The Frame Rate: LA NOIRE
by Crix Lee

Yeah yeah, it's not a film or a tv show…but after you read this, you'll know WHY I'm talking about it today.

Working in the gaming industry, I sometimes get caught up in certain game titles from the FIRST day I see a trailer or an early build of said game. Last week, I was summoned to the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and treated to a private demo of Rockstar Games' HIGHLY anticipated title, L.A. Noire.

OH MY GAH, you guys. Where to begin?

In L.A. Noire, you are L.A.P.D Detective Cole Phelps (Aaron Staton, Mad Men) in a post-war setting where corruption, drugs, and murder are exploding at an alarming rate.  Phelps must dig deep to solve a number of cases that include a serial arsonist, racketeering conspiracies, savage murders, the L.A. underworld and exposing police corruption that could bring the city to its knees.  As Phelps, you'll explore every bit of Los Angeles ca. 1947 in "an open-ended challenge to solve a series of murder mysteries" from different departments of the L.A.P.D.

If you're sitting there thinking "Well, this sounds like L.A. Confidential meets Chinatown", you'd be absolutely right…but with a twist.  Inspired by infamous cases like The Black Dahlia murders, L.A. Noire does NOT hold back on ANYTHING and nothing is censored.

Phelps has cases in Traffic, Arson, Homicide, and Vice; with a different partner assigned to him in each case. 

In the case that I was shown, "The Red Lipstick Murder" (Homicide desk) is based on the 1947 unsolved murder of Jeanne French and the in game crime scene shows a woman who'd been brutally murdered and things written on her nude body in red lipstick; including the initials "B.D." (Black Dahlia murder had happened weeks before French's death, initially leading police to work both the serial killer and copycat angles)



And when I say "nude", I mean NUDE.  But the thing about it is that for a split second, you're like "Oh wow, she's TOTALLY FULL FRONTAL naked" then brush it off as you study her body for clues and research the crime scene and because Forensics were on the scene before you, everything is marked so you can go from clue to clue somewhat effortlessly. 

Each site includes a very subtle music cue similar to what you would find in films in the forms of "investigation music" and a two fingered piano trill that indicates that there's a clue nearby and when all clues are collected; the investigation music stops.  But remember this: NOT everything you find is relevant to the case. IF you want a bit of a challenge, you can turn the music off. Once the crime scene is clear, it's time to start pounding the pavement and interrogating suspects.

Here's where it gets really interesting. Because L.A. Noire uses motion scan technology to capture the actor's subtle nuances and facial expressions in a way that has never been done before. Because the actors performances are recorded in a stark white room surrounded by 32 cameras (where they cannot move around), facial expressions and body gestures are captured from every angle; meaning even the smallest microexpression (while somewhat obvious) are amazingly realistic and help you decide how to move forward in your investigation. The motion scan technology is so detailed, you can make even make out the wrinkles and veins on hands!



This technology comes into play when interrogating suspects.  As you ask question your suspect/witness, you can decide "truth, doubt, or lie" based on their answer and microexpressions (darting eyes, shifting in seat) and the direction of your case is based on your decisions.

There's ONE important thing you should know:  THERE ARE NO "THROWAWAY" MOVES, NO THROWAWAY ACTIONS. You only get ONE shot to question a suspect and once you're done, YOU'RE DONE. You CANNOT quit and go back to an old save, NOR can you can go back and question that person again in that particular area, so pay attention and choose wisely.  "Intuition points" can be used to remove incorrect questions, evidence, look for clues…and will also tie into the Rockstar Social Club.

Your objectives, questions, and recording of clues come in the form of a notebook that you can consult at any time. At the end of the interrogation, you'll find out how many of the questions you got right and you'll move forward from there. But don't panic…although this is like "Choose Your Own Adventure", you will ALWAYS get to the end result. Whether you take the long or short way, the case will be solved.

All in-game phones are functional and can be used to call dispatch and some of the props can be interacted with as well, rumor has it you might be able to even jump and ride trolleys! Mini games come in the form of "unassigned cases" (robberies, muggings, etc) that are not only interesting but can get you experience points. This includes successful interrogations, discovering landmarks, etc.

Each case takes around 45-90 minutes to complete and a case never has the same experience, which means it has an AWESOME replay value.  Our rep told us that he played the particular case he showed us REPEATEDLY and when a colleague played the same case, found scandals our guy didn't even know EXISTED. THAT is fantastiballs (my word, you like?)

Fans of Mad Men, 24, and Southland will recognize many of the characters - another HUGE testament to the motion scan technology. I am a hardcore Southland fan and when I saw Michael McGrady and how he moves in the game, I thought, "Jebus, it looks EXACTLY LIKE HIM"

The cut scenes are some of the best I've come across.  In most games, the cut scenes interrupt the flow of gameplay like "BLAM BLAM BLAM! cut scene, wait for game to load…BLAM BLAM BLAM!". Yuck, right? In L.A. Noire, not the case. Each vignette/cut scene is inserted seamlessly into the gameplay so the game has the richness of a feature film.

Here's the latest video about L.A. Noire that Rockstar Games released earlier today:



So, how amazing IS this game? My colleague and I said "Wow" about 15 times during the 30 minute demo while shaking our heads in disbelief at how beautiful and smooth the game looked.

When you play L.A. Noire, you'll see WHY it not only took FOUR YEARS to make but why it was made an Official Selection at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival, making it the FIRST EVER video game Official Selection at a film festival. THAT'S HUGE, people.

(You'll also be happy to know that it will be available in surround sound, but don't even ask if it'll be in 3D, because it won't and I for one am STOKED about that.)

L.A. Noire will be available for Xbox 360 and PS3 on May 17th, 2011 with bonus items for those who pre-order.

The Frame Rate: Looks like we're on the case, kid. Crix Approved