Formats: PS3, XBox360
Certificate: 18

The pattern of most of Rockstar’s games is to have you commit the outlaw killing at will, keeping you working towards your own goal. So why is the new and innovative game of L.A. Noire so successful if it breaks the normal pattern? Two words: MotionScan.

The scene is the violent state of Los Angeles, set just after World War 2, and unlike other Rockstar games, you are a cop; a good cop dedicated to cleaning up the streets. But the one factor that makes this game such a brilliant and original concept, is the brand new technology called MotionScan.

This uses real actors to play the part of characters in the game. This means every detail of the character faces on the game look as real as they can possibly be; from a single twitch in the eye to every downward glance.

It’s this technology that shapes the basis of the game. You are the cop and based on clues you have collected throughout the game, you must decide whether or not a suspect is lying or telling the truth. But pick wisely: if wrongly accused of lying, a suspect can go under the radar, or withhold information. Similarly, if you do not spot when a suspect is lying, then you may miss vital information, prolonging the case.

Being a detective, you must search crime scenes and points of interests for clues to help solve the case. Make sure to leave no stone unturned as every clue collected will be needed when interrogating witnesses and suspects. Of course a Rockstar game would not be complete without a good shootout dotted around the game.

The free roam element is present in L.A. Noire and small, street cases are there to solve, coming in from your police radio. You have the option also to find the historical and beautiful landmarks of L.A.

With the long dialogues, it is easy to lose interest and change into an old gaming habit of half-listening to the information and only listen to bits of the full dialogue. However, the game is based around face gestures, therefore, you need to keep eyes firmly on the suspects.

by Sanjeet Singh Garcha