L.A. Noire is an action-adventure neo-noir crime game. Played from a third-person perspective, the game is set in an open-world environment featuring Los Angeles in 1947. The player completes cases to progress through the story, fulfilling objectives in a generally linear order; as they roam the open world, the player can also complete optional street crimes—short, linear scenarios with set objectives[6]—and collect items such as golden film reels, vehicles,[7] novels, and golden records.[8][b] The player can also discover multiple landmarks based on real monuments from Los Angeles in the 1940s.[6]For most of the game, the player controls Cole Phelps, a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) patrolman who advances through the police department bureaus (desks) of Traffic, Homicide, Vice, and Arson;[9] in some cases during the final desk, the player controls investigator Jack Kelso.[10] The player has the option to play the game in black and white to imitate film noir.[11]
When interrogating witnesses and suspects, the player has the option to believe them, doubt them, or accuse them of lying.[c] The options were enlarged in the Nintendo Switch (pictured) and virtual realityversions.
While solving cases, the player discovers evidence, including information from non-player charactersor physical clues found in or around crime scenes, locations of interest, or dead bodies;[12] several pieces of physical evidence can be manipulated or further investigated to discover more information.[13] When all key clues are discovered at a crime scene, the investigation music concludes.[14] The player can also use telephones or gamewells to contact the police radio and access additional information.[15] During cases, the player interrogates suspects and witnesses to discover information.[16] When the interviewee responds, the player is given the option to either believe them, doubt them, or accuse them of lying.[c] If the player accuses them of lying, they must submit evidence to prove it.[20] The player's in-game notebook is used to list evidence, locations, and people involved in the case,[6][21] as well as to select questions during interrogations.[16]
When interrogating two suspects at the police station, the player may decide whom to charge with the crime; charging the wrong suspect affect's the case's end rating—a five-star scale that is determined based on the player's performance in investigations, interrogations, and behaviour while driving.[6][20]The player can use Intuition points during investigations to locate remaining clues, or during interrogation by removing an answer or discovering the most popular answer among players via the Rockstar Games Social Club.[20][22] Progressing through the game will increase the player's Rank, which unlocks outfits and hidden vehicles, and earns an additional Intuition point; the maximum rank is 20.[23] In some cases, while searching for clues, the player can discover newspapers, which provide access to a short cinematic covering a part of the game's overarching plot.[24][25]
The game's world is primarily traversed on foot or in a vehicle. The player can climb over fences and up pipes and ladders to access different areas.[26]While driving, the player can turn on the siren, allowing them clearer passage through streets.[27] The game also allows the player to skip travel sequences: as Phelps, they can nominate their partner as the driver and selecting the destination;[12] as Kelso, who lacks a partner, they select the destination and arrive after a loading screen.[15] As Phelps, the player can also ask their partner for directions.[28] The game features fast-paced action sequences, including chases, combat, and gunfights. The player uses melee attacks and firearms to fight enemies;[20] weapons can be swapped by opening the boot of the player's police vehicle.[29] In combat, auto-aim and a cover system can be used as assistance against enemies.[11] Should the player take damage, the colour will begin to fade to black and white; when free from damage, the character's health will gradually regenerate.[27] Weapons can only be used in appropriate circumstances, such as during firefights;[6] in some chase sequences, the player has the option to fire a warning shotagainst fleeing suspects.[29] The player's partner will sometimes shoot at suspect vehicles during driving chase sequences.[27] The player is presented with the option to skip action sequences and continue through the narrative upon failing three times.
