Although there is plenty of hype for future Rockstar titles like L.A. Noire 2 often gets left out of the conversation. The original L.A. Noire was different in tone and content from any other Rockstar title, placing players on the side of law enforcement to solve crimes with a unique interrogation system. While new entries for Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption will almost undoubtedly be strong titles upon their eventual release, L.A. Noire 2 shows more potential than both of them to explore new territory.
With a possible 2024 release date for GTA 6, it's pretty clear where Rockstar Games has been focusing its work. While it's unknown for certain what the developer will pursue after Grand Theft Auto 6's release, most bets are placed on Red Dead Redemption 3. Even the vague prospect of this release has many fans excited, but this ignores what an L.A. Noire sequel could offer them in of a more unique style of gameplay, intriguing plot, and alternative setting.
L.A. Noire 2 Could Explore A New Time
When players think about what a sequel to L.A. Noire would look like, many may assume it would take place in the same 1940s Los Angeles setting. However, that doesn't need to be the case, and part of the potential of a sequel lies in the ability to shift the timeframe of the game. One of the best potential L.A. Noire 2 settings would actually be the 1970s - already the setting of many influential noir stories - jumping forward into a whole new generation of culture and societal issues that have an effect on in-game Los Angeles.
Switching up a game's time period from the present day has been a time-tested feature that's made for some of Rockstar's fan-favorite titles, from the Red Dead Redemption series going back to the turn of the 20th century to GTA: Vice City's 80s setting. Oddly, despite its inventive 1940s setting, L.A. Noire hasn't risen to the levels of typical Rockstar game popularity. However, that doesn't mean the series should stick with the 40s in hopes of striking more of a chord the second time around, as a shift to the 60s or 70s could give a whole new noir feeling to the franchise.
Currently, it's unknown if Rockstar plans on an L.A. Noire sequel to begin with, but a sequel could utilize what made the game special in new ways. While the game's setting itself gets a lot of credit, the game's true depth comes from its noir stylings. This tone hasn't been seen in any other Rockstar game, and is part of why L.A. Noire 2 could do such a great job at changing up the gaming landscape. There have been other interesting takes on the darker detective genre from other developers, but none seem to truly capture the magic of L.A. Noire.
Why L.A. Noire 2 Is Already More Interesting Than GTA 6 & RDR3
Perhaps the closest another Rockstar game has come to the unique tone of L.A. Noire is Grand Theft Auto 4 and its troubled, morally gray protagonist Niko Bellic. However, that darker slant was abandoned for GTA 5, returning to the more satirical tone found in most entries in the franchise. Although GTA 6 had a rumored 80s setting, which could've been a fun period piece for fans to explore, leaks have shown that Rockstar is returning to the modern-day again, and it doesn't look as though the modern-set piece will have the darker tone of GTA 4.
Red Dead Redemption instantly cemented the series as a landmark in storytelling and gameplay, but it's arguably the game's sequel that gave the series the massively-beloved status it holds today. Red Dead Redemption 2 improved upon the foundation laid by the first game in every way, and is widely considered one of the best games ever made. It's reasonable to assume this same improvement could be seen in a Rockstar-helmed L.A. Noire sequel, building on the good things in the original and improving its drawbacks.
Just as RDR2 is a sequel better than the original game, L.A. Noire could truly prove itself in a second entry. Although the idea of fairness isn't a great argument for the release of a game, the fact is that the Red Dead Redemption series has been given two chances to shine, and Grand Theft Auto has had a huge amount of entries where developers have been able to perfect the formula of the franchise. Conversely, L.A. Noire has never been given this chance, despite its largely positive critical reception. If some Red Dead Redemption fans feel aggrieved regarding its lack of attention compared to GTA, imagine how it must be for those who consider L.A. Noire a seminal Rockstar effort.
L.A. Noire 2 Has Endless Inspiration To Pull From
There's so much potential within the concept of L.A. Noire that's been left unexplored. Similarly to RDR2's fairly accurate representation of 1800s Texas, L.A. Noire's criminal cases were largely inspired by real-life crimes, and there's no shortage of famous and intriguing crimes in any decade that could be included in a new game. L.A. Noire 2 could combine this historical influence with inspiration from noir and neo-noir films of other decades - like Robert Altman's The Long Goodbye, David Lynch's Blue Velvet, or the more comedic The Nice Guys by Shane Black - to create something wholly unique.
It's not that GTA 6 and Red Dead Redemption 3 aren't exciting titles - they will surely do a lot for their respective franchises. But both have already received multiple entries where they've had the liberty to explore new and exciting ideas, and L.A. Noire has not. The potential for a sequel is nearly endless - L.A. Noire 2 could even dwarf RDR2's map and capture an entirely different generation of crime and societal problems. Considering that Team Bondi - the developer behind L.A. Noire - has long since dissolved, it's unknown if L.A. Noire 2 is in Rockstar's future. Given the amount of potential a sequel has, however, here's hoping that it is.
Source: Rockstar Games/YouTube
