Head2Head: L.A. Noire Analysis (Lens of Truth)

Lens of Truth writes - "Welcome back for another exciting Head2Head, one of the biggest of the year in fact! That's right, this time around we will be seeing the two versions of L.A. Noire duke it out for the title of "definitive version". Lets take a look at the evidence and solve this mystery once and for all!"

[Joe Bomb]

This was closer then I thought it would be. PS3 for the win though.

[NukaCola]

It's really hard to make the two platforms perfectly in sync, but I have to say that when you lead on PS3 you give the game so much more room for growth to great glory. And porting to the 360 is super easy. The only real fault on the 360 is the DVD's limited space. Great job to Team Bondi. The one thing I love about PS3 lead to 360 ported games is the quality is so much greater for both (Vanquish, Castelvania, Portal 2) and you never see issues with the 360 like the PS3 first had with Bayonetta. PS3 leading is the way to go and congrats to all who got this game. It's such a royal winner!

[Venjense]

Your right, when PS3 leads both versions always look really good with very crisp graphics.

[Obelisk92]

Wow, this was unexpected.

I thought this was a tie when I saw the performances, but I have to agree with LoT. The SSAO makes the PS3 version look a lot better.
And it's all in one disc.
And it has exclusive DLCs.

I can't wait to get it tomorrow!

[starchild]

So basically Lens of Truth gave a win to the PS3 version because it had better SSAO? Funny people.

Never mind that the 360 version has better soft shadows. Never mind that the 360 version has higher resolution textures in more places ("more aggressive mip-mapping", lol).

Moreover, the performance was nigh on identical.

I like Lens of Truth, but they are just all over the place and don't seem to understand when something is significant or not. Giving a clear win to the PS3 for simply having SSAO is silly. The 360 has better shadows and better textures.

Any sensible and fair-minded individual would call this a draw, if not a slight win for the 360. But what's certain is that there is no 'clear winner' no matter how you look at it. Lens of Truth acting like this is some kind clear or definitive victory for the PS3 version is pretty absurd.

I'm willing to bet that Digital Foundry will once again do a more professional and fair-minded comparison that in this case will likely end in pretty much a draw.

[bunfighterii]

I agree.

When you port from PS3, you get almost equal quality. When you port from 360, PS3 suffers.

[MAJ0R]

Oblivion without SSAO

http://image.gamespotcdn.ne...

Oblivion with SSAO

http://img651.imageshack.us...

u don't know what your talking about, SSAO makes a huge difference

[Mikeyy]

@starchild

The 360 version has Popup. Instant lose.

[mikeslemonade]

The game looks mediocre both ways. Other than the impressive jaw movements when people talk, the game looks like GTA4 and Mafia 2.

[Obelisk92]

@starchild

Actually I think that those "soft shadows" appear less realistic than the sharpened ones in the PS3 version. So, I don't think it's a plus for the 360.

And did you look at the screenshots? The SSAO makes the difference all over the place, while there are just two or three spots where the 360 textures look better.

It's not a "flawless victory", but the PS3 wins in the graphic department IMHO.

@mikeslemonade

Seriously? I didn't pick up the game already, I'm gonna get it this afternoon, but from the screenshots it looks fantastic. For a sandbox, I mean.

[InactiveUser]

What a bunch of BS "Up to 1080p" for 360 and only 720p for PS3. Upscaling? Are you kidding me?

What are the native resolutions? They try to make it look like the 360 version is 1080p native and the PS3 version is only 720p native.

L.A. Noire is NOT 1080p native on 360. Lens of BS.

[miyamoto]

So finally Rockstar has stepped their game up when it comes to developing for the PS3 and completely redeemed themselves after that Red Dead Redemption controversy>

Guess this is good news for everybody.

[AAACE5]

@NukaCola... Well said! Good, clean and honest!

I like when people point out facts instead of just saying it's better on this system because that's what they want to believe or what they were told!

I hate the fanboy thing where people feel the need to be first to say they like something on a particular system just because! It makes them look stupid and/or retarded!

The fact that it's on 1 disc does give the Ps3 version a clear advantage! But in the end, it will depend on which console someone has.

[sourav93]

Yh thats true. But the differences aren't gaming breaking to be honest. Yes, one would get the ps3 version but not for the graphics or performance, but for the game being on one disk and having exclusive content.

[HolyOrangeCows]

So the PS3 version: Better Shadows/lighting, One Disc, small mandatory install, better framerate, no screen tearing, SOME better mapping on certain OBJECTS, more content.

360 version: Large installs needed to fix issues with framerate, 3 discs, static shadowing, SOME better mapping on certain WALLs and GROUND.

So where does that leave the PS3/360 so far this year?
PS3: LA Noire, Brink, Portal, Homefront
360: Crysis (though sub-HD and AA-less on both), Bulletstorm
Ties: Mass Effect 2 (Ps3 version's lighting looks less ridiculous, but runs less smoothly)

The 360 is falling behind with multiplatform titles, I tell you what.

These comparisons continue to make those photoshopped fakes look stupid, btw. Fanboys are shaking in their boots.

[IHateYouFanboys]

add Mortal Kombat to the 360s list too mate ;)

also, you got some things wrong:

"360 version: Large installs needed to fix issues with framerate, 3 discs, static shadowing, SOME better mapping on certain WALLs and GROUND. "

if you read it properly, they DIDNT take the install for 360 into account, and the framerate was less than a single frame per second less on the 360. install it, and it (the framerate) would probably be better on the 360 than the PS3. so the install isnt needed to FIX the framerate, it just makes it better than it already is.

and static shadowing? huh? the shadows on the 360 version are more refined, they even say that in the article lol. its just missing SSAO.

i give the win to the PS3 version anyway, as SSAO makes a HUGE difference to me. but the 360 version is only very very very very very slightly behind in some areas, and slightly ahead in others - so much so that it really wouldnt be wrong to call it a draw.

[guigsy]

Mate they're virtually identical, even without installing the 360 version. Like anyone gives a shit about the odd sharper pixel (well, apart from you obviously).

[MARKUS_MAX1MUS]

If fanboys are shaking in their boots you must be generating a small earthquake beneath your feet

[showtimefolks]

is this game good i have yet to get it does it get repetitive after solving like 10 or so cases?

and how are the side missions?

[Vherostar]

PS3 wins again?? It's on a roll lately..

[Tempjf]

Nobody does it like the LOT baby. I agree a lot closer then expected, but PS3 is still much better!

[zootang]

Digital foundry comes to mind. LoT often have the wrong setting for the PS3. I personally still don't trust them.

[Jake_Butler]

Yeah then where his?

[Tempjf]

Well said Jake_Butler that's my point exactly!

[The Meerkat]

I thought LOT were 360 fanboys a few weeks ago.

[gamingdroid]

It depends on the result!

[MRMagoo123]

i suspect it also depends on the person you ask too, generalise much retards? I think there biased and crap even if they do give the ps3 the win here, did i just blow ur mind lil guys?

[Iceballs]

Team bondi rocks. 3 xbox 360 discs still sucks though.

[ps3bestever]

wow 360 version dont have the shadow

[Jake_Butler]

Yeah but so what the Xbox is just as good, besides the Xbox has that internet

[CernaML]

Someone's been living under a rock and hasn't known that the PSN has been back online for a couple of days now.

[Jake_Butler]

CernaML ahhh nope not in the US..

[TardcoreGamer]

I'm playing bf:1943 on psn as we speak.

[NIRVANArazor]

hahahaha your sooo dumb!!

[units]

well said

[Dee_91]

thanks jake_butler I needed that laugh
lmao
give him bubs so he can post more

[y0haN]

"hahahaha your sooo dumb!!"

Please learn the irony of this post :|.

[DrFUD]

360 can't even win at multiplats anymore.
But hey at least they have Gears 3 coming out.
Enjoy the one game guys.

[Convas]

You do realize that this game started out as a PS3 exclusive right? And then got ported to the Xbox 360? This project wasn't started with multiple platforms in mind.

Oi.

[XabiDaChosenOne]

@clizzzDid brink and portal and marvel vs capcom 3 start out as PS3 exclusives? just askin...

[RevXM]

Hey cool down.

Im really looking forward to Gears 3.
Gears of war is all the reason you need to own a 360.

Besides there is a new Forza game coming up and Crytek's Kingdoms is currently a 360 exclusive project. I think thats worth something.

But 360 is really dry these days, thats for sure.

[MasterCornholio]

No one should buy a console because of one game. Its just a waste of money when there are many other titles to play on it. If you buy a 360 just make sure there are many more titles than just Gears 3 that you want to play.

[the_best_player]

M$ needs to get some first party developers to make some games, it's a really bad year for 360.

[ceedubya9]

its a bad year if you only care about exclusive games. Otherwise, most people won't care, and games like L.A. Noire can be picked up by 360 owners if that's all they own. Quality titles come from all places, not just 1st party developers.

[stiggs]

"Enjoy the one game guys."

You're an idiot.

[NoobSessions]

They're pretty much identical, nothing much to brag about here except having the disc thing. And even that isnt that big a deal [at least to me].

[Winkle92]

*Asinine fanboy comment*

[PirateThom]

*asinine fanboy retort, with insult*

[NiKK_419]

What a troll

[SlyFoxC]

i could go for some cookies right now

[ClaveroRulz]

"As seen in the rollover and sliders the lack of SSAO on the Xbox 360 version made the environments look less appealing when compared to the Xbox 360 version."

Hmmm interesting typo LoT, very interesting..... ring any bell? :P

[mafia_pc]

In ps3 version , texture are horrible

[Obelisk92]

... are you referring to GTA IV or some other game?

In this game, textures look pretty much identical. In the comparison I can see two spots where they look better on 360.

[matt_hooper]

This game is awesome, play it on whatever system you can. Nice to see both versions were so close.

[cyclindk]

Wow, somebody didn't reread their work... Two errors in the first paragraph alone. Proofread, proofread, proofread!

[RudeSole Devil]

Wow very useful info here boys, keep up the good work.

[SlyFoxC]

welcome to the internet mate....get over it

[RyuDrinksTheDew]

geez, there are so many typos in this lol, kind of embarrassing.

OT: id say its a tie, SSAO for PS3, better textures for 360.

[Metfanant]

they said that there were areas with better textures on the PS3 as well...the textures seem to be all over the place lol

[thespaz]

The textures on my PS3 copy are just like the 360 textures. My sidewalk did NOT look like that. I don’t think the texture was loaded yet in your screenshot.

LOT should wait for the texture to load fully before taking a screenshot and saying “360 has better textures”… geeze.

Also, as far as texture loading goes, I must have a faster PS3 than LOT because texture loading is pretty much instant on the PS3. I haven’t seen a texture loading yet (and I’ve played quite a bit).

All I can say is… my copy has high res textures like the 360 screenshot. LOT’s PS3 is busted or something.

[ozhuerta]

"On a side note, the Xbox 360 optional install requires a hefty 20 Gig install considering the three disks. Having the entire game squeezed onto one Blu-Ray disk proves the Xbox 360 optical drive is way past its time."

Bravo Sherlock.

[Bounkass]

No way PS3 has lower resolution! Lol, L.A. Noire is written for the PS3 for crying out loud. X360 can't even handle 1080p games...

[testerg35]

Have there been a lot of true 1080p (1920x1080) on the PS3? If PS3 can handle 1080p then what happened to KZ2,KZ3, ...?

Btw, there have been some older titles that were 1080p on the 360.

[Metfanant]

the problem is that the 360 supports upscaling to 1080p on all games...LA Noire is NOT native 1080p on the 360...its upscaled...

unfortunately because of the ability to upscale, it allows MS to be a little deceiving and list 1080p as a resolution on the box...the PS3 handles this differently and just switches its output resolution to match the game...

LoT really should clarify this in their reviews...they should always list native resolutions instead of what the box says...

@testerg35

"what happened" to KZ2/3 is that the games are simply just too detailed for the PS3 to get to a native resolution of 1080p...neither console could do this...

[Metfanant]

i would LOVE to know who gave me a disagree on the above post...would KILL for a PM to hear your reasoning for that one lol

[testerg35]

Metfanant, I was just replying to Bounkass. He makes it sound like all of PS3 games are 1080p.

[Metfanant]

pretty much exactly how i expected this to go...and this is also how all MP games should come out...minor positives for each, that end up in nearly identical games...

personally i picked it up for my PS3...the exclusive content, and one disc sealed the deal for me...

and now some confirmation that its the "better" performing version is good as well...even if it is just SLIGHTLY better

[guitar_nerd_23]

Horray everybodys a winner! Well done Rockstar.

[thespaz]

The sidewalk texture on picture 7 wasn't like that in my PS3 version. Perhaps it wasn't loaded yet when they took the screenshot. My sidewalk textures look just like the 360's.

I'm waiting for Digital Foundry's face-off, but I already bought the game for PS3.

[Paralex]

I'm pretty sure it wouldn't take that long for a texture to load.