complaint against L.A. Noire isn't its lack of noire, but its brevity...I just don't feel like 21 cases is enough for this type of game. I would have liked a lot more variety and quantity of cases on homicide, especially, and my career in the vice squad seemed likewise malnourished. The 21 cases went by quickly, for me, and at the completion of the game, I felt that it lacked replay value...it was in that unique place where its not short enough to pick up and play without getting involved, but its not long enough that I forgot about earlier cases. Ew.
Oh, and one last thing: I don't want to reveal anything, but Rockstar has certain...proclivities which are pretty well known by now, and their attempt at a 'surprise' ending was hardly surprising and it really just kind of pissed me off. It would have been way more shocking if something else had happened to the protagonist than what always happens to the protagonist in like EVERY Rockstar game <.<
That is all.
Well, everyone who has played it will form their own opinions, of course; here is mine: It was decent. Solid. I would give it a 7/10. But I don't think it was the greatest game ever, or Rockstar's best, or anything like that :/
There was a lot to like about it. It was a refreshing and original break from the typical kind of games dominating the market these days. I really enjoy detective stories and mystery solving, and Noire did a great job simulating the job of an inspector in its gameplay. Although the action and 'gun play' had been toned down significantly relative to past Rockstar games, I don't feel that it hampered the experience at all. It was a completely different kind of thrill solving crimes and interrogating suspects and witnesses.
The look of the game also did not disappoint: LA looked big and beautiful, and the hype about the characters' faces being super-realistic wasn't overstated. The music was old, but nice, and I generally enjoyed the game's aesthetic.
So what was my problem with it?? Well, I felt that the script/narrative was a bit of a letdown at some points, for one thing. The character of the protagonist in particular I found annoying: he was either being too intense and abrasive, or he was being too prude and mechanical. I didn't like him. Adding to my dismay was the fact that a lot of dumb things seemed to happen in the story...I don't want to spoil anything, but at the conclusion of the BD case, I wanted to put my fist through the screen.
Noire had so many characters that were actually interesting and well-played, but they only formed a small part of the story...Grosvenor, the club owner from the Henry case, the homicide captain, Johnny Stomponato, etc. all shone brilliantly for a few scenes before disappearing for good, leaving the focus again on the less-than-inspiring lead. The name of the game implies that it's going to be 'noiry', so why didn't they include more gangsters, femme fetales, expatriate night club singers, and the like? Isn't that what constitutes the seedy underworld that the game was trying to portray? Outside of a couple missions for the vice squad, I didn't really get a 'noire' sense from the game at all...it channels "LA Confidential" a lot more than "Chinatown".
Maybe I'm being too harsh on the game here, or splitting hairs, or whatever. I guess that I'm being tough on it because since a lot in the game was very good, the parts that weren't so good stand out all the more and vitiate the overall experience.
My biggest complaint against L.A. Noire isn't its lack of noire, but its brevity...I just don't feel like 21 cases is enough for this type of game. I would have liked a lot more variety and quantity of cases on homicide, especially, and my career in the vice squad seemed likewise malnourished. The 21 cases went by quickly, for me, and at the completion of the game, I felt that it lacked replay value...it was in that unique place where its not short enough to pick up and play without getting involved, but its not long enough that I forgot about earlier cases. Ew.
Oh, and one last thing: I don't want to reveal anything, but Rockstar has certain...proclivities which are pretty well known by now, and their attempt at a 'surprise' ending was hardly surprising and it really just kind of pissed me off. It would have been way more shocking if something else had happened to the protagonist than what always happens to the protagonist in like EVERY Rockstar game <.<
That is all.
