10 Reasons L.A. Noire Is Rockstar's Most Underrated Game
6. Juvenile Humour Is Nowhere To Be Found
For as much as Rockstar are known for their epic open worlds and ridiculously fun gameplay, they're probably just as remembered for their distinct sense of humour. Even in their more serious releases like Max Payne 3 and Red Dead Redemption, juvenile comedy is still a big part of the experience, but occasionally the reliance on this crutch undermined the drama that those titles could have captured.
Don't get me wrong though, Rockstar's comedy can be brilliant when done right. Trevor's ultra-violent antics and Michael's wreck of a family life were highlights of Grand Theft Auto 5, but more out-of-place attempts at satire like Jimmy's obnoxious gaming habits or "wacky" paparazzi side missions skewed the tone way too far towards slapstick comedy and undercut any of the serious narrative tension.
LA Noire on the other hand is confident enough in its story to not break the immersion with Rockstar's regular take-no-prisoners style of comedy, and the end product is all the better for it. There's still humour in the game - and it's always fun to see Cole go off on one and accuse a suspect of being a "left-leaning loony" - but it's always inline with the tone the game has built.