L.A. Noire

Rockstar Games

PS4

1 player
PS4 Version
DUALSHOCK 4 vibration

Blood and Gore, Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs, Violence

1 player
PS4 Version
DUALSHOCK 4 vibration

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snark_knight_72

Rated 9/8/2026

Overrated, beautiful mess

As much as I love noir detective stories and the "Rockstar" name on any game, this one was ambitious but underwhelming. I think it may have gotten a pass by reviewers because of its publisher. The story was disjointed, relying on two sets of flashbacks interwoven into the current story. For a game that deals openly with sexual assault and shows naked female corpses, the game is oddly silent (and perhaps prurient) about Cole's love life. Whatever the reason, a major plot point and aspect of his character is kept safely off screen and goes unexplained. The open world aspect is wasted, as there's not much to do except fight unremarkable street crimes that fit a recurring pattern of chases and shootouts. Other than that, players can gather collectibles for trophies, and otherwise look at details like rotating displays in store windows. It is amazing to marvel at the level of detail the devs put into scenery that every other game mechanic asks you to drive right by. Interrogations are a frustrating guessing game, and worst of all, they don't matter. Each case is mostly on rails and the outcomes predetermined; all that you striving for is perfect execution. Failure never really affects you in game, because it's on to the next case, each case acting like the next chapter in the story. And sometimes the story overrules what you do in the case anyway, Clue gathering often involves wandering around a crime scene until you find certain objects, but this gets repetitive after the first few cases. Driving is tedious, as the AI is not really robust and diverse. So, again and again, all over town, oncoming drivers will make left-hand turns into you even though you have the right of way. This makes driving with the siren necessary, but this conflicts with the soundtrack. The in-car music is fine, but it would have been better if they had more than one channel; the car radio also overlaps with the dialogue, so I turned it off. Strange bugs still occur in 2026, like your partner won't get in the car for some reason, and you'll miss whatever dialogue they'd say. The game strives for realism, and sometimes it succeeds. The way Cole and his partners move seems believable; the way they climb up drain spouts in dress shoes or survive multiple bullet wounds is not. The devs honestly needed to let players free roam between cases. They could have given the players the option to return to HQ to get the next case and advance the story. This also would have given players time to catch their breath between cases. Too, this way players could take on street crimes and look for collectibles without worrying about damaging cars or property, which impacts your case rating. In all these ways, the game is constantly at odds with itself. And because I had such high hopes for it--expecting "L.A. Confidential" meets Grand Theft Auto--it is all the more frustrating for these flaws.

L.A. Noire

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A dark and violent crime thriller set against the backdrop of 1940’s Los Angeles.

Amid the post-war boom of Hollywood's Golden Age, Cole Phelps, an LAPD detective 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.

Utilizing revolutionary facial animation technology that captures every nuance of an actor's facial performance in astonishing detail, L.A. Noire blends the breathtaking action of chases and shootouts with true detective work for an unprecedented interactive experience. 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. Search for clues, chase down suspects and interrogate witnesses as you struggle to find the truth in a city where everyone has something to hide.

• Showcased in 1080p for the PlayStation®4 and stunning 4K for PlayStation®4 Pro.
• Includes the complete original game and all additional downloadable content plus new collectibles and detective suits to unlock, each with unique special abilities.
• Features an array of technical and graphical enhancements for a more realistic Los Angeles.

Platform:: PS4
Release:: 11/14/2017
Publisher:: Rockstar Games
Genres:: Action, Adventure, Action

To play this game on PS5, your system may need to be updated to the latest system software. Although this game is playable on PS5, some features available on PS4 may be absent. See PlayStation.com/bc for more details.

Online features require an account for PlayStation and are subject to terms of service and applicable privacy policy (playstation.com/Terms and playstation.com/legal/privacy-policy).

Software subject to license (us.playstation.com/softwarelicense).

One-time license fee for play on account’s designated primary PS4™ system and other PS4™ systems when signed in with that account.

Software license in game & rockstargames.com/eula online terms at rockstargames.com/socialclub. Non-transferable access to special features such as exclusive/unlockable/downloadable/online content/services/functions may require single-use serial code, additional fee, and/or online account registration (varies 13+). Access to special features may require internet connection, may not be available to all users, and may, upon 30 days notice, be terminated, modified, or offered under different terms. Violation of EULA, Code of Conduct or other policies may result in restriction or termination of access to game or online account. Support at rockstargames.com/support This fictional 1940s Los Angeles story depicts invented & fictional historical characters & events that are not historically accurate/factual. Brand names are marks of their unaffiliated owners. No unauthorized copying, reverse engineering, transmission, public performance, rental, paid play, or circumvention of copy protection.