Sly Cooper and The Thievius Raccoonus

Publisher:
Sony Computer Entertainment

Release Date:
09-23-2002

Genre:
Platform

ESRB Rating:
Everyone

Description:
The name says it all - this platform adventure is all about getting up to one helluva lot of mischief, thanks to the game's lead character, Sly Raccoon. In keeping with the tradition of the best cartoon capers, Sly is a loveable rogue with thieving on this mind. But he's only stealing back what's rightfully his, the hallowed tome known as the Thievius Raccoonus, which he was meant to inherit on his eighth birthday. Ten years later, the time has come for Sly to seek out the heirloom and return it to the family home... with some riotous adventures along the way. With a twisting plotline and expansive levels, this 3D platformer combines stealth and action with some Metal Gear Solid-esque elements thrown in for good measure.

Like all great cartoon heroes, Sly Raccoon has charisma, individuality and a liberal attitude to the law of the land. Graphically, Sly looks like he just stepped out of a Looney Tunes cartoon, thanks to the unique 'toon-shading' used to enhance the cartoony feel of the characters. His story begins when, aged eight, he is presented with a precious family heirloom which has been handed down through the generations, and has taught the Raccoon family everything they know about the business of thieving. Alas, they're not the only ones adept at pilfering, and that very same night a gang of villains breaks into the family home and steals the book, leaving the Raccoons distraught and their chances of continuing the family tradition in tatters. Ten years later Sly decides the time has come to act, and vows to use his wily ways to restore the family honour. Of course, every cartoon caper needs a supporting cast, and in this game the help comes in the form of gadget guru Bentley and big boy Murray, Sly's best buddies.

From here on in, Sly's got his work cut out for him, as the villains could be hiding in any number of heavily guarded locations. You'll lead him through some truly awesome levels, across a wide variety of locations that take you from terra firma and some industrial hideouts, to the dark deep blue of the underwater level. The environments are all free-roaming and interactive - explore them fully and you'll get rewarded for your efforts. Each level features some interesting performances from a range of different characters, both nice and not so nice. But perhaps one of the most engrossing elements of Sly Raccoon is the stealthy potential of the main character. In fact it's your use of stealth that will seal your success here - between you and your beloved book lie all manner of hazards to throw you off the scent. You'll rely heavily on your ability to creep through the shadows, avoiding detection and confrontation. That said, it pays not to play it too safe - risk-taking gets rich rewards in this game, whether you're embroiled in a rooftop chase, dodging a group of menacing security guards or jumping ninja-like through a window.

Sly may not be quite as mean and moody as Metal Gear Solid's protagonist, but this game has the potential to be turned into a series, with Sly becoming the Solid Snake of the platform genre.