So L.A. Noire is a very large game that I didn't expect to be so involved in. I've decided to write a mini-review at the 50% mark.
What I expected: Phoenix Wright with an amazing animation system, and a graphical style that I don't absolutely hate (ugh anime).
What I got: Phoenix Wright with a breath taking animation system, but with a few key differences. There are no court battles in L.A. Noire, which I consider a great thing. The court battles were precisely the reason I stopped playing the original phoenix wright (the only one I've played). The other major difference is the fact that LA Noire is a Rockstar game, which I suppose means it has to be open world. You can drive around and do other open world things.
Some thoughts on the game so far: The open world aspect feels completely unnecessary. You can't randomly kill people like you can in GTA (a very good thing as you are a good cop). There are little side missions, "Street Crimes", that you can do, but they have an order which makes the open world aspect, again, unnecessary. Personally, I think you could cut the street crime and all the outdoor chase scenes (car and foot), and you'd still keep the core of the game for a whole lot less money. I originally heard this game didn't sell well, and that the company was gone. After investigating it a bit more, it turns out the game sold amazingly well (5m copies well), and the studio is indeed defunct. It wasn't sales that screwed them, but rather rumors that they were "hard to work with." Probably not all that untrue, but who knows? ANYWAYS, I had ideas that you could just cut the open world bit to save a ton of money, but it seems that is completely unnecessary.
Things I like so far: The animation system is so damn good. I really can look into a character's eyes and tell if they are lying. If I have the proof or not is a different story. I love running around looking for clues. It maybe a really simple system of run around until the controller vibrates, but once you decide to let yourself get absorbed into the world, it's really fun. I love the interview process, listening to people's stories and responding is just so engaging.
Something they do that I like a lot, is the game isn't punishing....at....all. If you fail an action sequence (a chase or a gun fight) 3 times, you will be given the offer to skip it at no penalty. Personally, I'm ok with this, but I wish they would have given you an option in the beginning to play it without action scenes, but that's really minor for me as I like them. Another non-punishing thing about this is, as long as you just go through the motions you will finish the case. You may only have 1 star, you may have missed A TON OF INTERESTING STORY, but you will finish it.
Things I don't like so far: Car collecting. I hate this. It's there, and I want to collect them all, but its really hard to tell what cars you have, what cars you don't, and how to get them. Additionally, once you collect them there doesn't appear to be a way to quickly spawn one, or even drive one at will. I have no actual garage to go to to pick up the car I want to drive. It's really frustrating.
I don't like that sometimes the proof for lying isn't quite "proof". Sometimes it will count as proof sometimes it will count as doubt. So for instance I have a clue that is a testimony from a guy. This isn't "proof". There are other examples, but it's really just about learning how this game works.
The only other thing I don't like is the fact that this game doesn't really get interesting until Homicide, which you have to deal with traffic, which is....a bit boring. Homicide is amazing though, and so far Vice is just as good. I really can't overstate how excited I am for the arson cases.
More to follow.
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