Side missions are just that: Side missions. Why complain about something that you don't HAVE to do? It doesn't detract from the regular gameplay...in fact, it adds to the gameplay, making those driving sequences less boring. Once again, there's no reason that the game shouldn't be a sandbox game either. There's a fast travel option so if you really hate taking in the beauty of 1940's LA, then you can skip it all.
As for the cases being boring...well that's a decent point at the lack of variety, but the game makes up for it in its story. The story can be lacking in some areas (The affair that came out of nowhere), but every case has its unique characters and I find this to be a strong point of the game.
You make a good point that the side missions are just side missions and you have a choice whether to take them. However, I still hold on my opinion that LA Noire should not have been a sandbox game and should have been more clearer about why I hold this position. Sandbox games should be a game where the player can interact with the environment in a variety of ways otherwise the environment is just one huge background. Sandbox games should allow you to play around and interact with the NP Cs in the environment as well. LA Noire has almost little to no interaction with the environment of 1940's LA and that is my problem why does the player has this large map of LA but can do absolutely nothing with it. Now, I do not mean that you just murder innocent NP Cs but have an in-depth interaction in games like Red Dead Redemption where you could hunt and gamble in-game. That is why I do not think that LA Noire should have been a sandbox game if you cannot doing anything in the "sandbox." Also, I agree that some of the characters are interesting and can be humorous at times and does help game (a little).
"Any problem can be solved with a giant robot."
Funnily enough your "minor" quip would be my only major one - the vagueness of the interrogation responses, and the quibbly nature of what constitutes a proper bit of contradictory evidence or not. Number of times I've called someone out in a lie, only to later find I should have "doubted" them and/or used a certain piece of evidence at a later response instead, is a wee bit annoying.
It'd kind of like Mirror's Edge to me - great idea, just stumbles due to it trying out something new. Hopefully a "sequel" (direct or spiritual) will iron out the creases.
I agree with thedeviant that the game is not truly a sandbox game (though there are hints of one). Considering how much content was cut from the game just to fit it on 3 DV Ds, it's possible some of the "open sandbox" elements were cut; we will probably never know. However, if you think it's more of a "very interactive movie", then you haven't played some of the games from the era when CD-ROM drives were just becoming available... some of those games practically played themselves (and a few of them actually DID; if you didn't make any choices within a certain timeframe, it would automatically proceed with a default "choice").
I could not more thoroughly agree that this game being a Rockstar game is its undoing. It's the only reason this otherwise-fun and interesting investigation and interrogation game is saddled with crap controls, crap driving around in an "open" world segments, and unnecessary shooting: because some stupid suited executive ran in screaming "This is a Rockstar game! Why isn't it a sandbox! I couldn't be more of a strawman idiot if I tried!"
You can always have your partner drive you to locations, saves a lot of time and frustration.
Blame Brendan Mc Namara for the game's uneven focus, he was constantly demanding changes to the game all the time.
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Good story but boring and reptitive gameplay
LA Noire is Rockstar's new game developed by Team Bondi. The game is primarily focused on being a L.A. detective and solving cases around the 1950s as Cole Phelps. The game provides a deep and rich story that is intriguing and deep. However, it makes a few missteps in gameplay that prevent it from being a five star game. The gameplay in LA Noire is very boring but not bad. It is this boring gameplay which makes LA Noire's experience very repetitive because the format of the cases are very similar as you will first find clues, then talk to suspects while finding more clues, and lastly catch the culprit. The format of the cases is what really drags the game down as they do not vary what so ever but there were some cases that were actually enjoyable and differed from the standard format. One cases that I like was the case at the end of homicide is a very intriguing case as you will be moving to different areas of LA to find clues left by the killer in order to catch him. However, these kind of cases are very few and far between and will require the player to play cut and paste cases to get to these much more intense cases. A minor quip, is the vagueness of the interrogation system in LA Noire and that doubt, lie, and truth can be a tad bit vague as Cole's responses are most of the time are very aggressive. Another issue with LA Noire, is the sandbox experience. LA Noire in my opinion should not have been a sandbox game because of the unnecessary driving segments and police radio missions do not add to the experience of the game since the drive segments are long and time wasting as you will need to drive carefully in order to keep you case rank high. Also, the police radio missions are again unnecessary because LA Noire is a mystery game and should not include third-person shooter segments. Overall, LA Noire is a game provides a deep story but with a overly repetitive gameplay that causes the game drag on and makes it unbearable to play. If you are one who likes games for their deep story then this game is for you, but if you like both story and gameplay then this LA Noire should only be a rent. In my opinion it does not deserves its high reviews just because its gameplay is incredibly boring and reptitive which makes it less of a video game and more of a really interactive movie. If I have to give it a score it would be a 3.5 out of 5.