Every one compare's True Crime: Streets of L.A with GTA 3. While True Crime is in the same genre, they are both completely diffrent games.
You can take a road map in L.A and use it in this game, it is that accurate to the city. Every street, alleyway, and house is there. And, with out the annoying load times. You can drive from one end of the map, to the other (which would take some time) without one load.
The graphics are ok, but could have been done better. I wish they could have polished them up before releasing the game, but the gameplay makes up for it.
Sound is very well done. Voice Actors are good, and the in car sound track is picked out very well, with west coast rappers and beats in it.
Gameplay is were True Crime's really shines. There is a story mode you can do whenever you feel like it. It braches out into diffrent paths too. In the end, there are multiple endings, making the replay value high. You can beat the game normally, a really good cop, or a cop gone bad. It's your choice. Thats what makes it diffrent from GTA. Plus there is a great story you will get sucked into. Once you finish the story, you can do random crimes that appear on the streets. Suppose a bad guy robs a store near your location, you have the choice to go after him or not.
In the end, I find True Crime's a nice game to play if you want a break from GTA. I recommend at least renting it if you are still not sure.