L.A. Noire - More Gollum, less Jar Jar Binks….

L.A. Noire looks good. I’m not going to say whether I think it will actually be a good game game or not, I’ll leave that to the fanboys, but regardless of the review scores, what L.A. Noire gives us is that the opportunity to sit on the sofa and go…

“oh, it’s him! you know, that guy from that show”

Just like we do with TV shows.

The technology being used to performance capture the actors is one small step away from the uncanny valley, but it’s a very important step. Similarly with Heavy Rain, it allows us to forget that we were involved in a video game in such a way that it allowed us to enjoy video games in a new way, to think about how our decisions affect the main protagonist (and the other characters too) . It made the performances believable and heartfelt. It was the ‘gollum’ moment rather than the usual Jar Jar Binks we are used to getting.

but L.A. Noire will be a step above Heavy Rain. Why?

Because it’s got that guy in it, you know…the one from Mad Men.