I gazed into the future, saw L.A. Noire‘s Switch release and other remasters coming, and did an entire playthrough of the game. Here’s a collection of writings inspired by that playthrough.
First, I looked at the early missions and noted how the game, while offering an intriguing and gorgeous world, has some difficulty in the opening missions:
[referenced url=”https://www.kotaku.com.au/2017/08/revisiting-the-opening-cases-of-la-noire/” thumb=”https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/t_ku-large/b07hncepngzdnnoxpm5w.png” title=”Revisiting The Opening Cases Of L.A. Noire” excerpt=”Last week, we started playing L.A. Noire on Kotaku’s Twitch channel. It’s a 2011 detective game with a lot of cases to solve. Recently, we finished the cases for the traffic detective desk. It’s a good introduction to the game that also has a few problems.”]
After that, I moved to the Homicide Desk and discovered some of the game’s most exciting moments as well as a gritty, well-realised police procedural:
[referenced url=”https://www.kotaku.com.au/2017/08/la-noires-homicide-investigations-were-some-of-the-best/” thumb=”https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/t_ku-large/tsb1gptqa2z6zziv6odn.png” title=”L.A. Noire’s Homicide Investigations Were Some Of The Best ” excerpt=”Last month, we started streaming L.A. Noire on Kotaku’s Twitch channel. While the start of the game has some problems, its homicide investigations take a darker turn, adding nuance and moral ambiguity to the tale of LAPD detective Cole Phelps.”]
Lastly, I took a look at the game’s controversial ending and concluded that there was no other way for a tale of vice and corruption to end. Years later, L.A. Noire‘s finale still has some of the most bitter yet thematically strong moments in a narrative game:
[referenced url=”https://www.kotaku.com.au/2017/09/la-noires-ending-revisited/” thumb=”https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/t_ku-large/b7sfoocw13eweppjjifz.png” title=”L.A. Noire’s Ending, Revisited” excerpt=”I’ve been playing through L.A. Noire for the last month and a half on Kotaku’s Twitch channel. This weekend we finished the game. The conclusion is bittersweet but there was no other way for a tale of crime and corruption to end. Controversial in its day, L.A Noire’s ending is perfect when viewed in retrospect.”]
Comments
4 responses to “What Made L.A. Noire So Great”
Thought I’d re-check this out on Switch. Logged onto the eShop… $90?! For a 6 year old game, outrage! Big fat pass.
Yea that’s ridiculous, should be at least half that price because it’s still the same original game & DLC with just all-new suits.
After reading the article, I’m convinced the author didn’t actually enjoy the game at all and just made peace with the fact that they had to find value in the time they wasted on this Kevin Costner’s Waterworld of video games.
I remember playing this all the way through on my potato PC at 720p, low settings at a glorious 15-20 fps. Uh the struggle was real but I put up with it back then because the game was so riveting to me.