The video game that Rockstar Games put on hold again and again to pump out new titles for its bestselling “Grand Theft Auto” franchise is finally getting its time in the spotlight. “L.A. Noir” has been described as a gritty crime thriller that relies heavily on a strong storyline and highly detailed animation sequences. Although the game is set in the 1940s, Rockstar still manages to make the characters easy to relate to.
The game’s main character, Cole Phelps, is a WWII vet turned detective. His exposure to the war has turned him into a no-nonsense super sleuth that does whatever he need to to break a case. Though “L.A. Noir” has plenty of the gore and excessive violence that gamers have come to expect from Rockstar Games, it is also thoughtful and methodical.
Much of the game play depends on the player’s ability to fine the clues left at crime scenes and interpret the cryptic messages uttered by distressed suspects. In between all of the slow paced but beautifully rendered animated scenes, gamers are treated to a menagerie of high speed car chases, back alley brawls and the ever present femme fatale.
The game’s slow pace may be the reason why many critics have failed to give it the full five star rating, but for gamers that want something different from the average first person shooter, “L.A. Noir” certainly won’t disappoint. Rockstar Games put “Grand Theft Auto” on hold just to put the finishes on “L.A. Noir” and the work definitely shows.
