Why is L.A. Noire so awesome?

So here I am, almost two months after the release of Rockstar Games® L.A. Noire and still amazed at the escapism that this game offers.  For those of you reading who are not really into the gaming scene, Rockstar is notorious for creating a virtual open world environment in their games which allows the player to (if they choose) either follow the story of the game or explore the open world finding every little nook that was developed into the game, or both.  That's the beauty of Rockstar Games, you can do virtually whatever you want, whenever you want to.  This formula has proven successful time and time again with evidence such as Grand Theft Auto (series including III, IV, San Andreas and Liberty City Stories) and Red Dead Redemption.  Now that Los Angeles has been given the Rockstar treatment, you can cruise 1940's Los Angeles block for block and have a general sense of what this historical city may or may not have looked like sixty years ago.  Exploring the glorious city includes everything from the finding all of the cars (over 90 of them!), checking out billboards, architecture and famous landmarks included and of course that famous Hollywoodland sign up in the hills. But that is only the beginning of this adventure.  Now on to the actual game...
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Who wouldn't want the opportunity to hop into the drivers seat of a 1946 Chevy Fleetmaster 2DR Police Car and take the lead of a new homicide case?  Every aspect of an investigation is covered while you are in control of the respectable former marine Cole Phelps (pictured above), lead detective and main protagonist of this epic.  From investigating the crime scene, searching for clues, questioning eye witnesses, interrogating suspects, piecing together what may have been a motive, all of this and more is at your fingertips in the midst of any one single case. 

Rockstar did take a different direction with their story line with Noire and it's result; phenomonal.  Of course it would take a book to cover everything and I don't wish to ruin any of it for anyone so I won't go into details.  However, a new approach was used in motion capturing technology which is called MotionScan in which much like a movie, an actor works in front of a color screen with sensors strapped over their entire body.  This technology is what sets L.A. Noire apart from any other game, because of the detail and emotion captured by the technology, Noire's story doesn't feel like a game at all but in deed a motion picture. 

See how for yourself here.

Last thought I want to add in here is the simple fact of why this game can be considered timeless.  The game itself contains 21 actual cases for you to solve, with additional cases available for download on the Playstation Network or Xbox Marketplace.  So until Rockstar decides to make a sequal (or not to) the fun continues as they deliver new cases each month and continues to expand the game.  Starting tomorrow June 21st, one new "Nicholson Electroplating" case will be available for download followed by another "Reefer Madness" opening up on July 12th. 

Few of my favorite cars:

Take a look at ALL of the amazing cars of Noire here.

How dare you J.J. Abrams?? A Spoiler Free review of Super 8

Spoiler Free

First off, let me explain that I’m a fan of Abrams’ work from the mind boggling epic that was Lost to his version of Star Trek and even his more recent work Morning Glory.  And no one can deny the work of Steven Spielberg; if you need a list of his work you can visit imdb.com.  Unfortunately, even with these two master minds behind the wheel of a multi million dollar motion picture doesn’t always have the marvelous result we hope for.  Just for kicks I feel like I should mention here that on opening night (June 10^th, 2011 at 7:00 P.M.) there were roughly 15–25 people in this theatre.  Last time I checked these guys both have the money to dish out some better marketing strategies.  But then again, how well can you market something that is supposed to be on the hush.

Now of course, I won’t ruin the ending or even tell you the plot (after all, they did work so hard in keeping it secret), rather I’m just going to explain my bigger issues with the movie.  You may be wondering by now what’s up with the title of this post?  My biggest fret with Super 8 was the overwhelming conveyance that the United States Air Force is somehow the enemy.  Call me patriotic if you must but how does that happen?  Sure the USAF must have their secrets but so do all of the armed forces and government agencies but to explicitly depict the USAF as a cruel and maniacal force, how dare you J.J. Abrams?  On to the next, this film is littered with scenes that are beyond me as to how they are essential to the plot.  At one point of the movie you have kids running through a town where tanks are just firing at….well, that’s what I can’t figure out.  What are they firing at?  Does the Air Force even have tanks??  It became obvious quickly enough that several of these types of scenes were just thrown in for some “oohs and ahhs.”  My last bit with the film was the over use of the children cussing.  After about the third time I heard the P word from some 14 yr. olds mouth, I’m just about ready get up and leave the theatre.  Am I just old fashioned or is it common for teenagers to be saying p***y ever 20 seconds?  Wash your mouth out if you do!  It doesn’t add shock value; it’s not by any means cool or even necessary for an audience to hear that. 

Now on to the positives.  The acting in Super 8 is incredible!  Elle Fanning delivers and the collective other child actors are phenomenal together.  If I can forget for a split moment that I am in a theatre and embraced into what is unfolding in front of me, well, I have to say job well done.  Unfortunately, that isn’t enough to save the film from a sketchy plot, scenes that go nowhere and bad writing!  That’s right, I’m a fan and I just wrote that.  I’ve come to the conclusion that Super 8 has at least one unique quality which I call the “reverse Shrek” effect.  Remember how Shrek was absolutely 100% a kids movie, but then had all these hidden innuendos that were meant for adults?  Well Super 8 is like that, but exactly opposite.  Confused?  This movie is mostly for kids, but marketed towards an adult audience.  In other words, if you are between the ages of 13-17 then this movie is for you.  For the rest of you, I recommend waiting for DVD, but most certainly watch Super 8 whether you are a fan of Spielberg, Abrams or even science fiction in general.