Reviewed by CL on 8/15/2004
If I could, I would probably have given this game 6 stars in the graphics and gameplay department. In short, this is an amazingly beautiful game that sets the bar for cell-shaded games and amazes games with the attention to detail that was placed in this game.
In Sly Cooper, you play as a raccoon out to get even with a bunch of baddies who stole a family heirloom. In order to do this, you need to go through many different worlds, each with their own theme and stunning visuals. The gameplay is a combination of Mario 64 and Metal Gear Solid. In Sly Cooper, the level design is more linear than Mario and the sneaking isn't as intense as Metal Gear Solid. Both are toned down to make it an easier game that is probably aimed at a younger audience. The controls are very tighter and forgiving (letting you make amazing grabs even if you're several feet away from the edge, etc.). The designers try to add an element of stealth to the game by encouraging sneaking around enemies using hiding places and/or special skills. This is tons of fun to do and it does feel a little like Metal Gear Solid when it's done right. However, if you are discovered, a good player will be able to fight his way out and live to sneak another day.
In addition to the gameplay, Sly Cooper is enormously fun to play because of the amazing graphics that are present in each and every level. Each level is super detailed with bright graphics and cool themes. Many times, I found myself just looking at the huge levels to see the amazing graphics. In short, these are the best cell-shaded graphics that I have ever seen, period. Not only are the graphics beautiful, but they are also stylee. By this I mean that each enemy and each breakable object in every level fits the theme of the level/world. For example, one level is modeled after a casino, and the enemies are Doberman Pinchers dressed up like mob hitmen and there are tons of casino chips and slot machines strewn about the area to break. The game is great about making sure the players experience the entire level and see all that there is to see. In each level, there is a safe that usually contains a new skill for the main character. In order to open this safe, the player needs to find all of the clues hidden around the level. Usually, these are out in the open in plain view, but if you want to find them all, you need to search every nook and cranny. In the process, you'll be sure to see all of the amazing graphics and truly appreciate the amount of visual polish that this game has.
This game makes an excellent addition to any collection simply because the graphics are the most amazing thing your PS2 will probably ever display. As an added bonus, the gameplay is fun and addicting. The game has decent replay value because there is a secret time-trial/race event in every single level that unlocks special designer commentary on each level. Personally, I only did one of these races because it was so ridiculously hard (probably took me 20 tries to succeed).
