Though most of the cases become pointless once you realize you were convicting the wrong people, I was still really enjoying the game. Then came the Arson desk. First of all, why would the evil "Housing Cartel" expose Phelps for infidelity only to assign him to the Arson desk? If they were afraid of Phelps getting too close to their schemes of manipulating the Housing Redevelopment Fund for their own personal gain, wouldn't they assign him to a desk that didn't relate to housing? I mean what the fuck? Why didn't they just bump him back down to the traffic desk or patrol duty. From the Aron desk to the ending, the story just seemed to take a nose-dive of sorts and I just kept wondering where the game was going in terms of the plot.

I didn't mind switching from Cole to Jack Kelso until I came to the end of the came and I was still playing as Jack. It just didn't make any sense to play the remainder of the game including the final mission as a character you have no real attachment to.

Overall, I'd have to give this game a 6/10. The only thing that saves it is the great voice acting and the music. Everything else ranges from average to pure fuckery.

For the people that finished the game, do you hate the outcome of the game as much as I do? Or do you think I'm off-base with my assessment of the story? If you think the story was good, how so?

Homocide cases were my favorite! i liked my partner Galloway

I didn't read your first post as i haven't played the game. I just have a request that can you people no say things like worst ending in the thread title. I mean you could just say LA Noire ending *spoilers* and than discuss in the thread that you didn't like it. It just sort of effects the minority of people who will have this on their mind now while playing the game. Not a big deal though as i would be playing it in about a year or so but still something to consider. Thanks :)

*story spoilers inc!*

I didn't mind the ending, although I agree it felt weird to play as Kelso at the end and not Phelps. However, since I actually liked Kelso better, I didn't mind and I hope if there's a L.A. Noire 2 that Kelso is the main character! Phelps felt a bit bland, and some gaping holes in the story don't help him much. There's very little buildup to his relationship with Elsa and there's little emotional impact from the consequences of it, since for most of the game you're barely aware of the fact that Phelps is married.

Totally enjoyed the game, though, and I agree that Galloway in Homicide was the best partner! Oh, and the $60 was worth it just to hear John Noble call someone a c#$*sucker.

haha, I gave it 6/10 and hated the ending too, It would have been a 7 until I saw that final scene, its not the worst ending ever imo (I think that title is owned by Demon's Souls) but given the amount this game relies on story, The ending is bit of a game killer in my book. Changed it from an average game to a dissappointment in my mind.

I'm not a rockstar game fan overall, in fact quite the opposite, but this one almost had me for a while, it turned out not to be but maybe their next one will be better. Still this was far beyond their previous attempts. Even a bad attempt at a thoughtful/story oriented game beats their usual mindless murderfest. Slowly they are progressing...

Three letters: D L C, and some $ signs.

I was sorta upset you don't play as Phelps on the last level, but it didn't ruin the game for me. That's about the only complaint I have about the ending. The only other thing that they could have done a better job on was the relationship between Phelps, his wife and kid. Like someone said earlier you almost forget Phelps has a wife and kid. There could have been a case that involved Phelps trying to save his wife from a murderer or atleast a cut scene with Phelps with his wife at home. All you see is the wife at the beginning and when she leaves. You don't even see the damn kid.

Overall I really enjoyed the game and if I had to give it a rating it would be a 9/10. The things that it does well in the game heavily outweigh the bad.  

Another problem I had with the story was how the feel of the game changed as more of the story was revealed. In the beginning it felt like I actually was a detective named Cole Phelps investigating murders. As the story progressed, it felt like the game took it upon itself to constantly remind me that I was just playing a game. The more I think about the story the more it falls apart at the seams.

Yea i liked everything until the ending. Also switching main characters up on me in the last leg was not cool but the guy they added was cool. But 20 hours cant be totally derailed by a 5 minute clip i suppose.

Phelps was killed for a reason. His voice actor, Aaron Staton of the Mad Men tv series, is probably now too expensive to pay as a voice actor if a sequel is coming. From what I have read on LA Noire, the game started development back in 2004 way before Aaron Staton became part of a critically acclaimed television series.

If anything, the inclusion of Kelso as the main character towards the end sets up the perfect sequel. I can see it now:

Inspired by Detective Phelps death, Jack Kelso joins the LAPD looking to redeem the memory of his fellow soldier in arms. Burning with a vengeance unseen before in the LAPD, Jack Kelso takes the badge to clean up the streets and the LAPD.