During the PlayStation State of Play presentation, Sony announced that L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files will be available starting today on PSVR.
L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files launched on PC VR headset back in 2017, offering up discrete slices of the original L.A. Noire which launched as a non-VR game way back in 2011.
The VR version of the game is getting a surprise launch on PSVR today, Sony announced during its State of Play presentation. While we haven’t seen the game actually hit the store just yet, we expect it to be priced near $30 (the current price of the PC VR version).
The crime-solving gameplay of L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files has players scavenging for clues, interrogating witnesses, and getting into high-speed pursuits as they track down criminals in a 1940’s Los Angeles setting.
Posting over at the official PlayStation Blog, Rockstar says the PSVR version of L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files includes three exclusive mini-games “designed to take full advantage of the game’s unique VR mechanics.”
- Boxing: Step into the ring as Cole Phelps and take on 12 different opponents
- Speedcar Racing: Race classic 1940’s “Speedcar” vehicles against AI opponents on three new dirt tracks
- Shooting Galleries: Keep your eye in with target practice in four different shooting galleries, each with their own challenges, targets and weapons
Additionally the title has seen tweaks and technical upgrades “specifically built for the PlayStation system including greater draw distance and upgraded visual fidelity; new sitting and standing modes (including a new ‘Crouch’ button for easier object inspection); enhanced navigation, locomotion and weapon tuning.”
Not entirely unexpected for a title which was ported to VR from 2011 source material, we didn’t find the 2017 PC VR version of the game particularly compelling due to clunky gameplay and immersion-breaking design. In our review of L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files we scored the game 5.8 out of 10 (on our linear scoring scale):
Rockstar’s attempt at revamping 2011’s LA Noire for VR is respectable, but it seems that they bit off significantly more than they could chew. What seems on paper like a great idea—to repurpose a detailed open world and innovative facial motion capture—needs a lot more time and effort than the studio was ready to put in. L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files is more of a scavenger hunt than detective work; a near miss that underutilizes its most engaging elements and does so much to keep immersion at bay.
Our assessment seems to be in line with others as the PC VR version of the game has settled into a ‘Mixed’ 58% positive rating on Steam.
Those who own the non-VR version of L.A. Noire for PS4 can get a 25% discount on VR Case Files by purchasing the VR version through the non-VR game’s menu.
Update (September 24th, 2019 – 6:12PM ET): Added additional details revealed in the official PlayStation Blog.
