(belated) L.A. Noire Review

Apologies I finished L.A. Noire the day before I went on holiday a fortnight ago so this is one of the first opportunity I've had to write a review.
Moving along, L.A. Noire is Rockstar's 2011 entry into their trademarked April/May release window, following up last year's GOTY contender Red Dead Redemption. However L.A. Noire is a very different kind beast to Rockstar usually shtick. Developed by Australian sweat shop-likes Team Bondi, L.A. Noire is an open world detective game. I really enjoyed L.A. Noire for how different it feels; it's like someone decided to make an old school adventure game with a $50 million budget.
The game tests your real life skills as opposed to your gaming ones, and some of the trickier interrogations can be tougher to nail than a boss in Demon's Souls. The attention to detail is exceptional and the facial animations are as impressive as advertised, if a little low in detail (where are the beards!)
However it's not without it's faults; a repetitive structure, poor pacing and a disconnected plot being just some of L.A. Noire's issues. However once your sucked in it's hard to put down and you'll learn to live with the foibles.
I don't think L.A. Noire will sell as well as GTAIV or have the critical success of Red Dead Redemption, but it's an interesting title worth picking up if your sick of shooting terrorists with an AK.