Info about L.A. Noire:

Official game description:
Amid the post-war boom of Hollywood’s Golden Age, LAPD detective Cole Phelps is thrown headfirst into a city drowning in its own success. Corruption is rampant, the drug trade is exploding, and murder rates are at an all-time high. In his fight to climb the ranks and do what’s right, Phelps must unravel the truth behind a string of arson attacks, racketeering conspiracies, and brutal murders, battling the L.A. underworld and even members of his own department to uncover a secret that could shake the city to its rotten core.  
Solve brutal crimes, plots, and conspiracies inspired by real crimes from 1947 Los Angeles, one of the most corrupt and violent times in L.A. history, as you attempt to find the truth in a city where everyone has something to hide.  
Utilizing revolutionary facial animation technology that captures every nuance of an actor’s facial performance in astonishing detail, L.A. Noire blends breathtaking action with true detective work for an unprecedented interactive experience.

Release date: Nov 8, 2011

Categories: Investigative Gameplay, Dialogue-based Puzzle Solving, Narrative Adventure, Noir, Open-World Exploration, Action-Adventure, Choice-based Narrative


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Immersive detective gameplay (weight 0.99): The game is praised for its unique and engaging detective mechanics, making players feel like real detectives. The storyline, cases, and interrogation systems are highlighted as standout features that set it apart from other games.
- Strong noir atmosphere (weight 0.86): The game excels in creating a moody, immersive noir setting inspired by 1940s Los Angeles. The visuals, music, and storytelling contribute to a unique and authentic atmosphere that resonates with fans of the genre.
- Engaging story and cases (weight 0.77): The narrative is well-crafted, with memorable cases, twists, and morally complex themes. Players appreciate the depth of the story and its ability to keep them hooked for extended playthroughs.
- Revolutionary facial animations (weight 0.63): The game's facial animation technology, particularly MotionScan, was groundbreaking for its time and still holds up well. It adds depth to interrogations and character interactions, enhancing realism and immersion.
- Immersive soundtrack and sound design (weight 0.35): The orchestrated soundtrack and subtle sound cues enhance the game's cinematic feel and immersion. The music and audio details contribute significantly to the noir atmosphere.
- Holds up despite flaws (weight 0.23): While the game has some technical and design flaws, players still find it enjoyable and well-made. The strengths of the story, atmosphere, and gameplay outweigh its weaknesses.
- Rockstar's underrated gem (weight 0.16): The game is considered one of Rockstar's best works, offering a mature and serious tone compared to their other titles. It stands out as a unique and polished experience in their portfolio.
- Community mods enhance experience (weight 0.14): Community-provided patches, such as 60 FPS and widescreen fixes, improve the game's performance and visuals. These mods address limitations like the 30 FPS lock and stuttering, making the experience smoother.
- Strong acting and voice work (weight 0.13): The game features excellent voice acting and character performances, particularly for the main protagonist. The acting adds depth and realism to the story and interactions.

Common complaints:
- Poor PC optimization and launcher (weight 0.63): The PC port is poorly optimized, with frequent crashes, launcher issues, and forced use of the Rockstar Games Launcher. Updates often break mods or delete progress, adding to frustration.
- Severe launch and stability issues (weight 0.54): The game frequently fails to load, crashes during gameplay, and suffers from launcher-related bugs, making it unplayable for many users. Issues include freezing, random crashes, and incompatibility with common actions like alt-tabbing.
- Repetitive and tedious gameplay (weight 0.35): The gameplay loop becomes formulaic and boring, with repetitive missions, side quests, and investigations. Many players drop the game mid-way due to the lack of variety and replayability.
- Rushed and unsatisfying ending (weight 0.31): The narrative loses momentum in the final stretch, with an anti-climactic and underwhelming ending. Many players feel the story is incomplete, with abrupt character shifts and cut content.
- Frustrating interrogation mechanics (weight 0.3): The interrogation system is confusing, underutilized, and often feels like a guessing game. Players struggle with unclear evidence requirements, illogical options, and permanent consequences for mistakes.
- Clunky shooting and driving mechanics (weight 0.29): Combat and vehicle handling feel stiff, unpolished, and outdated. Shooting lacks responsiveness, while driving physics are slippery and unrealistic, detracting from immersion.
- Underutilized open world (weight 0.2): The open world feels empty and lacks meaningful activities or interactivity. Many areas are shallow, with minimal side content, making exploration feel unrewarding.
- Progress loss and save issues (weight 0.12): The game lacks mid-mission saves, cloud saves, or manual save options, leading to frequent progress loss. Crashes and technical issues compound this problem, requiring constant vigilance.
- Cumbersome controls (weight 0.09): Keyboard controls are poorly optimized, especially for driving sequences, which often require a gamepad. Movement and camera controls feel stiff and unresponsive.

Gameplay feedback:
- Core detective investigation mechanics (weight 0.76): The game heavily focuses on investigation mechanics, including clue collection, evidence examination, and interrogations. Players engage in structured crime-solving with a mix of linear and order-sensitive objectives.
- Facial expression-based interrogations (weight 0.56): Interrogations rely on analyzing suspects' facial micro-expressions and body language to detect lies. This mechanic is central to gameplay, using advanced facial animation technology for realism.
- Dialogue-driven interactions (weight 0.3): Dialogue choices and branching conversations play a significant role in gameplay. Players engage in psychological duels and credibility checks during interrogations.
- Open-world exploration with limitations (weight 0.27): The game features an open-world design, allowing exploration of 1940s Los Angeles. However, side activities are limited, and the experience is best treated as semi-linear.
- Action sequences and gunplay (weight 0.24): The game includes action-packed sequences such as car chases, shootouts, and foot pursuits. These mechanics provide variety but are secondary to investigative gameplay.
- Clue discovery with audio cues (weight 0.22): Players search for clues with the aid of musical cues, which stop or change when discoveries are made. This mechanic enhances immersion during crime scene investigations.

Performance notes:
- 30 FPS lock on PC (weight 0.33): The PC version is locked at 30 FPS due to facial motion capture limitations, frustrating players seeking higher performance. Community mods exist to unlock FPS but may introduce side-effects.
- Linux and Proton compatibility (weight 0.11): The game runs well on Linux via Proton with V-Patch, though optimization issues persist. Some players report near-flawless performance with fixes.
- Launcher and mod incompatibility (weight 0.11): Launcher updates disrupt game stability, especially when mods are installed. Issues include crashes and clutter caused by launcher-related conflicts.
- No native widescreen support (weight 0.11): The game lacks native widescreen support, causing fullscreen mode issues and crashes when resolution settings are adjusted.
- Alt-tab and windowed mode issues (weight 0.08): Alt-tabbing often causes freezes, crashes, or black screens, while windowed mode may require manual fixes (e.g., Alt+Enter).
- Dated visuals and facial tech (weight 0.07): Facial animations and graphics appear outdated on modern hardware, detracting from immersion. Some visuals resemble early PS3-era quality.
- UI and interaction bugs (weight 0.06): Specific bugs, such as a persistent top window, newspaper interaction freezes, and camera malfunctions, disrupt gameplay and usability.
- Low-end hardware support (weight 0.04): The game runs on low-end hardware, making it accessible to players with older systems, though performance may vary.
- Admin rights and compatibility fixes (weight 0.04): Players must use admin rights or direct launch methods to avoid errors, particularly on Windows 10, adding inconvenience.
- No manual save option (weight 0.02): The absence of a manual save feature frustrates players, as progress loss due to crashes or bugs becomes more likely.

Recommendations:
- Story-driven game highly recommended (weight 0.73): The game is repeatedly praised for its rich narrative, immersive atmosphere, and detective-focused gameplay. It is especially recommended for fans of crime dramas, noir aesthetics, and story-driven experiences.
- Must-play for detective genre fans (weight 0.6): The game is considered essential or a must-play for enthusiasts of detective stories, mystery games, and police procedurals. Its unique blend of investigation and storytelling stands out in the genre.
- Worth purchasing on sale (weight 0.54): The game is frequently recommended as a great value, especially when bought during promotions or sales. Many players feel it is worth even the full price due to its content and experience.
- Best enjoyed with patience and immersion (weight 0.47): Players recommend approaching the game with a focus on its slow-paced, investigation-heavy mechanics. It is ideal for those who value story and atmosphere over fast-paced action or gameplay polish.
- Strong sequel and remaster demand (weight 0.17): There is significant player interest in a sequel, particularly set in a later decade like the 1970s/1980s, or a remastered version with improved visuals and technical fixes.
- Controller and platform recommendations (weight 0.06): Players suggest using a controller for better immersion and recommend the console version over the PC version due to fewer technical issues and bugs.
- Not for action or fast-paced fans (weight 0.06): Players caution that the game may not appeal to those seeking fast-paced action or fun gameplay mechanics, as it prioritizes narrative and investigation over traditional gameplay elements.
- Technical and localization limitations (weight 0.06): Some players advise against purchasing due to technical issues, such as problems with the Rockstar launcher, or recommend waiting for stable localization in certain regions.
- Tips for better gameplay experience (weight 0.05): Players share practical tips, such as skipping driving sequences, using walkthroughs for interrogations, and avoiding certain DLCs to improve the overall experience.

Other player notes:
- Strong demand for sequel (weight 0.08): Players frequently express disappointment that no sequel exists and actively hope for one, indicating high interest in continuing the franchise. This sentiment is tied to the game's positive reception and emotional impact.
- Launcher and online requirements (weight 0.07): The game's dependency on the Rockstar launcher and mandatory online account login is a recurring frustration for players. This adds friction to the setup process and may deter some users.
- Nostalgic and emotional appeal (weight 0.07): The game evokes strong nostalgic and reflective emotions, with players sharing personal anecdotes (e.g., playing with family) and appreciating its historical or artistic significance.
- Calls for a remake (weight 0.05): Players frequently suggest the game deserves a complete remake, citing its technological innovations (e.g., facial expressions) and cultural impact as justification for modernizing it.
- Educational and thematic depth (weight 0.05): The game is praised for its educational value in history, ethics, and communication, as well as its inspiration from literary and cinematic noir traditions, appealing to players seeking substance.
- Preference for diverse Rockstar games (weight 0.05): Players express a desire for Rockstar to prioritize unique titles like this or *Bully* over focusing primarily on the *GTA* franchise, reflecting demand for creative variety.
- Platform accessibility issues (weight 0.04): While the game is played across multiple platforms, players note challenges like missing DLC on older consoles or launcher setup time, which can limit accessibility or enjoyment.
- Studio dissolution aftermath (weight 0.02): The dissolution of Team Bondi after development is noted as a significant event, often tied to discussions about the game's legacy and the challenges of its creation.
- Budget-friendly acquisition (weight 0.02): Some players highlight purchasing the game on sale, suggesting its value proposition is a factor in its adoption, though this is a less frequent point of discussion.
- Visual mode criticism (weight 0.02): Players ironically note the effort put into coloring the game, only for some to use black-and-white mode, reflecting a minor but recurring observation about artistic choices.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.2): Players experience significant frustration due to pervasive technical issues, such as game-breaking bugs, launcher problems (e.g., Rockstar's launcher breaking mods or requiring repeated logins), and performance limitations (e.g., 30 FPS cap, crashes, and optimization problems). Additionally, clunky mechanics like repetitive investigation tasks, unclear interrogation systems, and abrupt narrative shifts exacerbate the negative experience, often making the game unplayable or tedious.
- Admiration (weight 0.13): The game earns admiration for its groundbreaking storytelling, immersive atmosphere, and innovative MotionScan facial animation technology, which set new standards for character expression and realism. Players praise its detailed recreation of 1940s Los Angeles, mature themes, and unique detective-focused gameplay, often comparing its narrative quality to acclaimed titles like *The Last of Us* and *God of War*.
- Disappointment (weight 0.1): Disappointment stems from unfulfilled potential, such as an underdeveloped open world, repetitive side quests, and a rushed or unsatisfying ending. Players also express frustration over Rockstar's lack of support for the game, including missing remasters, mod-breaking updates, and no sequel, which leaves the experience feeling incomplete or abandoned despite its strengths.
- Appreciation (weight 0.08): Players appreciate the game's high-quality motion capture, rich narrative, and attention to historical detail, which create a unique and immersive detective experience. The mature tone, diegetic UI, and community-driven fixes for technical issues are also highlighted as standout features that enhance the game's longevity and appeal.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.07): Satisfaction arises from the game's engaging story, innovative interrogation mechanics, and overall value for money, especially when purchased on sale. Players enjoy the realism, voice acting, and the sense of accomplishment from solving cases, with many noting that the game's strengths outweigh its technical flaws or dated aspects.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.06): Nostalgia is evoked by the game's 1940s setting, atmospheric soundtrack, and emotional storytelling, which transport players back to a bygone era. Many revisit the game for its lasting impact, personal connections (e.g., memories of older hardware or family ties), and the feeling of reliving a beloved experience from the past.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.05): Players derive enjoyment from the game's noir atmosphere, jazz soundtrack, and engaging detective mechanics, such as interrogating suspects and investigating crime scenes. The immersive world, character interactions, and the satisfaction of solving cases contribute to a fun and relaxing gameplay experience.
- Excitement (weight 0.04): Excitement is driven by the game's masterful storytelling, detailed world-building, and unique gameplay mechanics, which create a thrilling detective experience. Players often express awe at the game's cinematic presentation, character animations, and the sense of immersion, making it a standout title despite its age.
- Amusement (weight 0.03): Amusement comes from humorous moments, such as repetitive partner dialogue, over-the-top facial animations, or absurd in-game scenarios (e.g., criminals leaving weapons at crime scenes). Players also find joy in the game's quirks, like pretending to be a detective or laughing at the irony of outdated technology.
- Recommendation (weight 0.02): Players strongly recommend the game for its rich story, cool mechanics, and engaging atmosphere, often encouraging others to try it during sales or despite its age. The unique blend of detective gameplay and noir-inspired storytelling is frequently cited as a reason to experience the game.
- Engagement (weight 0.02): The game's gripping narrative, mature themes, and psychological interrogation mechanics deeply engage players, fostering a sense of replayability and immersion. The detective spirit and realistic crime-solving elements make the experience feel authentic and compelling.
- Immersion (weight 0.01): Immersion is achieved through the game's believable 1940s setting, atmospheric sound design, and realistic character interactions, which make players feel like real detectives. The attention to detail in the world and narrative further enhances the sense of being part of the story.
- Love (weight 0.01): Players express love for the game's facial capture technology, noir genre, and the immersive experience it provides. The soundtrack, world, and missions are often highlighted as key reasons for their affection, creating a unique and fulfilling detective fantasy.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Surprise stems from the game's unexpected quality, especially given its age and lack of mainstream popularity. Players are often amazed by the depth of content, engaging cutscenes, and how the game exceeds their initial expectations, becoming a favorite despite its flaws.
- Curiosity (weight 0.01): Curiosity is piqued by the game's noir style, intricate cases, and the exploration of human motives behind crimes. Players are drawn to uncovering how each case unfolds and speculating about the game's potential future or revival, such as a sequel or remaster.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Enthusiasm is fueled by the game's strong narrative, immersive setting, and innovative mechanics, which create a deep and engaging experience. Players often praise the game as a masterpiece, highlighting its storytelling, tone, and the sense of being part of a beautifully crafted world.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Confusion arises from unclear interrogation mechanics, rushed story elements (e.g., Phelps' affair), and ambiguous evidence selection, which make interrogations feel like guessing games. The ending is also frequently cited as confusing or unsatisfying, leaving players puzzled about key plot points.
- Indifference (weight 0.01): Some players express indifference toward minor issues like driving mechanics, open-world limitations, or forgettable characters, often excusing them due to the game's age. The story and ending may also be seen as unremarkable, though these flaws do not significantly detract from the overall experience.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Players express hope for a sequel or remaster, wishing Rockstar would revisit the franchise to expand on its unique detective gameplay and storytelling. The desire for continued support or new content reflects the game's lasting impact and potential.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Boredom sets in due to the game's slow pacing, repetitive cases, and tedious gameplay loops, particularly in the mid-to-late stages. Some players find the experience becomes a slog, with mechanics failing to evolve or maintain engagement over time.}