Sly Cooper (first game only)

[Guybrush Threepwood]

Today I want to talk about perhaps the greatest 3D platformer of all time (definitely Top 3), Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus. It is also one of the most underrated.



Like Crash Bandicoot? This game is the perfection of 2D-platformer-in-3D Crash Bandicoot gameplay. Everything about it is awesome: the gameplay, the graphics, the music, the overworlds, the levels, the bosses (especially Mz. Ruby), you name it.

I'll admit the game has some problems. The main problem is that the mini-games (especially the one where you guide Murray through the environment shooting enemies as they pop out) aren't as good as the actual levels, but they are still pretty fun.

The best thing about Sly Cooper, though? It's actually challenging. The health system is almost exactly like Crash Bandicoot's. You die in one hit unless you find a horseshoe (just like the mask in Crash), and you can only collect a maximum of two. You'll die a lot. This aspect is the main problem with Super Mario Galaxy and why I think Sly Cooper slightly edges out SMG.

Stay away from the sequels though. The gameplay is pretty much a GTA clone and you actually have to use stealth and move slowly (ugh). Sucker Punch also did the unthinkable by changing the one-hit system into a health bar. Some people will tell you that the sequels are good, but play them at your own risk.

You can find Sly Cooper at GameStop or someplace for $5 or so, which is an absolute steal.

Have fun.

[duckman2000]

Eh, I thought the second one was pretty alright. Well, except the Bentley parts.

[pilonv1]

first one is great. the rest? not so good.

i loved the 2.5 d side scrolling levels in the first one when you were outside buildings. really cool stuff.

[Joe Molotov]

One my favorite PS2 games. I enjoyed the linearity of the level designs. All these modern platformers get so caught up in building this massive world for to wander around in (cough, Jak II) when all I really want to do is get from Point A to Point B. I don't care about all your stupid free-roaming BS, and your lame minigames, just give me some solidly designed levels.

I played 2 & 3, they weren't very good but I actually enjoyed playing them for the characters and the storyline; how wilde homo is that? 

[patrickula]

I just played this game for the first time, beat it last month, and I might be getting the sequel for Christmas.  I thought it was supposed to be good 
The game's great fun aside from a few lame parts.  It's not as challenging if you pick up all the bottles (which is pretty hard in itself, though I got all of 'em  )... then you can walk while invisible, fall of ledges and into water and not get hurt, etc.  Though by the time you have all that stuff the game's mostly over anyway.

The graphics, level design, characters and music are all pretty great for a game of it's age (and probably low budget).

[Bildi]

I never got to play Sly 1, but I had Sly 2 and really enjoyed it.

[drohne]

fuck yeah. best 3d platformer this side the divine super magnetic niu niu*. too bad its creators are obviously a bunch of dirty furries. what business have they got being talented

* oh yeah and mario galaxy, as much as i'd like to prefer a dreamcast game nobody played

[Joe Molotov]

Even though Sly 2 & 3 aren't nearly as good as the first game, they're still way better than Jak 2 & 3. 

[Bildi]

I enjoyed Jak 1, but Jak 2 & 3 have been sitting on my shelf for years unplayed and collecting dust.  What a waste.

I liked Sly 2 much more than Jak 1 though.

[HyperZoneWasAwesome]

man, I really dug Sly, charming as hell.
good to know I can skip 2 and 3.  With my 50+ backlog it was unlikely I'd ever get to them anyway, but its a slight burden off my mind knowing I'm not missing too much.

Shit, 3D platformers really did disappear this gen.  Oh well, at least party games have made a 2,000% increase.

[demi]

they're making a new one for ps3

[Guybrush Threepwood]

they're making a new one for ps3

I thought you were lying.

They better make it like the first game and not more GTA bullshit (although they seem to like doing that, unfortunately)

[Bildi]

Not until Sly 4 comes out.

[Bildi]

I dunno, but I think people are too harsh on the Sly sequels.

I thought Rocket was a great game, and Sly 2 was as well.