http://uk.gamespot.com/features/6321644/reality-check-is-cole-phelps-a-psychopath/
Having just completed LA Noire, it gave me some chance to really reflect on Cole Phelps as a character. My initial impression of him from the early Patrol and Traffic cases changed dramatically as the game progressed, with me having gone from 'this man is an honourable, moral and dedicated individual' to 'this is someone who puts on a facade to cover up his own major fatal flaws'. In a way, i went from admiring him to loathing him.
I came across this article today. It puts forward the question that is the title and gives him the once-over with PCL-R test to see if he is psychopathic. The evidence is startlingly abundant; his reckless abandon on the roads at the player's behest (he even replies angrily rather than apologetically if his partner chides him too much), his sudden and somewhat misplaced outbursts of accusation and guilt association during interrogation, his constant chastising of those around him, (which, as Elsa put it, puts him inside an 'ivory tower' of his own mind) the constant need for recognition. The list goes on.
I agreed with the article, to a fair degree. One thing i personally came to realise is that Phelps has a soft spot for women. Specifically, damaged women. If you notice, his tone is considerably kinder towards women and for one of them he mentions talking to the DA to get her off the hook. (Forgot her name) Jessica Hamilton is a prime example; he is uncharacteristically tender towards her. However, the real evidence of this behaviour is Elsa Lichtmann. He is inexplicably drawn to her, as the mission in which you tail her to her apartment is almost comparative to stalking, and he looks to not even know why he is driven to such behaviour. So strong is his attraction to Elsa that he disregards his supposedly comfortable married life. Elsa is the very essence of a 'damaged woman'. Time spent in camps after her parents were killed by the Nazis, racism from Americans in post-war America, and a drug addict. Her femme fatale image also plays to these aspects of her character and add to Cole's fascination with her. I'm not sure here, but i would hazard a guess to say that being so inexorably drawn to 'damaged women' is not something particularly normal.
What do you think? Do you agree with the article and think Cole Phelps is a psychopath? Do you have a different opinion? Do you have something to add about his character?
Having just completed LA Noire, it gave me some chance to really reflect on Cole Phelps as a character. My initial impression of him from the early Patrol and Traffic cases changed dramatically as the game progressed, with me having gone from 'this man is an honourable, moral and dedicated individual' to 'this is someone who puts on a facade to cover up his own major fatal flaws'. In a way, i went from admiring him to loathing him.
I came across this article today. It puts forward the question that is the title and gives him the once-over with PCL-R test to see if he is psychopathic. The evidence is startlingly abundant; his reckless abandon on the roads at the player's behest (he even replies angrily rather than apologetically if his partner chides him too much), his sudden and somewhat misplaced outbursts of accusation and guilt association during interrogation, his constant chastising of those around him, (which, as Elsa put it, puts him inside an 'ivory tower' of his own mind) the constant need for recognition. The list goes on.
I agreed with the article, to a fair degree. One thing i personally came to realise is that Phelps has a soft spot for women. Specifically, damaged women. If you notice, his tone is considerably kinder towards women and for one of them he mentions talking to the DA to get her off the hook. (Forgot her name) Jessica Hamilton is a prime example; he is uncharacteristically tender towards her. However, the real evidence of this behaviour is Elsa Lichtmann. He is inexplicably drawn to her, as the mission in which you tail her to her apartment is almost comparative to stalking, and he looks to not even know why he is driven to such behaviour. So strong is his attraction to Elsa that he disregards his supposedly comfortable married life. Elsa is the very essence of a 'damaged woman'. Time spent in camps after her parents were killed by the Nazis, racism from Americans in post-war America, and a drug addict. Her femme fatale image also plays to these aspects of her character and add to Cole's fascination with her. I'm not sure here, but i would hazard a guess to say that being so inexorably drawn to 'damaged women' is not something particularly normal.
What do you think? Do you agree with the article and think Cole Phelps is a psychopath? Do you have a different opinion? Do you have something to add about his character?
