L.A. Noire – More than just a game?
Sunday, 26 June 2011 19:21
L.A. Noire is a console game developed by Rockstar Games that is set in Los Angeles in the 1940s period. One thing that definitely comes to mind when I hear Rockstar is the infamous Grand Theft Auto series and when I saw that they had developed L.A. Noire, it was enough to convince me to buy it. However, when I put the disc in for the first time, I knew this would be a totally different ride (Note: This game is still too violent for family leisure time which is better spent outside in the backyard – though that changes if you and your family like solving murders together, sans old school Clue.)
L.A. Noire is not your typical “run around and kill as many people as possible” game. In fact, it is the exact opposite of that because the role you are given as a protagonist is a detective. Although I have not finished the game yet (hence no spoilers) I have played through it enough where I have the general idea of what to expect. What really impressed me about the game is that rather than going from mission to mission, each mission is essentially like a TV episode and each time a case is solved, you are assigned to the next one whether it is a few days or a few years from the last one.
But enough about that. Here is the real question: What makes it more than just a typical videogame? Well, since you are a detective, you are responsible for finding clues and analyzing them as much as possible. Keep it mind, this is in an era where technology for crime solvers was non-existent so you have to depend on little clues and the interrogations of suspects to help you get to the bottom of the crime. This is where the fun part begins. The game does not simply guide you to the clues, although in the beginning it will help a little bit. You are responsible of actually solving a mystery through these ways and in my opinion it really improves analytical skills for a few reasons.
First off, when your character has to interrogate a few suspects, he has to determine if what they are saying is the truth or a lie. This can be determined from little clues (touching of face, eyes, etc) which you have to figure out and if you are wrong with your presumptions, then you will not know until after the interrogations are completed. This is what makes the game a lot tougher because if you don’t have the right clues to solve the case then it will make it a lot harder for you to do so. Secondly, when you investigate a house in the game, there may be many clues but you can pick up but not all will be helpful. You have to twist and turn every object to make sure there isn’t a clue. If there is, the game will zoom in and take the necessary notes that a detective would make.
As a whole, this game is very unique and different from a lot of other video games. I feel like it has helped me improve my analytical skills, which is very funny to say considering it is a video game. Along with that, it has improved my problem-solving techniques in my day-to-day life so this is what makes this game truly more than just a regular one.
