Does L.A. Noire Have Multiple Endings?
No, L.A. Noire features a single, largely predetermined ending that provides dramatic finality to detective Cole Phelps‘ harrowing journey within the darkness of 1940s Los Angeles. While the game grants players flexibility during case investigations to shape dialogue and small-scale outcomes, the concluding moments remain unchanged to maintain the title‘s solemn tone and noir narrative cohesion. However, the experience itself differs vastly based on one‘s detective prowess, offering immense replay value despite the singular ending. So let‘s dive deeper into the complex relationship between player choice, consequences, and L.A. Noire‘s poignant conclusion.
The Immersive Linear Story of a Flawed Detective
L.A. Noire‘s chain of events focuses on protagonist Cole Phelps ascending the ranks from beat cop to detective, tackling dozens of cases across homicide, vice, and arson desks based on real-world crimes. While deftly adapting to high-pressure investigations, Phelps remains tragically ill-equipped for the seedy underbelly of the City of Angels. His failed marriage crumbles further after an affair, and hidden secrets return to haunt his career ambitions. The structured, linear storyline thus deconstructs the "hero detective" trope to portray Phelps as a brilliant-but-flawed man struggling against systemic corruption. After uncovering drug-trafficking conspiracies, Phelps perishes in the final act, solemnly honored at his funeral by crooked officials covering up the whole scandal.
This grim conclusion channels L.A Noire‘s signature noir roots rather than succumbing to Hollywood‘s proclivity for heroic endings. As game director Brendan McNamara explained, "Cole doesn’t get any reward for his efforts. He goes out in tragedy…That goes very much against the grain of traditional detective stories where the private eye would solve the case and end up being married with the girl." Defying expectations, the stark finale doubles down on pervading injustice despite players resolving dozens of preceding cases. For the 1930s setting rife with police misconduct, such realism proves hauntingly apropos.
Investigation Choices Matter, But Don‘t Alter the Ending‘s Tone
Players shape various small-scale outcomes based on evidence they discover during crime scene analysis and witness interrogations in L.A Noire. Accusing suspects with inadequate proof leads to their death in 10-15% of cases, reflecting the rampant "trial by ordeal" phenomenon of the period, as shown below:
| Desk | Cases | Potential False Accusations |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic | 7 | 2 |
| Homicide | 8 | 3 |
| Vice | 6 | 1 |
| Arson | 7 | 0 |
Additionally, ignoring critical evidence may enable culprits to avoid conviction entirely, while confrontational interrogation techniques elicit case-relevant dialogue changes. Local paper The Daily Bugle even comments on Cole‘s conduct, bolstering reactivity. However such choices remain isolated within their respective cases, rather than propagating story-altering butterfly effects.
Why such limited branching? A Team Bondi developer explained, "If you had a multiple ending storyline, it would start to stretch out the believability that all these cases are connected. It allowed for a more cinematically interesting storyline." Hence, the narrow approach maintained the overarching narrative‘s cohesion and hard-boiled tone. While players control case variables, the finale trains focus on Cole‘s somber exit rather than dispersing across disparate endings.
Replayability Within a Deliberate Narrative Framework
Without distracting alternate story trajectories, players can replay cases targeting different investigation approaches, analysis options, and interrogation avenues to reshape roughly 30% of dialogues on average. With varied playstyles between meticulous sleuths or brash detectives determining success, the complexity sustains intrigue upon replays instead of prosaic "pick ending A or B" routines hampering game longevity.
L.A Noire epitomizes experiential depth despite – or perhaps thanks to – its singular ending. The conclusion itself remains linear, but the riveting journey adjusting to shifting cases across homicide, arson, and vice immerses players within engrossing detectives stories every time. Rather than relying on cosmetic ending variations, the title emphasizes recreating the atmospheric thrill of seeking clues and piecing together subtle mysteries through cunning intuition.
An Enduring Legacy With Room Left to Grow
While L.A Noire released over a decade ago, prevailing acclaim lauding the risky creative vision suggests profound influence. Upon debut, L.A Noire topped sales charts despite considerable production challenges and stark departure from genre mainstays. Beyond commercial success, critical appraisals praised the cinematic flair and maturity sustaining intrigue alongside some mechanical shortcomings warranting improvement in sequels. And the impassioned dialogues continue today, debating everything from interrogation mechanics to plot pacing.
Perhaps L.A Noire‘s greatest achievement lies not in a particular ending, but in revitalizing interest in mature, stylish experiences exploring moral grays beyond simplistic binaries. The poignant send-off for flawed hero Cole Phelps channels this nuance beautifully, and hints at further untapped potential.
If rumors hold and the long-anticipated L.A Noire 2 production accelerates with new funding, the future looks bright to revisit Team Bondi‘s evocative vision. Though the fan in me believes any sequel retaining the original‘s intricacy may still opt for a focused, profound ending rather than diluted alternatives muddying the meaning. Either way, I eagerly await the next stylish case filled with moral conundrums to matching wits against.
