PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
NA: 17 May 2011
PAL: 20 May 2011
Windows
NA: 8 November 2011
PAL: 11 November 2011
Switch, PS4, Xbox One
WW: 14 November 2017
L.A. Noire is a 2011 detective action-adventure video game developed by Team Bondi and published by Rockstar Games. Set in Los Angeles in the year 1947, the game follows detective Cole Phelps's rise among the ranks of the Los Angeles Police Department as he solves a range of cases across various bureaus. When he is tasked with investigating a morphine distribution ring that involves several of his former squadmates from World War II, Phelps finds both his personal and professional life falling into turmoil, and reluctantly joins forces with his estranged former comrade, Jack Kelso. As the pair delve deeper into the case, they uncover a major conspiracy centered around the Suburban Redevelopment Fund program and several prominent figures in Los Angeles involved with it.
The game is played from a third-person perspective. The player may freely roam its interactive open world, primarily in a vehicle or on foot. As the game progresses, the player advances through several police department bureaus—Patrol, Traffic, Homicide, Vice, and Arson. The story is divided into multiple "cases", during which players must investigate crime scenes for clues, follow up leads, and interrogate suspects and witnesses; the player's success at these activities impacts how much of each case's story is revealed and their overall rating. The game features fast-paced action sequences, including chases, combat, and gunfights. Outside of cases, the player can complete optional street crimes and collect items found around the game world.
The development of L.A. Noire began following Team Bondi's founding in 2004, and was assisted by multiple Rockstar studios worldwide. L.A. Noire uses the proprietary motion capture technology MotionScan, which captures actors' facial expressions from every angle, resulting in a realistic recreation of a human face essential for the game's interrogations. As part of their research for the open world, the development team conducted field research in Los Angeles. The game features an original score inspired by 1940s films, and contains licensed music of songs from the era. The game was delayed numerous times through its seven-year development, which included a change of publisher and platforms. The working hours and managerial style of the studio was met with public complaints from staff members, and Team Bondi closed shortly after the game's initial release.
L.A. Noire was the first video game honoured as an official selection at the Tribeca Film Festival. The game was released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles in May 2011, and for Windows in November; an enhanced version was released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One in November 2017. The game received positive reviews from critics, with praise directed at the facial animation, narrative, characters, performances, music, world design, and interrogation gameplay, though responses to the shooting and driving mechanics were mixed. It shipped four million units in its first month and 7.5 million by September 2017, and received multiple year-end nominations from gaming publications. L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files, a subset of cases playable in virtual reality, was released in December 2017.
Storyline
Cole Phelps, a war hero and rookie cop, moves up the ranks and solves dark cases in 1940s Los Angeles.
Sound Effects Used
- HALF-LIFE 2 WEAPON FALL SOUNDS (Can be heard as part of the file listed as "2handweapon_drop_01".)
- Hollywoodedge, Air Brake Hiss Truck PE079201
- Hollywoodedge, Baby Crying Slowly PE144001
- Hollywoodedge, Bullet Impacts Glass FS026301
- Hollywoodedge, Bullet Impacts Glass FS026302
- Hollywoodedge, Car Crash Car Peels Ou PE111701 (Starts to fade out before the crash element is heard. It can be found in the game's files listed as "case_pt003_police_car_pursuit".)
- Hollywoodedge, Car Crash Small 2 Impc PE112001 (The 2nd impact can be heard as part of the file listed as "bonnet_updated".)
- Hollywoodedge, Car Door OCOld Creaky PE075701 (The 1st closing element can be heard in a low volume as part of the file listed as "case_at005_statue_collapse".)
- Hollywoodedge, Claymore Anti Mine PE230101 (Can be heard as part of the file listed as "BODY_1".)
- Hollywoodedge, Cloth Body Grabs Heav FS048701
- Hollywoodedge, Punches Grunts Punch FS040902
- Hollywoodedge, Screams 6 Woman Panic PE134001
- Hollywoodedge, Screams 7 Woman Three PE134101
- Hollywoodedge, Truck Air Horn Numero PE270701
- Hollywoodedge, Truck Brakes Pumping TE047903
- Hollywoodedge, Windup Alarm Clock Ro PE179901 (Can be heard with a slight reverb effect added to. It can found in the game's files listed as "clock_desk_room_tone".)
- Hollywoodedge, Wood Crashes Heavy FS022806/Hollywoodedge, Wood Hits Debris Heav FS020702 (Can be heard as part of the file listed as "case_av001_furniture_03".)
- SoundDogs, Metal, Rip, Crush, Drop, Flex (Can be heard as part of the file listed as "global_vehicle_landing_02".)
- Sound Ideas, SCREAM - FEMALE, LONG, HUMAN, HORROR 02 (Can be with a reverb effect added to it. It gets cut off near the middle portion of it, and it can be heard as part of the file listed as "case_av003_candy_shot".)
- Sound Ideas, TRAIN, FREIGHT - PASS BY, VERY SQUEAKY WHEELS (Can be heard as part of the file listed as "case_ur015_tram_distant_sweete".)