Noir: A Shadowy Thriller

The setting of Noir places the player in Los Angeles in 1940 as a private investigator. The player is tasked with completing six non-linear 'cases' presented as the unresolved files of their missing partner, Jack Slayton. These cases can be completed in any order or concurrently. Once the player has solved all cases, they will discover the cause of Jack Slayton's disappearance.^[2]

Gameplay in Noir is consistent with other point and click adventure games, with the player navigating the environment through a series of still images. Whilst the player may examine or pick up objects with the cursor, there is no inventory system and the game will automatically use appropriate items as relevant. The game also presents multiple difficulty levels which affect the number of hints available to the player and the context clues represented by the cursor.^[2]

Noir was developed by TSi, Inc, a short-lived company that developed computer graphics and proprietary software for motion capture in animation.^[3] The game was written and directed by Jeff Blyth, a director whose primary experience was documentaries shot in Circle-Vision 360° for Disney attractions and the 1989 Walt Disney Pictures film Cheetah. The full-motion video footage was filmed with a full cast, with photography taking place at Los Angeles landmarks including the Bradbury Building, Bernardo Fernandez House and James Oviatt Building.^[2]