L.A. Noire is an under-appreciated action-adventure game that was completely ahead of its time. Although it sold decently well, it didn't achieve the same stardom other Rockstar titles have. Its investigative gameplay and impressive graphics (at least in regards to the characters' faces) made it stand out from other games at the time. Nearly a decade later, there hasn't really been another game quite like L.A. Noire. But with its unique style and mechanics, it's a title that other games should look to for inspiration.
There are many detective games out there, but few mix up their action and investigative elements as well as L.A. Noire. Fight scenes, gun battles and car chases kept players on their toes and broke up some of the game's more monotonous sections. Most of the game's action sequences didn't feel forced or unnatural like in other investigative games. Combat flowed smoothly and didn't take away from the game's main focus. It would be nice to see more games find a balance between action and investigation instead of relying too much on a specific element. This would help keep the game fresh while adding to the player's experience.
Some of L.A. Noire's most unique features are found in its interrogation mechanics. Players must read a suspect's facial expression to figure out if they are being truthful or not. Developer Team Bondi used advanced (for the time) MotionScan technology to make each character's face more life-like. While the game's graphics aren't as impressive as they were back in 2011, they were revolutionary at the time and pushed seventh generation consoles to their limit.
While games like Sherlock Holmes: Crime and Punishment have similar interrogation mechanics, most don't rely on facial expressions and body language the way that L.A. Noire does. And with graphics getting better every year and next-gen consoles on the horizon, a modern game that focuses on body language and facial features for its interrogation system could be incredible.
Although L.A. Noire is an amazing game, it did fall short in a few areas. The game's open world didn't feel as immersive as other Rockstar titles. This is due to its tumultuous development and an ever-revolving door of programmers and designers. An investigative game with an elaborate open world has a lot of potential. The idea of a rugged, but just, detective traveling from crime scene to crime scene in a bustling open environment is compelling. While many detective games have enthralling environments, many don't offer an immersive open world for players to get lost in.
L.A. Noire is a highly original and technically impressive game that captivated those who played it but doesn't get the attention it deserves. With so many innovative mechanics that move the detective genre forward, it's frankly surprising that subsequent games haven't built upon the game's foundation. Nine years later, gamers are still waiting for the next great detective game that does something unconventional and groundbreaking just like L.A Noire.