NOIR: A SHADOWY THRILLER

NOIR: A SHADOWY THRILLER (Cyberdreams, CD-ROM for PC, $45) Noir reproduces the pulpy, brooding atmosphere of classic '40s detective flicks thanks to a startlingly obvious innovation: All of its photo- graphic backgrounds and live-action sequences -- featuring a cast of no-names -- have been shot in pulpy, brooding black and white. Players step into the gumshoes of a seedy L.A. detective and get cracking on any of six cases (including an opium-running scheme in Chinatown and the slaying of a wealthy philanthropist's racehorse). Besides Noir's stunning cinematography, its lovely sense of period detail -- like the old-fashioned pay phones dotting the rain-soaked streets -- will keep you hot on the bad guys' trail. A