It’s amazing that a video game that focuses on the film noir, crime drama epics of the 1940s would be so entertaining and revolutionary in video game development but that is just what L.A. Noire is.
Developed by Team Bondi for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 and Rockstar Leeds for the PC, this game is published by Rockstar games and is an achievement of note to say the least. It’s directed and written by Brendan McNamara with a musical score by Andre and Simon Hale. This is a real throwback to the classic detective movies to yesteryear and one that might bring older folks into the video game market which would be a major boon for the industry.
What makes this game extra special is the introduction of the use of real time global illumination from Lightsprint and also uses the Depth Analysis tech that called Motion Scan that uses over a dozen cameras to capture the intricacies of the actors’ facial expressions so that more deep and resonating expressions can be captured and analyzed so that during the gameplay, you as the detective can determine clues from the expressions of the characters.
Here’s what this game is about and why it’s more special than most realize. It really captures the mood and production of those classic Hollywood movies where detectives who smoked cigarettes and slapped people around for clues. The color and art direction captures this as well as the score and the gameplay is one that tests your skills as a detective from those days. You won’t be able to rely on today’s technology to catch the bad guys, you’re going to have to rely on your skills as an LAPD cop making his way up the ranks solving murders and mysteries including those of the legendary “Black Dahlia” murders of the 1940s that left the country gripped in fear.
You get to play as LAPD detective named Cole Phelps who has his own dark side to wrestle with. The events take place just after WWII and you work as Phelps as he moves up the ranks solving mystery after mystery. You’ll have to be sharp to look for all the right clues and keep an eye on the witnesses. There are no magic defense suits or computers here, just your wits and courage as you mix it up with one unsavory character after another. You’ll work with a number of partners along the way not knowing if they’re on the other side of the law or not. Add to all that the criminals, witnesses, corruption, and more, you’ll have your hands full trying to solve the mysteries and keep your skin on as there is a murderer around every corner and in every shadow it seems.
If you know some old timers you have to show this game to them. Especially grandparents as they’ll appreciate that it’s not some idiotic shoot em’ up with Martians and zombies in it but a good old fashion series of crime drama episodes that they’ll not only appreciate but might just get the game themselves. Heck, you might even buy the game for them as a present and you’ll have more fun with the family. This PC game is a major step up in the video game industry and more like them need to be made. If these games span the age groups from teen to senior citizens you may find a new age of gaming going on.
This PC game got major notice from areas games don’t normally do, especially the soundtrack that features the classic singers like Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louie Armstrong all remixed by todays hot Djs like DJ Premier and Moodymann. This is a real mixing of the generations to bring a new form of entertainment in gaming that is making big waves. Best Gangster PC game of 2011? We think so.
