When an enhanced version of L.A. Noire came out a few years after the original game’s release, I was hesitant to play it. L.A. Noire has long been one of my favorite games, second only to Final Fantasy So I stopped for a long time. But when I received the game as a gift for my PlayStation 4, the desire to return to Los Angeles became too overwhelming.
Let’s start with what sets this version apart from the original: not much. The conditions were modified during the interrogation, some graphical and technical adjustments were made and DLC that you had to purchase separately on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 was included in this version. Only the latter is worth mentioning, as it’s seamlessly integrated into the larger story of L.A. Noire and frankly detracts from the experience later on after playing.
Back in blue
This larger story revolves around Cole Phelps. After being injured in the war, Phelps joins the Los Angeles Police Department, where he starts out as a simple cop. However, as is the case in Japan, Phelps is a hard worker who does not stop at the bottom and continues until he reaches the bottom stone. It’s a very welcome and useful trait for the agent, meaning Phelps won’t be walking around in a blue suit for long. Within 25 to 30 hours, you will rise through the ranks of the police station, where you will be dealt with increasingly complex and, above all, eye-catching cases.
However, not everything goes smoothly. The war has left its scars on Cole, and as we put the criminals under lock and key, it becomes increasingly clear that they have not healed properly. Thus L.A. Noire is more than just a detective game; It is a game that explores the struggles of veterans of the horrific bloody wars they face every day in times of peace. A look at the turbulent period after World War II.
It may be hard to imagine, but that time period has already been eighty years. A lot has changed in that period. I had to remind myself more than once that “LA Noire” is set in a time when standards and values were so different, that today it would be unthinkable to hear advertisements for cigarettes on the radio or even for police officers to consider it completely normal for a woman to throw a punch. Her husband because the house is a mess. However, there is one thing that has never changed: the dark side of humanity, which you can explore extensively.
To my knowledge
Wherever a crime is committed, there are victims and perpetrators. As a detective, your mission is to bring justice to the former by finding the latter. You do this by combing the crime scene from top to bottom collecting evidence and speaking with witnesses and colleagues who are conducting their own investigations. For example, you can think of a coroner.
Using the clues you collect in this way, you can discover new places to investigate or identify people who may be connected to the crime. You go to their location, conduct further investigations there and talk to witnesses when necessary. Sometimes you have to solve a mystery or piece together clues, but in all cases this is just preparation for what might be called the star of L.A. Noire: the interrogations.
What the Bondi and Rockstar team managed to impress in the original was through the motion capture techniques used to bring the characters in the game to life realistically. While questioning witnesses and suspects, you have to choose whether to believe them, doubt them, or call them liars. The last one is simple, because you only do it when you have proof. The other two issues are partly a matter of intuition. However, a good agent will be able to tell you that people are subconsciously channeling this intuition in the right direction through their body language. For example, a person who is lying will look away, stutter, or feel visibly uncomfortable.
Motion capture has been used to translate these sometimes subtle references into L.A. Noire with amazing results, which is part of the reason the game has the highest scores I’ve ever given it personally. This has been tweaked in the PlayStation 4 version, but this is mainly seen in the drawing distance and lighting effects. The faces have not improved and, in my opinion, sometimes deteriorated due to the computer-controlled intervention. This never gets so bad that it throws you off the track, but it’s unfortunate nonetheless.
Of course motion capture is nothing special these days. Anyone who has played games like Detroid: Become Human or Senua will be more familiar with it. I also wasn’t as tired as I was before, which made me see the game in a different light. A little less flattering light…
A different perspective
There’s no doubt that L.A. Noire is still a great game. Investigating locations and targeting criminals is still a fascinating setup, complemented by an interesting setting full of political intrigues and dual agendas. But technically, there are some drawbacks that I can no longer overlook. The AI for the drivers, for example, is really worth the hassle, making driving from one location to another a painful experience at times. Additionally, the game is clearly American, and as a result I couldn’t understand some of the context without Wikipedia. It makes sense as a game in the US, but is nonetheless frustrating at times. However, moments like this were rare during my adventure which I will undoubtedly be visiting for the third time. Ultimately, this platinum trophy should not be missing from my collection.
Conclusion:
Even if L.A. Noire is no longer in the top ten at the time of writing this article and this remake doesn’t change that, it’s still one of the best detective games I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing. With strong writing, two compelling subplots, and motion capture that still more than serves its purpose, for me it stands at the pinnacle of this specific subgenre that few will ever reach.
82/100
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The setting is faithfully recreated, for better or worse
Interrogations are fun
The story is solid as rock
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The biggest improvement to this version is the downloadable content (DLC).