The game, “L.A. Noire,” developed by Team Bondi and published by Rockstar, puts players in the role of fast-rising detective, Cole Phelps. Although gamers may associate the name, “Rockstar” with violent titles centered around murderous sociopaths, Phelps is a peace officer. His role, as a member of the LAPD, is to investigate crime scenes for clues and interrogate suspects and witnesses to obtain new leads and information.
Searching for evidence is easy. Players are guided through the process with the help of a variety of sound cues that are impossible to miss.
On the other hand, the L.A. Noire interrogation system may seem simple, but in reality, it can prove to be confusing and frustrating for new players. An interrogation will usually play out as follows:
Phelps asks the Person of Interest (P.O.I.) a question. Questions are chosen by the player from a list in the detective’s notebook.
The person being interrogated replies with a a concise answer. It is important to note any peculiarities in the Person of Interest’s facial expressions – both during and after their response. If the individual appears to be uncomfortable after their statement, they are likely hiding something important.
Phelps must then respond in an attempt to get the Person of Interest to further divulge information. The player is given three options: Truth, Doubt, and Lie. Choose wisely; there is only one correct answer.
It’s all too easy to botch an investigation if the player isn’t aware of what each response truly entails. Poor communication can lead to a witness or suspect refusing to talk further with Phelps, resulting in the loss of vital information.
Listed below is a breakdown of each interrogation response:
Truth
Choose “Truth” when the P.O.I. doesn’t appear to behave suspiciously during or after their response. Continual eye contact and a serious demeanor are the usual signs that the person being interviewed is telling Phelps the truth.
Doubt
A person behaves suspiciously while answering a question. The P.O.I. smirks, their eyes shift about, and they seemingly cannot maintain eye contact with Phelps to save their life. It is obvious that the person isn’t being honest, but there isn’t any sort of evidence to prove it. Choose “Doubt” to pressure a dishonest person into telling Phelps the full story.
Lie
A Person of Interest’s statement is directly contradicted by a previously-discovered clue. Challenge the deceiver and bring truth to light by presenting them with the indisputable piece of evidence. Only choose “Lie” when concrete evidence exists that conflicts with a given statement.
The game allows some leeway by offering “intuition points.” These bonuses reward correct responses and allow players to eliminate incorrect responses in future interrogations. These freebies are scarce and should be used sparingly. Players should instead rely on their understanding of the interrogation system to solve cases.