L.A. Noire Review (UPDATED: 8.5/10)

It's here- Rockstar's latest masterpiece has arrived to spark controversy and grab headlines once again. Amazingly, L.A. Noire's script is notably more restrained in its use of explicit language than any of the GTA and Red Dead instalments, and more amazing still considering said explicitness formed the crux of those titles is that the lack of regular swearing doesn't matter at all. No, where this game really shines is in its mechanics: the MotionScan graphical technology has been implemented just as efficiently and realistically as any of us could have hoped, really adding a sense of intelligence and empowerment as you play as detective Cole Phelps, investigating crime scenes and interrogating suspects. Make no mistake, this approach of conversations taking precedence over action sequences ensures that this is far apart from its publisher's modern and Western franchises, a slow, edgy affair that spans a considerably longer running time than most of the other adventures you'll play this year and likely in the future. Fans of the genre on television will already be expecting this kind of pace, but I thought I'd warn those of you hoping to play this not to expect a free-roamer where you're up and above the law with the ability to shoot everyone you please (in fact, you'll only pull out your weapon at scripted moments). However, one of the few areas where L.A. Noire does inevitably draw the short straw is those parts where you're armed and deadly, specifically because the Euphoria engine isn't in play here so hitting select body parts has no major effect and as a result these sections can feel annoyingly clunky. This drawback is hardly enough to ruin the experience, but it is a notable one and as such had to be taken into account when rating it. In addition to that, the quality of the cases varies and some people may find their favourites take place in the first half of the game as later on there seems to be a lack of innovation at times. In no way should that serve as a deterrent from buying it, though: L.A. Noire is an exhilarating and refined experience, brimming with challenge a scale on which has not been seen in video gaming in quite some time, and even though the game is perhaps a little too forgiving with those who slip up in interrogations those who strive for five star ratings when replaying missions will find themselves feeling totally satisfied with the package when they hit the mark. Want a completely unique title the likes of which may never be seen again this generation of consoles? Look no further!
UPDATE (28/08/11): I've marked LA Noire down by a whole point, mainly because having returned to the game a second time I found myself bored, as it lacks the incentive of replay value and once you've completed the story the open-world lacks interesting things remaining to do. I'm not saying that this makes it a bad game- on the contrary, I suggest you still play it as soon as possible- but when Game of the Year contenders are likely in the coming months to get 9.5s and 10s I felt it silly to suggest this could be a candidate when it lacks the memorability to do so (Portal 2 was not extremely long yet was very memorable, and LA Noire was rated 0.5 higher than LEGO Pirates of the Carribean (9/10), whereas I've got much more playtime out of that!). Well done to Rockstar and Team Bondi for trying a really different approach, though, as if they can add more depth and substance to the sequel I'd welcome it with open arms!