The Empty Streets: Why LA Noire Falls Flat as an Open-World Experience

When Rockstar Games announced their intentions to release Grand Theft Auto IV in 2008 with a massive open-world environment set within modern-day Liberty City, gamers around the globe couldn't help but salivate at the prospect of exploring every nook and cranny. Fast-forward several years later however, and it's become increasingly clear that not all developers are equal when it comes to delivering an engaging open world experience.

Take for instance Rockstar's own LA Noire - a highly anticipated 1940s detective noir set in post-World War II Los Angeles starring Cole Phelps, a World War II vet trying his luck as a cop. On paper at least, the ingredients were all there: a gripping narrative full of twists and turns; an immersive atmosphere that immerses you deep within 1940s LA's crime-ridden underbelly; and plenty of room to explore this vast virtual cityscape.

Unfortunately for fans however, reality soon set in with disastrous consequences. Upon booting up the game on release day (June 17th), players were greeted by an empty wasteland devoid of any real substance or depth - a far cry from what many had been promised during development. The lackluster open world design made even simple tasks feel like chorework, as navigating between missions felt more akin to traversing a desolate desert rather than exploring the bustling streets of 1940s LA.

The absence of meaningful side quests didn't help matters either; instead players were left with nothing but aimless wandering through empty streets devoid of any real purpose or direction. Even basic tasks such as getting around town became an arduous task in itself, thanks to a laughably poor design choice that saw Phelps lumbering along at glacial speeds no matter how hard he tried.

It's little wonder then that many have questioned whether LA Noire would've been better off sticking with its original linear structure rather than attempting the bold move into open-world territory. The result is an experience that feels hollow and empty (pun intended), stripped of any real sense of excitement or tension thanks to a lackluster open world design that fails on almost every level.

So what could Rockstar have done differently? For starters, they should've taken a leaf out of their own GTA IV playbook by ensuring that there was plenty to see and do within the game's virtual boundaries. Even small touches such as hidden collectibles or secret missions would've gone miles in making exploration feel worthwhile rather than just aimless wandering through empty streets.

As it stands however, LA Noire feels like a missed opportunity - an otherwise promising detective thriller ruined by poor design choices that make even basic tasks feel like a chore. With so much potential on offer (and some excellent gameplay mechanics to boot), one can't help but wonder what could've been if Rockstar had taken the time and effort required to deliver a truly engaging open-world experience.

Rating: 2/5

Is la noire open world