Video games: Savoir noire

"L.A. Noire" is ambitious. It throws the player headlong into a complex, emotional detective saga set in 1947 Los Angeles. It's a game unlike anything else I've played, one that uses Rockstar's familiar open-world template as a jumping off point to deliver a deliberately paced adventure game that stresses conversation over gunplay.

Much has been made of Team Bondi's groundbreaking facial motion capture technology, which allowed the developers to effectively "film" real actors as 3D models and put their expression and dialogue straight into the game. Never before have digital characters conveyed so much real emotion in a video game.

As in any good film noir, appearances can be deceiving. Players take the role of detective Cole Phelps, a decorated war hero and new LAPD detective who must navigate the tense underworld of Los Angeles, negotiating the often-blurry line between cop and criminal. While feted as a war hero, the truth of what happened to him in the war is tragic and complicated, and the echoes of those deeds reverberate throughout "L.A. Noire." Investigating a series of murders that tie into the real-life Black Dahlia killings, Cole begins to understand that the appearance of justice is all that's desired by his superiors. Eventually, the web of deceit and corruption widens, implicating those at the highest levels.

As masterful as the storytelling is, games are meant to be played. In this regard, I'm conflicted. Phelps' career is divided into a series of cases that spread across the beat patrol, traffic, homicide, vice and arson desks. The formula for most cases is uniform: You and your partner roll up to the crime scene, gather clues and interview witnesses and people of interest. At first, I relished the investigations, but over the course of the game's 20 hours the repetitive search mechanic wears thin.

And aside from a couple of frantic moments toward the end of the Black Dahlia plotline, most of the action vignettes are simple foot or car chases. That would be fine if they weren't so predictable.

The interrogations, which showcase the amazing facial animations, are the most compelling aspect of "L.A. Noire." As you read a suspect's face for signs of subterfuge you can react by believing the statement, expressing doubt, or accusing the suspect of lying. If you throw out an accusation, be prepared to back it up with hard evidence. If you don't have something convincing you'll likely cause a suspect to shut down entirely. Thanks to the animations and superb acting, these scenes are fraught with tension, especially when you're juggling two suspects, each accusing the other. In these moments, "L.A. Noire" shines, providing a real sense of human drama. However, unlike in "Heavy Rain" or the "Mass Effect" series, the outcome of the case has no bearing on the larger plot.

At times, "L.A. Noire" is a vivid, gripping game experience. Other times, it can be plain boring. As in much noir fiction, the truth lies in the gray area between those two extremes. It's an adventure I won't soon forget, filled with characters as fascinating as they are flawed -- a bit like the game itself.