Post-Game Content / Free Roam

Continue your work after the story in L.A. Noire. Revisit crime scenes, complete unfinished book cases, and find hidden Golden Age Hollywood movie posters.

Congratulations, Detective! You've navigated the treacherous streets of 1947 Los Angeles, solved countless cases, and seen the story of Cole Phelps through to its dramatic conclusion. But the City of Angels still holds secrets, and your work isn't quite finished. L.A. Noire offers a robust post-game experience, allowing you to revisit the city, complete unfinished business, and truly immerse yourself in the era.

Accessing Free Roam

After completing the main story, you'll gain access to the "Free Roam" mode. This mode allows you to select any desk (Patrol, Traffic, Homicide, Vice, Arson) and explore the city as Cole Phelps, or even as Jack Kelso for the Arson desk. To initiate Free Roam:

1. From the Main Menu, select "Cases."
2. Choose the desk you wish to explore (e.g., "Patrol Desk").
3. Select the option for "Free Roam" (sometimes labeled as "The Street of L.A." or similar, depending on the desk).

This will drop you into the open world, allowing you to drive freely, respond to street crimes, and hunt for collectibles without the pressure of case progression.

Street Crimes: Keeping the City Safe

The primary activity in Free Roam is responding to Street Crimes. These are dynamic, procedurally generated events that pop up on your map as you drive around. They range from simple pursuits to shootouts and hostage situations. Completing these crimes is crucial for achieving 100% game completion and earning valuable XP.

• How to Find Them: Street Crimes appear as red icons on your mini-map and main map. You'll also receive radio dispatches alerting you to nearby incidents.
• Types of Crimes:
  • Pursuits: Chase down fleeing suspects in your vehicle. Use your siren to clear traffic and maintain speed.
  • Shootouts: Engage in gunfights with criminals. Utilize cover and aim for headshots to conserve ammo and maximize efficiency.
  • Hostage Situations: Often involve careful aiming to neutralize the threat without harming the hostage.
  • Brawls/Assaults: Intervene in street fights or apprehend suspects involved in assaults.
• Strategy: Always approach Street Crimes with caution. Ensure your weapon is drawn and you're ready for action. Some crimes are time-sensitive, so respond quickly. Successfully completing all Street Crimes across all desks is a significant undertaking.

Collectibles: Uncovering L.A.'s Hidden Gems

L.A. Noire is packed with collectibles that offer a deeper dive into the game's lore and unlock new content. Free Roam is the ideal mode for tracking these down.

Newspapers

There are 13 Newspapers scattered throughout the game world, each revealing a piece of the overarching narrative and often hinting at future events. While some are found during main cases, many are easily missed. In Free Roam, you can systematically search for any you've overlooked.

• Location Strategy: Newspapers are typically found on benches, tables, or newsstands in public areas. Consult an online map guide for precise locations if you're struggling to find the last few.
• Benefit: Collecting all Newspapers provides a more complete understanding of the game's intricate plot and unlocks the "The Long Arm of the Law" achievement/trophy.

Badges

The 20 Police Badges are a more challenging collectible. These small, shiny badges are often hidden in obscure locations, requiring keen observation to spot. They are not marked on your map until you are very close.

• Location Strategy: Badges can be on ledges, behind buildings, under bridges, or in other out-of-the-way spots. Driving slowly and using the camera to pan around is recommended.
• Benefit: Collecting all 20 Badges unlocks the "Badge Pursuit Challenge" achievement/trophy and grants a significant XP bonus.

Landmarks

There are 30 Landmarks to discover across Los Angeles. These are iconic real-world locations from the 1940s, such as the Hollywood sign, Grauman's Chinese Theatre, and the Griffith Observatory. Simply driving past or approaching them will register them as discovered.

• Location Strategy: Many landmarks are prominent and easily spotted. Others might require a bit more exploration, especially in residential or less-traveled areas.
• Benefit: Discovering all Landmarks unlocks the "Star Map" achievement/trophy and provides a fascinating historical tour of the city.

Vehicle Collection: A Detective's Garage

L.A. Noire features a diverse fleet of 95 vehicles, from standard police cruisers to luxurious civilian cars and rugged utility vehicles. In Free Roam, you can actively seek out and "collect" these vehicles.

• How to Collect: To add a vehicle to your collection, you simply need to drive it. Once you've driven a unique vehicle, it will be added to your "Owned Vehicles" list, accessible from any police station garage.
• Rare Vehicles: Some vehicles are rarer than others, appearing less frequently in traffic. Keep an eye out for unique models, especially in specific districts (e.g., luxury cars in Hollywood, industrial vehicles in the industrial zones).
• Benefit: Collecting all 95 vehicles unlocks the "Auto Fanatic" achievement/trophy and gives you a wide array of options for cruising the city in style.

Replaying Cases: Perfecting Your Performance

Even after completing the story, you can replay any case from the Main Menu. This is an excellent way to:

• Improve Your Rating: Aim for a perfect 5-star rating on every case by finding all clues, asking all questions correctly, and achieving a high interrogation success rate.
• Find Missed Clues: Discover any clues you might have overlooked during your initial playthrough.
• Experience Different Outcomes: Experiment with different interrogation choices to see how they affect witness and suspect reactions.

Replaying cases allows you to refine your detective skills and ensure you've squeezed every last drop of content from L.A. Noire's compelling narrative.