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So....any LA Noire impressions from the VGPress crew?

It plays like an investigation game for the most part. You search crime scenes for clues like bullet shell casings, murder weapons and witnesses. The facial animations are incredible, but it seems like they wanted to make the expressions SO animated, some of them can be somewhat mis-leading --ESPECIALLY-- when you are interrogating someone as a possible murder suspect. This is something that may take a little getting used to. You have to be VERY, VERY sure you gathered enough evidence BEFORE questioning someone, or you will fail in the interrogation QUICKLY and get frustrated!

The atmosphere is AMAZING. The music, voice acting top-notch. It's cool to recognize actual actors animated in the game (like Walter from Fringe)!

The facial animation is the game's greatest strength but it could possibly be a tiny detriment too, but, nonetheless, it IS amazing to behold. I saw a complaint somewhere that they took so much time animating the faces, they neglected the bodies... This IS kinda true... the incredibly animated faces sit on heads that seem slightly too big for somewhat creepily stiff bodies! It doesn't take away from the game though; you will still be amazed.

There's a surprisingly intricate back-story too; One that is told in cut-scenes between cases. Acted as well as you would expect from a game of these Production Values!

I'm sure the few quibbles I have will disappear as I learn how to play the game correctly. Some things (like the typical GTA driving and the clunky Melee) won't, but that's NOT what this game is about. This game is a revolution in animation and style, story and performance, and THAT is exactly what you should take away from it!

Sorry to hear about your apartnment Leo, it's terrible.

Interesting, thats the best word to describe LA Noire. The game starts off a bit unfocused. I did not like how the story was jumping from place to place, from flashbacks to random newspaper cutscenes. But this part is clearly a tutorial so its understandable still not handled as well as many of Rockstars best games. When I finally became a detective and had a full case I really saw the potential.

For the most part you do two things, investigate a crime scene and interrogate people. Yes there are chase sequences, shootouts and car chases but its exactly how it is in every game you played but with worse mechanics so I wont bother talking about it. The crime scenes are very video gamey and it ruins what could be actual observation skills. All you do is walk around and when the controller shakes you press X to investigate something. You end up picking up lots of junk in between the real pieces of evidence. Once you get evidence it goes to your notebook. So you just walk everywhere and press X on everything.

The only time any real thinking comes to play are the investigations which I will say is the main hook of the game. This is like a phoenix wright game without the awesome music. Here you have questions and you have to pay attention to their mannerisms, which are incredible,  the facial animations are ground breaking. I have had issues with cause some times I dont think the answers match exactly what I was trying to get at. Anyway if you accuse the guys of lying you have to present evidence. It gets interesting and intense at times but it never reaches the heights of Phoenix Wright brain teasers. Also it doesn't have the same reprecusions of a Heavy Rain as you don't have branching paths.

The presentation is fantastic and the story seems really interesting. Like all Rockstar games it sucks you in with its immersive qualities. The gameplay could be so much more though and yet I am captivated by the interrogations and solving the cases.

aspro said:

^it's almost as if WE COULDA STARTED A THREAD for the game...

Serious question for y'all.  Does it feel like a click and point adventure in any way? Because it sound like it.

I think all the driving, shooting, running and other action parts don't make it feel like a point and click. Only the investigation parts would feel like that without the puzzles.

Famitsu scores

Pandora's Tower sur Wii qui 31/40


- Nobunaga no Yabou: Tendou with Power-Up Kit - PS3 - 9/9/8/9 - (35/40)


- Akai Katana Shin - X360 - 8/8/8/9 - (33/40)

- Pandora's Tower - Wii - 7/7/9/8 - (31/40)

- One Piece Unlimited Cruise SP - 3DS - 8/7/8/8 - (31/40)

- Warriors of Troy - 360/PS3 - 8/8/8/7 - (31/40)


- Treasure Report - NDS - 8/6/7/7 - (28/40)

- Shin Koihime Musou - PS2 - 7/6/6/8 - (27/40)

- Red Stone DS - NDS - 5/5/5/6 - (21/40)

Okay so there is some question over this leaked Project Cafe video.

But I found this particularly interesting from Develop:

In the video, an unnamed presenter is standing in front the alleged Wii 2 device. The hardware has been circled by the anonymous cameraman.

Studios who have spoken to Develop say they have not been shown images of the controller, a claim which this demonstration appears to conflict with.

Studios are building Wii 2 games without knowing the controller layout, Develop understands.



Nintendo has told VG247 that the video is “purely rumour and speculation”.

Making a game without knowning what the controller looks like?

Close by too!