Wonderful review, Jack.
Was just at GB and read your comments there as well. I have a feeling that a lot of GBers will be having a problem with the game. I will be getting the game and I have a feeling that I will like it a lot. Too bad that it sounds like that the action sequences hinder more than aid in telling the story (at least to me, I was never able to finish Dues Ex and Max Payne because they were too action heavy and I got too frustrated).
PS Oh and sam, I did try Mafia but I couldn't handle it. Parts of it were very good but some of the sequences in the game were just too much for me. I need to go to action gaming school and get better at it.