 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
L.A. Noire
- Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
- Price: $59.99
- Genre: Third-person shooter
Common Sense Media says
Complex, violent police drama is intended for adult gamers.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that L.A. Noire is a crime thriller featuring gunfights, nude corpses, and strong language. It is targeted specifically at adult players and is not intended for children. The game’s complex cases force players to unflinchingly investigate some very disturbing crime scenes, absorbing as much as they can from mutilated bodies and other bloody evidence in order to identify and track down criminal suspects. While mature themes are prevalent throughout, the story is presented from the side of law enforcement, and its protagonist -- the character that players control -- is depicted as an incorruptibly good cop seeking justice in each case he is assigned.
What's it about?
Combining elements from film noire, modern procedural police dramas, and third-person open-world action games, L.A. NOIRE puts players in the shoes of Cole Phelps, a decorated World War II veteran who starts a career on the L.A. police force in 1946 and quickly gets promoted from beat cop to detective. Each new case requires him to study crime scenes in search of evidence and to record clues in his notebook. He puts the pieces together to identify persons of interest, then finds and interrogates them. Thanks to a bar-raising, performance-capture technique, characters are capable of subtle facial expressions that may indicate when an interviewee is holding back on the truth or outright lying. Players have to decide on the fly whether they trust the responses they hear, and could accidentally send the wrong person to jail if they make mistakes. Players can also choose to accept quick one-off missions -- in-progress bank robberies, domestic abuse situations, suicidal jumpers -- via calls that come in over the radio as they drive through an intricately detailed recreation of mid-century Los Angeles.
Is it any good?
There’s no other game like L.A. Noire. Some elements -- the third person gun battles, for example -- are clearly derivative. However, the meat of the game -- procedural investigations that involve exhaustive crime scene searches, intense interviews with persons of interest, canvassing people who live near crime scenes, chats with the coroner to gather scientific evidence -- is something that’s never been seen before in this manner in the world of interactive entertainment. And it’s extremely compelling.
At least it will be for some gamers. There’s little doubt that a game like this won’t prove engaging for all. Miss a clue or fail to interpret a subtle interviewee expression properly and your job can get much harder. The slow pace may leave some action junkies wondering what they signed up for. However, game fans who have always wanted to know what it might be like to be a character in gritty old police thrillers like Double Indemnity or Touch of Evil will be in pure heaven.
Online interaction: Players can connect with Rockstar’s online Social Club to see how other players have handled certain issues in witness and suspect interrogations. Community results are shown as percentages; no communication is involved.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about violence in games. Does it bother you if games allow or direct you to hurt innocent characters? Do you prefer to always play as the good guy?
Does this procedure-oriented game make the job of a detective seem interesting to you? Do you think you might have a knack for finding clues, reading interviewee reactions, and putting puzzle pieces together?
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AGE
This game is great, the nudity is not nearly as bad as the review above makes it out to be.
As a parent, I was reluctant to buy this game due to its ratings, but I thought I would at least give it a try, so I bought this for 15 and 13 year old sons, and they absolutely LOVE it! I have seen them play this for a while now. When the game is rated M for nudity, that was my biggest concern, but it was not actually a big problem, the nudity is no worse than the nudity in the move "Silence Of The Lambs", they are only corpses and are somewhat covered up with a bag. The drinking and smoking is no worse than what you would see in a regular action flick and the same goes for swearing.
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AGE
NOT FOR KIDS!!!
ADULT GAME - to expose kids under the age of 17 to this game is like introducing them to the depravity of this world up close. Yes, killings happen everyday but we arent exposed to the mind or methods of the killer. innocent minds should be protected from this. It is a good game but it is meant for adults, the game even has a character that is into necrophilia. Raise your kids responsibly, dont just give into their every wish or desire... our next generation is going to be afflicted with all sorts of issues because parents didnt filter out good and bad from the eyes and minds of young kids.
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AGE
a good game should be good for 13 year olds and up
my son's are 13 i didn't think it was a appropiate for them but i got it to make sure it wasn't bad but it was acually awsome its a really fun game the nudity isn't like strip clubs in grand theft auto they're just dead bodys with blood and gore and the drugs is just cigirettes and alchol'it was the 1940's" and cursing isn't that really bad just like any other games with cursing, and violence there will be gun battles or fights not like gang fights your just a detective in this game not a gang banger
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Kid, 12 years old
May 20, 2011
AGE
13 Years AT LEAST!
This is a game where you are a detective and try to solve various cases. This has very graphical blood and is very realistic. Language is heard in pretty much every cutscene and also the F-Word is probably the most used word in the game. You see drugs on the ground that you can examine and find items with blood on them. I don't have this game but I have seen a lot of gameplay and I don't think that People under 13 should have it. Maybe ESRB were accurate with a Game Rating for once. Overall from what I have seen this is an AMAZING game and I would say it is by far the best PS3 game of 2011 , Up to now of course when Skyrim is out things will change.
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Kid, 12 years old
May 19, 2011
AGE
e.g. Perfect for kids and tens
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AGE
Film Festival Quality, but Not For Kids.
This game is extremely enjoyable, although if you wouldn't let your kid look at a mutilated, naked corpse, you probably shouldn't let them play this game. This is quite possibly the only video game that has made me think past, "where do I go?!?". Also, Cole Phelps has the be one of the best realistic role models in a game that I've ever seen. Good play, but not for kids.
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AGE
good for older kids
the game does contain some not so great sexual and violent themes. but the sexual stuff isn't anything like strip clubs its just the victims of crimes. and the main character is a cop not a playboy or gang leader.
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AGE
Ok for 12+
Bought it for twelve year old. He wanted it for his birthday. Almost didn't buy, it but decided to get him what he wanted. Ok for Tweens-teens.
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AGE
Great for those who are decently mature 14-year-olds
I bought this game for my 14-year-old, whom I know is mature, and then sat down with him while he played through the first few missions. This game is not even close to as bad as the reviewer makes it out to be. The sexual content is practically non-existent, save for a nude corpse that was mostly covered by a body bag. Violence? Not an issue at all--especially if your kid has a Call of Duty game. The swearing is a bit much, but nothing more or worse than they would hear at school or in an intense PG-13 movie. Consumerism is not an issue and drinking/smoking is, again, no worse than they would see on the streets or even in your home.
L.A. Noire forces players to use creativity, critical thinking skills, and investigative thinking to solve the masterful puzzles in the game. The game also encourages players to take a non-violent approach to situations rather than a violent one. The main character, Cole Phelps is a good role model in that he almost never cusses and always tries to do the right thing.
L.A. Noire is perfect for mature 14 year olds or older.
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AGE
Awesome Game! Depends on how mature your kid is.
The only real concern is the swearing. F*ck & Sh*t are frequently used Along with other minor curse words such as (B*tch, Sl*t, D*mn, A*s ect.) There is Some violence however Halo & Call of duty are much more violent then this game! Some of the crimes are about Intoxicated people & drugs. This game is brilliant and I hope for a sequel.
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| Platforms: | Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 |
| Available online? | Available online |
| Genre: | Third-person shooter |
| Developer: | Rockstar Games |
| Release date: | May 17, 2011 |
| Price: | $59.99 |
| ESRB rating: | M for Blood and Gore, Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs, Violence |
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