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Hello, blog world! Wow, it’s been awhile. Between moving, work, and a bunch of other writing related projects I have neglected you, This Gaming Life :( My apologies. I'll try my best to make up for it.

So since I've last blogged, I have platinum-ed LA Noire and am putting the finishing touches on Infamous 2. LA Noire has been on my radar ever since the first trailer came out and while I definitely enjoyed the experience, it didn't live up to the hype.Spoiler alert!

Tell me the truth, bitch!!!

  

    The art of solving a crime is a slow and meticulous process that requires patience and attention to detail, so it makes sense that LA Noire goes along at a similar pace. It's different in an ocean of adrenaline rushed experience full of explosions. I really liked the setup of each crime and how you slowly compiled clues for each case. But for a game that "feels" so open and under your control, there were too many points where I felt like I was being pushed towards the conclusion regardless of what I wanted to do. Although I understand it would have taken so much more work, I wish there were multiple ways to solve a case rather than the player either finding all the clues or just stumbling through it, all leading to the same spot.

The interviews were an interesting mechanic that definitely could use some work as well. Like often with Mass Effect and other games that use the dialogue wheel, I often found Cole saying what I didn't want or expect. As exaggerated by the picture above, our boy wonder detective would often fly off the handle unnecessarily. I think there was just too much vagueness with the choices, as you weren't allowed doubt certain elements of what a suspect said. Interviews in general felt disjointed and ultimately ended up into watching to see if the suspect's eyes were moving or not more than anything else.

Cole himself was also just a missed opportunity, as I really didn't care for him that much. I thought it was a real head scratcher that his family life was so invisible through most of the game and then suddenly pushed to the forefront when he cheats on his wife. That was literally the first and only time she is shown. He had kids, what? Why is he so interested in this Russian chick? On the flip side, his war background was much more dissected and I was glad to see that he was far from the perfect soldier and just looking to prove himself.

My biggest worry going into the game with the case-by-case nature was the thought that the story was going to feel too disjointed and sadly, that's what it turned into. Other than the newspaper headlines, there was nothing really pulling things together. Cole's family life would have been a perfect way to fill in these points - maybe showing how each case was affecting his life as the memories of the war plagued him, but it all felt like pieces that followed each rather than linked together with some greater story arc.

   Overall, I won't crap all over Team Bondi's baby, even though the horrors of its development are now coming out, with hundreds of people who worked on the game being left out of the credits and insane working hours to get the game out on time. In the end, LA Noire is a stab at something different and there is more to like here than dislike.

No worries, I got dis

On the other hand the other Cole from Infamous 2 met my expectations. The first one was a load of fun and, while the story isn't as great, Sucker Punch's followup didn't disappoint.

Cole's new voice took me a little bit of getting used to, but after a few hours I felt back in control of an old friend. Cole and I kicked some ass and I was glad Zeke was still around to balance him out and make him feel really human with relationships. The scene where the two of them ignore their phones to relax with a few beers was one I'm gonna have on the back of my mind for a long time and is a perfect example on how to really round out a character.

Kuo and Nix are a nice evolution of Trish and Sasha, each adding their own personalities to the mix and lending Cole new powers that really take the game's combat up a notch. Sure, the morality system leaves little-to-no grey areas with decisions, but that really let me fall into the role of being the good vs. evil guy and created two playthroughs that feel distinct from each other. 

The city is also well done, full of people, neon signs, cars, etc. It's no GTA but it felts alive and ripe for the taking. I think I connected more to Empire City a bit more, but New Marais is a solid setting that stood out among the sea of other game locals, especially the flood town section.

My only grip is the world of Infamous is starting to feel a little far fetched. I liked how Cole was the by product of a freak ray sphere accident. Unique and seemingly chosen to stop the Beast. Now that there are so many new conduits, it waters things down a bit.

Given the ending, I'm very curious to see where things go from here. 3 seems to be the magic number for game series most of the time and, given the impressive week 1 sales, Infamous 3 seems like a foregone conclusion. I wouldn't mind seeing a new face lead the charge, but I would like Cole to make one last hurrah and find himself some peace.

Anyways, that's what I've been up to. Hopefully it won't be a month before my next update ;)