L.A. Noire is a neo-noir detective action-adventure video game developed by Team Bondi and published by Rockstar Games. It was released in May 2011 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, in November 2011 for Microsoft Windows, and in November 2017 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Set within Los Angeles in 1947, the story follows Detective Cole Phelps's rise among the ranks of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) as he solves a range of cases across five divisions. When he is tasked with investigating a morphine distribution ring that involves several of his former squadmates from World War II, Phelps finds both his personal and professional life falling into a turmoil, and reluctantly joins forces with his estranged former comrade, Jack Kelso. As the pair delve deeper into the case, they uncover a major conspiracy about the Suburban Redevelopment Fund program and several prominent figures in Los Angeles involved with it.
From the developers of the GTA franchise, this game puts the gamer in the shoes of a war hero turned detective trying to crack cases in the 1940s in LA. The gameplay is best described as GTA with some Law and Order thrown in, and although way more linear than GTA, the investigatory aspects make it an interesting game. However, this isn't quite implemented to perfection, as looking for items/clues can become a process of walking around and continually pressing X at times, and while a good idea, working out if a suspect/person of interest is telling the truth or lying doesn't work flawlessly.
Graphically the facial animation in this game is easily the best and most realistic I have seen in a video game. All the main characters are truly given their own personality. The one negative in this regard though, is many of the second string females in the game who all look really really similar.
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