L.A. Noire

L.A. Noire is a neo-noir detective action-adventure video game developed by Team Bondi and published by Rockstar Games. It was released in May 2011 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, in November 2011 for Microsoft Windows, and in November 2017 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Set within Los Angeles in 1947, the story follows Detective Cole Phelps's rise among the ranks of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) as he solves a range of cases across five divisions. When he is tasked with investigating a morphine distribution ring that involves several of his former squadmates from World War II, Phelps finds both his personal and professional life falling into a turmoil, and reluctantly joins forces with his estranged former comrade, Jack Kelso. As the pair delve deeper into the case, they uncover a major conspiracy about the Suburban Redevelopment Fund program and several prominent figures in Los Angeles involved with it.

The game's open-world design lets players freely roam Los Angeles's open landscape, which can be navigated on foot or by vehicle. The story is divided into multiple "cases", during which players must investigate crime scenes for clues, follow up leads, and interrogate suspects; the player's success at these activities will impact how much of each case's story is revealed and its overall rating. Besides these activities, most cases incorporate shooting and chasing sequences. L.A. Noire also contains elements found in action-adventure games, such as side missions and a branching storyline. The game uses licensed music provided by an in-game radio, and features an original score.