L.A. Noire - Boxed - PS3

L.A. Noire is a hard-boiled detective game set in Los Angeles in 1947. Drawing on film noir, players control LAPD officer Cole Phelps through 21 cases, working his way up through the ranks of his department to solve a series of murder cases. Each case forms an independent section of the game, but there is an overarching story with recurring characters and Phelps' personal history during his service in the Second World War. He starts out as a patrol officer, but is then promoted to Traffic detective, Homicide, Vice and finally Arson investigator. With each promotion, a new partner and new locations become available.

During a case, the game blends slower investigative elements with fast-paced sequences involving on-foot and car chases as well as shootouts. The focus is on story and character development, often featuring long cinematic sequences. Although the game offers plenty of freedom to explore by car and on foot, it can't be compared to Grand Theft Auto due to a number of limitations. As a detective, you cannot attack random civilians, and the use of weapons is only possible in certain sequences. In addition, each case is limited to a certain number of locations. The player can freely choose the order of investigation, but ultimately the game cannot progress until a satisfactory conclusion to the case has been reached. Alongside the main storyline, Phelps can take on optional side investigations via dispatch calls.

When he arrives at the scene of a murder, he must search for clues that can be examined. The game signals clues through rumbling and a chime when Phelps passes near them, though these can also be turned off. Armed with evidence, the next step is usually to question witnesses and suspects. Characters' faces were animated using the MotionScan motion-capture technology, and the detailed realism of these recordings is used as a gameplay element. When talking to characters, it's not just the evidence that matters, but also their tone of voice and, above all, their facial expressions. Characters sometimes look away or have tics and expressions that can give away information. During an interrogation, the player must interpret these and then decide how to proceed with one of three options: Truth, Doubt or Lie. Depending on the choice, different paths and reactions open up. Failed action sequences can be replayed, but if the player keeps misreading the situation and the investigation stalls, the entire case has to be played through again. There are plenty of opportunities to correct mistakes and try a new approach, often even after examining clues.

Each case takes about an hour. Depending on speed and correct intuition in solving cases, the player earns ranks that grant intuition points. These can be used to eliminate options during conversations when you're stuck.