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How to be a great detective in L.A. Noire
L.A. Noire is out on PS4, Xbox One and Switch this week – here are 10 top tips that will help you be a good cop.
Six years on from its initial release Rockstar and Team Bondi’s L.A. Noire is still one of the best detective games ever made, which is why it's so exciting to see it given new lease of life on modern consoles.
Drawing inspiration from classic detective stories like L.A. Confidential, Chinatown, and The Naked City, the game lets players explore a lively recreation of 1940s Los Angeles, where you can investigate crime scenes, dig up clues, and interrogate witnesses to solve cases.
If this is the first time you've stepped into the shoes of Detective Cole Phelps, we have some top tips that will help you police the streets.
1. Investigate everything
First rule of being a good detective: be thorough
© Rockstar Games
You’re often presented with situations where you have to turn over a crime scene for clues. In these circumstances, it’s pays to be thorough to avoid missing out on a crucial piece of evidence. When you’ve found all the clues in a location, a brief chime will play. This is how you know that you’ve cleared an environment, so listen out for this sound as you go.
2. If in doubt, look at your notebook
Your police notebook contains all the information you’ve collected on a case, so refer to it whenever you’re in doubt. It will help you keep track of locations, characters, and clues. Can’t decide whether to doubt someone’s story or call them out for lying? Check your notebook and you might find something that will help you make your mind up.
3. Let your partner take the wheel
Share the driving
© Rockstar Games
Throughout the game, Cole Phelps is partnered with a bunch of different characters who are able to drive for you. If you’re in a rush, why not let them take the wheel instead? This will allow you to skip ahead to your destination, avoiding the tedium of some of the longer driving sections.
The only downside to this is you won’t be able to answer distress calls while fast travelling, though you’ll have a chance to make up for this later on by accessing the free-roaming Streets of L.A. scenario in the case menu.
4. Watch out for body language
Check a suspect's eyes
© Rockstar Games
Body language is a huge part of L.A. Noire. The game uses motion-scan technology, which means you can often work out whether the suspect or witness is telling the truth, simply by their movements.
So, whenever you’re conducting an interview, keep a look out for any breaks in eye contact or nervous tics. This will help you decide whether you should doubt a suspect or believe what they’re telling you. But, be warned -- some individuals are better at lying than others, so sometimes you’ll have to go on more than just looks.
5. Use your intuition (points)
Intuition points are intended to be a last resort for those who are struggling on a case. You can use them to show you where remaining clues are on a crime scene or to remove incorrect answers during interrogation scenes. You’ll also earn more of them as you play.
If you’re at a loss for what to do, intuition points are a great lifeline, so don’t be afraid to use them!
6. Commandeer vehicles
Take that vehicle
© Rockstar Games
If you ever find yourself without a vehicle, rather than walking to your destination, simply pull over a car and get inside. There’s no penalty incurred for borrowing a vehicle, and the owner will gladly step aside and let you take it.
Commandeering vehicles is incredibly useful for making your way around the city. It also acts as an additional objective, with achievements being given out to those who manage to collect all the different cars in the game.
7. Drive carefully
Every time you complete a mission, you’ll be given a case rating to assess how well you’ve done. This is affected not only by how you handled the investigation, but the amount of fines you’ve racked up along the way. You can incur fines by injuring civilians or damaging property. So drive carefully. This will help you get the best rank possible.
8. Pick up newspapers
Keep an eye out for these
© Rockstar Games
Newspapers are hidden throughout story missions. Collecting them will unlock additional back-story, which helps to fill in the blanks in the narrative. There are 13 in total, so stay sharp. They’re usually found on counters, tables and other surfaces in crime scenes.
9. Take your time
You’ll sometimes be given the choice of going to two different locations to investigate. Take the time to explore these additional locations whenever you can. It often leads to new clues and won’t affect your ability to explore the other areas in the future.
10. Expand your arsenal
Stay well armed
© Rockstar Games
Police work isn’t all about investigating crime scenes and interrogating perps. Sometimes you’re forced to draw your weapon. While you start off with only a pistol, you can find a number of weapons across the game. You can get these by stealing them from the bodies of enemies or by checking the trunk of your car. Changing weapons becomes necessary during some of the harder segments, so try to stay well armed.
