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Don't let the title of this game throw you. Almost undoubtedly, many PS2 owners will overlook this game, thinking it's simply kid's stuff. Well, know now that Sly Cooper is the most original game to come along in quite awhile, and for kids and adults alike, it's one of the best titles out there, hands down. Everything, from gameplay to presentation, is perfect, and it's truly a rewarding gaming experience.

The game is a typical 3D platformer, with the hero, Sly Cooper, master thief, trekking through various locales in hopes of restoring the five pieces of his "Thievius Raccoonus", his family's great book of stealing. The book was torn apart by the group known as the Five Fiends, and now, it's up to Sly and his buddies to overcome the villians and steal what is rightfully theirs.

The graphics are splendid, taking full command of the PS2's capabilities with gorgeous -and fitting -cel-shading. The voice-acting, while a little hokey, has its moments, but the real prize of the game is its overall presentation. From opening credits to cut-scenes, Sly Cooper weaves a fun, truly original tale that can only beg for more sequels.

The gameplay is precise, with Sly a cinch to control. A quick tutorial mission acts as the first "stage," so novice gamers will have no problems figuring out how to make Sly climb, jump, swing, and do other marvelous things with his unique cane. Special "Super Sneaky" moves are available with a simple press of a button, and special techniques can be unlocked by finding "clues" (bottles) throughout the levels. These special techniques are fun to use and add some flavor to the game, but they're not necessary to complete your missions.

With colorful characters, memorable villains, rewarding gameplay, rich graphics, and a terrific story, Sly Cooper should find its way onto your PS2 soon. It won't take many days to finish, but the ride through is well worth it!

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I was lucky enough to pick this up used at Blockbusters for a very reasonable price. I bought it based on the reviews I had read here. My 7 year old daughter immediately began to play it and has been going at it for a few days now. She has reached 40% completion now, so it has not been a terribly difficult game up to this level, but she has had to replay several sections more than once in order to continue. The game save works very nicely and you can start your saved game up quickly with a minimal load time. The fastest I have seen so far. It also hasn't sent her back to the beginning after Sly dies, avoiding frustration. We also have Ratchet & Clank as well as Jak & Daxter, but this one seems to hold her attention more. It may be that this is a more linear game, where she doesn't get stuck wandering around on an island, wondering where to go next. With this game, you just keep going forward and the obstacles appear right there, sort of like the old style Crash Bandicoot games. This game is also a pleasure to watch as the graphics are so nice. Put this on your list of games to buy, but be patient, find a good deal on it to make it all the more enjoyable.

Best Deals for Sly Cooper And The Thievius Raccoonus - PlayStation 2

Hmm... I wonder. Can I still give this game a perfect 5 stars despite the fact that it is not perfect? Sure I can! Why? Because the flaw is only in your mind!

Ok ok, now that I have you all confused, I guess I'll just have to explain myself. Everything about this game is utterly phenomenal, the Graphics drip with style and flair, the Sound is exceptionally well done, Gameplay is pure gaming goodness (my second favorite kind also, platformer), the Plot will grasp you tight, and well.. then there's the Replayability. I will break everything down individually though, so that you can see more clearly what I think of this masterpiece.

Graphics: 5 stars

For all those of you who have been living under a rock, in a cave, or on the moon these last couple of months, a new kind of graphics craze is headed to gaming, ''Cell-Shading.'' Cell-shading is a technique that makes 3d animations look like cartoony sprites, but still retains a sharp crisp look. Unfortunately, many of these games end up looking like a kiddy title because of this. Sly Cooper however is able to master this design by mixing cell-shaded characters and objects with pure three dimensional backgrounds. The result is quite astounding and you'll even enjoy watching other people play the game (but you'll like playing it more yourself). Every level but one runs at a fantastic 60 fps, beautifully sharp and quick. There is a little slowdown in the swamp level of Mz. Ruby due to the enormous amount of detail, but that hardly makes the level unplayable. With this great level of detail and a useful first person binocu-com view, you'll often find yourself staring at the beauty in amazement.

Sound: 5 stars

There aren't really any scores of music, but rather on-going dynamic tracks or themes for the levels. What I mean by dynamic is that the current situation affects the way the music is played. Many games have used this idea recently but SC&TR really masters it, creating an almost emotional result. I truly got frightened when I was seen by one odd looking guard in the haunted swamp; the music turned from its eery low flow to a blaring roar of sounds that quickly got my attention to the fact that I was in trouble. The music really also sounds like spy or thief music, which is a pretty impressive feat, it quiets down when you're in ''sneaking'' mode, and it just makes you feel like an overall badass. The main draw here I would say, is some of the best voice-acting ever done in a game. This is probably third in quality on the ps2 to MGS2 and FFX (sans Yuna). The characters voices match their personality and don't have any of the trademark videogame awkwardness.

Gameplay: 5 stars

In all honesty, I have never felt like I had this much control over a game, despite a rather simple 3 button setup. The triangle controls your specials, the x controls your jump (or double-jump), and the circle controls everything else. I have to admit I thought it was going to be too simple just using the circle button for all action, but I quickly grew accustomed to it, and was clinging on rails, hooks, and pointy tower tops like there was no tommorow. It's a very comfortable way to play a game, and an ingenious setup. The superb graphics allowed you to see the clear route along each level. The game managed to be linear but without fault as it didn't make any levels exceedingly easy. It also presented some nice variety in every boss level.

Plot: 5 stars

The plot was much, much more than I was expecting. I actually felt attached to the characters, angry at the villains, and excited to be a part of such a cool family (the Coopers). The story was basically about recovering you family's ancient thieving book, the Thievius Raccoonus, and the shenanigans along the way. That's about all I can say without giving away any spoilers, but believe me, it's very well presented. The plot is relayed through animated scenes as well as in-game cutscenes, along with some of that great voice-acting I was telling you about earlier. Without being a behemoth RPG-type game, the plot manages to keep you excited for more, and in the last level, you'll be on the edge of your seat.

Replayability: 5 stars

A perfect 5? I thought I was saying that this was the flaw with the game before. Well, to some extent it is. I could beat this game over and over and not really get tired, but that's not exactly the type of replay people look forward to. No, the replay that makes this game great is found after you beat the game for the first time, in the Master Thief Sprints. These are basically times to get through the level in as fast as you can, for a reward, mostly pride though. The reward is a dialogue about the level going on while you play through that particular area again, and some of the stuff is pretty cool to hear, especially if you're interested in making games (mostly design type stuff, which kept me interested even though I'm more of a programmer). But the flaw that I said was in your mind, and which may draw some people away from playing these Sprints, is the difficulty. For novice gamers, and on some levels, even for experts, these challenges can prove to be just that, challenging. But in the end, the feeling of pride you'll get to reach 100% will guide you through all of them. And don't worry, it's no Battletoads!

The Bottom Line: 5 stars!

Overall, I'd have to say this is definitely one of the best games I have ever played. I rented this, and kept it long enough to rack up a 7 dollar late fee, so that tells you something (if you know me). I'd suggest buying it, as I'll no doubt feel the urge to play it again soon.

Honest reviews on Sly Cooper And The Thievius Raccoonus - PlayStation 2

This game is a very, very simple platform game. But it's also pretty darn good. The cell shading graphics are simply amazing, and the gameplay is consistent, fun, and easy to begin with. It's a little platform game that combines elements of stealth and action. Sort of like Metal Gear Solid 2, but actually fun.

This game is a short game. It means that maybe they could have added another element, but it also means that there isn't needless repetition in any of the levels, except for the last boss.

You are this raccoon from a long line of thieving relatives. You're mission is to find all parts of the secret family thieving book, all while running away from a female cop who is constantly on your tail (I'll let you decipher the meaning of that sentence yourself).

The thing that strikes me most is the presentation of the characters. While the background consists of 3-D objects, the characters are smooth, cartoon like, cell-shaded animals. It's a nice change. It's especially pleasing since the new, unreleased Zelda is going to use this type of "revolutionary" technology.

The game itself is straightforward. You have to jump, attack, and sneak your way through levels to eventually reach a boss. Then once you realize how to defeat the boss, it's on to the next level. Nothing original at all, but then again, it didn't claim to be. The beauty of this is that you rarely go through the same level more than three times, and you don't have to refer to walkthrough to pass any of the levels.

I would recommend this, it's good, clean fun.

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At first, I'll admit, I didn't like Sly Cooper too much. My initial reaction was that this was just another ordinary action platform game. After playing it awhile, I soon realized it wasn't your 'ordinary' action platformer. Developer Sucker Punch proves you can still innovate in a genre that's beginning to get old and show its' age. By combining stealth with great platform action, you got one killer game on your hands. You play as Sly Cooper and, with the help of your two friends:Murray and Bentley, you go on a quest to find pages from your family heirloom(the Thievius Raccoonus)which is a guidebook for thieves. Rest assured, it's not teaching anything bad here as its' taking back what is rightfully yours. Everything from plot to presentation to control and gameplay, everything is dead-on in this game. Even the cel-shaded graphics compliment the games' cartoony atmosphere. No boring sleep-inducing fetch quests here...Oh no! You can collect clues to unlock new moves to use in the game but it isn't neccessary just to finish the game. Sucker Punch keeps thing fresh and simple in this game. You can tell this was a labor of love for them because alot was put into this game and that's why it is so great. I, personally, look forward to a sequel. It's easily the best action platformer on the Playstation2 thus far.

I highly recommend this game to everyone, young or old.