I have been playing this for about a week now and i am really not getting a noire vibe or feeling from this at all.
Does it get darker or am i missing something?
I am on the bloody stockings murder right now...
unfortunately the game hasn't the feeling and atmosphere of film noir...It has really nice graphics but its not dark at all and the gameplay is repetitive and very boring... I was so dissapointed when I finished it..
shareI completely agree.
Its about as noir as L.A. Confidential, which is to say not much. I think its a great game, but its more of an ode to that era than to the films that era produced.
shareI have not seen LA Confidential yet but i had a feeling that Rockstar took some elements from that and of course the Black Dahlia movie.
Indeed, both of which were based on books from James Ellroy's L.A. Quartet series, so that probably shows you the most important influence behind these games. I'd highly recommend seeing L.A. Confidential though. As I said, its not really noir, or neo-noir for that matter, but its still an incredibly enjoyable movie.
shareI was kind of hoping the Confidential movie was noir :(
shareDo you all even know what noir means when it pertains to film? Here, let me help you:
film noir
noun
a motion picture with an often grim urban setting, photographed in somber tones and permeated by a feeling of disillusionment, pessimism, and despair.
The key word in that definition is "often". Both LA Confidential and "LA Noire" are noir when it comes to the setting and overall tones.
"You know what a cautious fellow I am..."
No obviously i have no clue what niore means which is exactly why i said it wasn't noire .... yeah that makes a lot of *beep* sense.
did you ride the short bus or you just like being captain oblivious?
there is absolutely nothing Noire about this and since everyone agreed with me on this thread but you i must be right.
Of course when I point out your error, you have to get defensive and start with the insults. Those are signs of a small mind. So, I'll point out the definition again (since you don't seem to be grasping it...)
"grim urban setting, photographed in somber tones and permeated by a feeling of disillusionment, pessimism, and despair"
Both the film and the game take place in grim urban settings, and there are definite feelings of disillusionment, pessimism, and dispair.
Admittedly, neither are actually filmed or programmed in actual somber colored tones, but the overall thematic tones of both compensate for this.
You're entitled to your opinion, and the 3 other people that responded to this post might agree, but that doesn't make you "right".
Look at the reviews from these film critics, they ALL refer to LA Confidential as film noir:
http://www.flixist.com/review-l-a-confidential-198886.phtml
http://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/review/l-a-confidential/1421
http://www.cinema-crazed.com/h-q/laconfidentialdvd.htm
http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/movies/1997/09/hush_hush_sweet_city .html
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117329759?refcatid=31
http://www.grouchoreviews.com/reviews/3230
http://moviemet.com/review/la-confidential-blu-ray-review
I'm sure I could find more if I wanted to take the time, but I'd rather look at all the reveiws of "LA Noire" that compare it directly to LA Confidential and/or refer to it as noir:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2011/may/16/la-noire-ga me-review
http://www.totalgaming.co.uk/la-noire-review/
http://www.gamepeople.co.uk/tired_360_lanoire.htm
http://lggaming.wordpress.com/2011/05/12/oxm-uk-l-a-noire-review-sneak s-its-way-online/
http://www.stuff.tv/review/la-noire
Again, I could find more, but I think my point is made. Now, do you want to continue this dick swinging contest, or do you want to admit that you may, perhaps, be in the minority with your opinion?
"You know what a cautious fellow I am..."
Your so called definition is so far from the truth of this video game it's uncanny.
except for the disgusting violence towards the women the game was very lighthearted the was no thematic darkness or visual darkness.
None of the long standing tropes of Noire was ever employed in this game.
How can i be in the minority opinion if everyone else on this board seems to agree with me.
As far as video game reviews considering how many times i have heard of them getting paybacks from the video game companies i don't really trust them.
They can compare it to La confidential all they like since i haven't seen the movie yet but the people on this board even said that that movie wasn't all that Noire like.
there is no "dick swinging" involved tho i have to laugh at the homoerotic undertones that it implies.
Your so called definition is so far from the truth of this video game it's uncanny.Again, I'm not the only one that's saying this. Read the reviews.
except for the disgusting violence towards the women the game was very lighthearted the was no thematic darkness or visual darkness.
How can i be in the minority opinion if everyone else on this board seems to agree with me.Everyone else on the board??? You have two people on this thread that agreed with you. Get over yourself.
there is no "dick swinging" involved tho i have to laugh at the homoerotic undertones that it implies.So obviously, you're too young to know what the saying "dick swinging" means. Whatever...
Yes whatever........
sharewow the guy you were debating sure was dumb
shareI'd agree with you that the film noir themes of sex, violence and cynical urban attitudes are utilized in L.A. Noir. My reservation about fully accepting this game as a true noir is it's lack of a visual style to match the mood, as you yourself pointed out. The low-key black and white presentation was essential to the original films, and I found myself slightly disappointed that L.A. Noire didn't incorporate more dramatic shadowy imagery. There was a teaser trailer years ago that showed a more desaturated L.A. with golden light and plenty darkness. I thought that would have been a brilliant course of action for the game, but unfortunately the final product was different.
Obviously L.A. Confidential and L.A. Noire are both influenced by the noirs of the 40s and 50s, and in many ways they succeed in emulating those films. That may be enough for you to call this game a noir, but I personally have a bit of harder time accepting it as such without that distinct visual experience. Ultimately, the noir genre is incredibly hard to define so it can't really be said that either one of us is wrong in this reading.
Agreed. L.A. Noire draws more from L.A. Confidential then it does from the classic noir films of the 40s and 50s. To me, the distinct visuals of the classic noir films framed the pessimistic stories and the brooding, cynical characters.
This isn't a knock against L.A. Noire, because its aim was quite ambitious (huge open-world, motion scan technology, and complex storyline, for instance). However, I found that Heavy Rain was a better example of a game modeled off of film noir.
I wish L.A. Noire drew more from movies like "Kiss Me Deadly", "Double Indemnity", "Kiss of Death", "This Gun for Hire", "The Lady from Shanghai", and "Touch of Evil". Those are some my favorite noir films, so I am biased. I know the game references a few of them, but it was a bit like a tease for me.
And, when Kelso turned out to work for an insurance company, I thought we would get a big twist on Elsa but it didn't happen. I also thought they missed out on a lot of noir inspired opportunities for Kelso's character.
The low-key black and white presentation was essential to the original films
The low-key black and white presentation was essential to the original films, and I found myself slightly disappointed that L.A. Noire didn't incorporate more dramatic shadowy imagery.
Agreed, with lasvegasira, both La Confidential and La Noire and Noir no doubt about it. Period
sharea classical examples of film noir that arent set in the 20s 30s or 40s are blade runner and sin city. In both movies there is a narrative (original cut of blade runner had Harrison ford doing the narrative) and certain feel of disillusionment pessimism and despair, in blade runner in the end evolving into hope. Sin city focuses almost mining to the deepest depths of noir moods but has some wacky comic book feel to it (based on a comic book) which turns it around into overtly serious almost comical tones.
I'd add a couple of standard ingredients of a noir movie
-urban setting
-mystery duh
-usually a single person that performs the role of a detective or investigator
-more or less oficial "investigation"
-crime
-a woman, usually women are one of the most important characters next to the main character, quite often manipulative and hiding something, often being the "villain" or "sub-villain" (a good person entangled in a criminal activity- most of the Times those die like in chinatown). The woman most of the Times gets into a relationship with the main protagonist, but she doesnt have to sleep with him to do that.
-often somber tones
-disillusionment
-despair
-pessimism
http://thebest-of-times.blogspot.com/
Agreed. I'm almost at the end (I'm guessing, halfway through disk 3) and one of the biggest problems I have is the character of Cole Phelps. He's too much of a by-the-books cop (Asides from his little affair towards the end), he becomes dull and doesn't fit the role of a noir hero. He doesn't even smoke!
Though, on another note, I have noticed how playing the game in black and white really immerses myself into the 40s style of the game. It's the closet I have to playing a classic noir.
This game is most definately noire. Just because it's not in black and white,and is literally 'dark' and doesn't have one definitive 'femme fatale' doesn't make it not noire. Obviously everyone who agreed with this has no clue what noire is. Its all about the setting and tone and by the way, what about a series of murders involving naked, strangled and mutilated women isn't DARK?!!? What subject matter is dark if not that, or corrupt police and drug addicts? Look at classic noire films like High Sierra, The Big Sleep, the original Scarface, The Postman Always Rings Twice, Double Indemnity...they all involve storylines and themes like exactly the ones portrayed in the game, not to mention the time era, it's music, clothing styles, general style of dialogue.... And YES LA Confidential is also Noire. Get you're facts straight before you bitch about something folks, because you are clearly in the DARK as to what 'Noire' is.
shareIt may have been said already, but... play it in black and white. It really does make a difference imo.
The game definitely captures the feel of a noire movie if you skip a lot of the driving and side missions and focus on the main story.
-----------------------------------------
Can YOU survive?
http://chooseyourstory.com/Story/Escape_from_the_Dead.aspx
This game is very much noir. It's not just about visual darkness, or being shot in black and white (if that matters to you, you can set the game to b&w graphics if you like I believe). The themes and style of narrative here is pretty much classic noir... hard boiled war hero detective, doesn't like to talk about the past, grim urban setting, darkness in human nature, etc.
shareIn my personal opinion, the Homicide portion of the game was the best part and the one part of the game that really got close to being film noir. The crime scenes are kinda gruesome and a bit disturbing, though I think they could have taken it a step further. This was my favorite part of the game and kept me playing for hours and hours. But then when it ends you go on to Vice, which sucks balls and you get a total dickweed for a partner. I really wish they would have included lots more homicide cases, especially ones where you go after a serial killer of some kind because (in my opinion) those are especially interesting and fun to play.
Here's a slinky, go play.
The point of the game was to see how a very skilled cop like Cole rise through the ranks of the police force. The whole game was amaazing and this thread really doesnt make any sense. The game is just as noir as any 1940's noir film. The dark and mysterious story, the shades of black and darkness, the grim and somber tone and themes, and the fall of an honest cop, turned into a flawed character. People really don't know what the definition of noir really means, and only say its not just for the sake of it.
shareIt takes a turn partway through that makes it more noire-esque, certainly darker. The first half is more of a cop procedural certainly.
What a lovely way to burn...
Apart from other people, I only take noir and strictly ONLY as movies from 30s to 50s (don't hold on me tight on that). Sure, they contained no cursing, no ultra-violence or strong sexuality/nudity as in movies today or this game, but they had its tone and mood. For me, L.A Noire is detective game adding neo-noir to it (as it says on wiki). It definitely shares some traits, but that is not it. Same for L.A Confidental. True, pure noir doesn't exist nowadays.
share