Patrol Desk II
Armed and Dangerous

Patrol Desk II -- Armed and Dangerous

It does not really appear like it, but the first few missions in the game are actually a concealed tutorial stage -- this is actually pretty typical for Rockstar Games, though technically this is not really a Rockstar Game since it was created by Brendan McNamara's Team Bondi, an Australian Studio that is staffed by industry veterans. 

LA Noire is their first official project, though the studio has done support work for other games.  Clearly based upon the controls and other elements in the game, Rockstar has had something of an influence on the studio.

The case opens with a flashback CS -- which is normal for the game -- and through these you learn a lot about your background before the cops...

After you make the arrest in the first case -- the murder of Scooter Peyton -- you are thrust into the next event (not case), by hearing the radio call and responding to the Bank Robbery.  You will not be making any arrests here, or investigating anything -- this is the Shotgun Tutorial, so what you will be doing is using the shotgun that is stored in the boot of your patrol car.

Once the call comes in and your partner tells dispatch you are on it, you will need to turn on your siren (click down the Left Joystick) and then drive quickly to he Bank without hitting anyone or anything, alright then?

Your first shootout and Bank Robbery

When you arrive you are directed to obtain the shotgun from the trunk and take cover, and then you have yourself a shootout with the bad guys!

ACHIEVEMENT WARNING: If you are going for all of the Achievements in the game, you MUST drop the Shotgun (with LB) and draw your service pistol (.44 Magnum) and use it to kill at least one of the robbers.  This is the only chance in the game that you will have to use your service pistol, and you need to have used it on one bad guy in order to unlock the related Achievement.

After you dispatch one of the robbers with your pistol, you can pick the Shotgun back up and use it on the rest.

The first set of bad guys are outside by the two getaway cars, which they will use for cover in having a shootout with you -- the second set have retreated into the bank.  Start out by getting used to the aim system (a white dot) by targeting one of the tyres on a car and shooting it.  That was pretty easy, yeah?  Now target a bad guy when they pop up and shoot them.  Wicked easy!

Take out the bloke on the left then the one on the right, and when your partner advances to the bank you go with him, taking the left side of the door.  Inside is a robber on the left, one on the right, and one above -- and to end the mission you need to shoot all three of them.

Remember I pointed out that things can transition abruptly?  Here you go from shooting the bank robbers to back in your car and responding to another call almost instantly -- there is another flashback CS in which you learn a bit more about Cole's personality as you see him in the barracks at OCS during the war...