#phatal1ty

http://www.1milliongamerscore.com/2011/08/gamerscore-popcast-episode-1.html

Check it out yours truly is now a host on the newest xbox 360 podcast go download it direct from 1milliongamerscore! 

So I just finished LA Noire (it took me less than 16 hours) and I have to say I was severely underwhelmed.  I know I’m going to catch a lot of flak but most or you didn’t have to pay $90 USD for the game so I do feel a bit more entitle to complain. All I ask is that you just hear me out.

Game mechanics (half a star)

This was not a game. There were too many cuts scenes to qualify as a game. This is one big “movie” that had some game mechanics sprinkled in. The problem is that the game mechanics were very clunky and often distracted from enjoying the overall game play. There seems to be plenty of game engines out there they do a really great job of character movement, cover, and gun fighting so why doesn’t Rockstar buy a license for one of those engines? This is the same cloogy game engine form GTA IV with very little upgrade.

Story (1 star)

Most people are saying the LA Noire was an epic movie or a spectacular TV series. Well, I have to politely disagree, on both counts. I have to say there wasn’t much of an overall story that sucked me in and kept me intrigued and the cases themselves weren’t stimulating enough to capture my attention. For all the spectacular graphics and realistic depiction of 1940’s LA, the game quickly became routine and quite dull. The main story line was a bit weak and cliché. The most interesting story arc in the entire game, the serial killer story line, ended way too abruptly and in a totally bazar manner. I really wanted my character to engage in the serial killer cases. I also can’t understand why there wasn’t more internal conflict with the thought of locking up innocent people while knowing the real killer was still at large. I feel Rockstar dropped a golden opportunity to see the main charter really struggle with this dilemma, especially after what just transpired in Okinawa. In my opinion, it would have been a much better reason to be bumped to arson for going off the reservation and getting caught investigating the cases alone after being order not too rather than lose his gig because of a silly affair. And why was this supposed “boy scout” involved with the ugliest girl of the game? We, the game player, do not get a real story line of a cop going off the reservation and following his instincts, consequence be dammed. Instead the main character just continues his routine like a robot detective then an actual human with emotions with real skin in the game. And speaking of disappointment, I really wished the serial killer story arc continue throughout the entire game and I was sad to learn who the killer really was. It seemed like Rockstar copped out instead of telling a truly intriguing story. To be honest, I still don’t really know the identity of the serial killer because the entire scene involving his identity it was completely random and unforgettable.  There was very little explanation as to who he was or even really why he was killing.  And when the main story ended I was like “really”?? It just kind of ended without any real crescendo. Not really the kind of payout I expect after devoting 16 hours to a game. I got more out of the entire CSI game catalog. In fact, you can make the argument the LA Noire was nothing more than a very glossy and extravagant “extended” director’s cut of CSI:LA circa 1947.

Replay Value (1 star) – It would have been zero stars but the “game” has easy achievements

As I stated before new games in New Zealand are very expensive and cost prohibitive. I can assure you that it has very little to do with the USD/NZD exchange rate and everything to do with Australian companies gaming the system. When the Xbox was first released here the NZD was only $0.50/USD so when a game cost $120 NZD it was justified. Currently the NZD is $0.80/USD now and shows no signs of ebbing. To make matter worse the Australian dollar is even stronger the USD. Since most game suppliers here in New Zealand are owned my Australian companies you would think games would be even cheaper now. However, the Australian companies know that Kiwis are used to paying $120 NZD per game so the price has been very inelastic. IN fact I have notice small increase since the NZD/AUD have diverged quite a bit in that last year. So why am I mentioning all this? Well it means I have to be very picky about what games I can buy since I can only buy half the games my American counterparts can buy.  It also means I prefer games with high re-playability. Once you complete the main story line LA Noire has absolutely no replay value whatsoever. Sure you can go around and find collectables…but that isn’t “playing” the game that is engaging in a second job. I play games to escape work not find a second career as car collector.  The one thing the game has going for it is that if you don’t mind spending about 30-40 hours it should be an easy 1000 gamer score.

Authenticity (2 stars)

I can’t really speak to the authenticity of 1940’s LA. Short of asking someone that is still alive if it looks like 1940’s LA I will have to trust that Rockstar did there fact checking. One thing I found very surprising was the dramatic lack of smoking. Everyone should have been smoking everywhere. There should have been smoking in the interrogation rooms, at the crime scenes, in the clubs, etc.  Smoking was still considered a healthy habit in the 40’s and I’m sure eliminating smoking form the game was a conscious decision by Rockstar to keep their rating in the US. It was nice to see they got the “Hollywood Land” sign right. And most of the landmarks seem spot on.

I did feel that the general attitude of 1940’s LA was captured nicely. They did do a great job of capturing the racial tensions and overall seediness of the time. 

Overall Recommendation

April is finally over, and I couldn't be more thankful.

Our team finished 3rd and L3v1nt0fu finished 3rd by herself in overalls...

a total of 2,414,911 were unlocked by 459 participants (okay technically only 457 since two people got 0 points!?)

The "Four Whoresmen of the Achievements" put up a grand total of 111,879 Gamerscore which is epic considering between the four of us there were 38 days away from a console... so in reality it was less than a 3 man team.

Apparently we are all gunho for next years event... but I'm still a little crisp around the edges and I really want to acquire a NTSC-J before attempting this whole thing again... I also know better for next time, and how to distribute my game play time and which games to play and which to avoid.

Overall it was a rather fun experience and L3v1nt0fu had an EPIC beandive, it was fun and something I won't forget in a hurry.

Staying up for 50 hours was a new milestone for myself, plugged in to a console for the better part of most of that feeling quite frazzled at the end... feeling braincells dissipating and the occasional welcomed rush of overtired hyperness

Having taken the last almost 20 days off in Hawaii/California (etc...) with a view like this in our hotel suites

and an ambient temp of "get your clothes off" Fahrenheit its been hard to post any gamerscore increase let alone keep up with the pack.

While I was busy sunning myself and shopping like everyday is black Friday my retail haul was pretty impressive (the photo below is missing over half a dozen other titles picked up last minute)

April seems so far away, I'm doing all I can to curb popping to many achievements. This has meant playing a lot of full house poker (both XBLA and WP7) legit... No boosting. While poker is great fun its one game I'd rather play in real life for money.... 

I am very much over the "level - 50" achievement in games... Its so lazy and makes people resort to doing dumb shit... It seems to be an ever increasing list of games that have this space filler achievement.

Anyway I'm getting itchy posting >100 points a day (2x 95gs days in a row!! -__-) ... I did more prep work last night and got realllllly close to popping a pretty one, it took a WHOLE lot of self restraint not to and save and quit to dash instead.