In the past, games with such overwhelming ambitions have floundered on odd, usually peripheral, aspects that jarred – such as unrealistic animation (and especially facial animation), clunky dialogue, poor virtual camerawork or facile characterisation. LA Noire is the first game to lack any such element which naggingly reminds you that you're playing a video game, rather than strolling through a film or TV series.

    That's why it marks a breakthrough for games as a whole – and we can't wait to see what Rockstar does with LA Noire's technology in its other blockbuster franchises.