L.A. Noire- Is It...

BETTER THAN PORTAL 2? No- though L.A Noire is nearly double the length of Valve's puzzle shooter, it struggles to keep up anywhere near the same amount of innovation and ingenuity that Portal 2 manages with ease, and as such it it fares a little worse off.

BETTER THAN RED DEAD REDEMPTION? Hard to say, but matching up the two experience it could probably be considered equal, as despite Cole Phelps being a more likable hero his overall story arc is much weaker.

BETTER THAN GRAND THEFT AUTO IV? No, mainly because Niko Bellic's twisting story is the most developed of Rockstar's video game outings so far and L.A. Noire doesn't change that with just one ending available to reach. Also, the game world of 1940s New York feels somewhat empty, with little to do other than tackle brief street crimes and find hidden vehicles, leaving a lot to be desired in terms of replay value.

GAME OF THE YEAR? I'm sounding quite negative here, but in 2011 attaining this coveted award is a very difficult goal for any developer and although this really is a truly groundbreaking experience that deserves to be played by every gamer its flaws are just significant enough to detract from an otherwise completely cinema-esque storyline. Those are just the breaks in a year packed with potential contenders, but don't let that stop you from buying L.A. Noire!