Sly Raccoon - PS2

Also known as: Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus

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Viewed: 3D Third-person, floating camera Genre:
Platform
Media: CD Arcade origin:No
Developer: Sucker Punch Soft. Co.: Sucker Punch
Publishers: Sony (GB)
Released: 17 Jan 2003 (GB)
Ratings: 3+
Accessories: Memory Card
Features: Vibration Function Compatible

Summary

If what we hear is correct, then a new video game term has been coined - 'Toon-Shading', to be exact. Basically cel-shading but, from what we can see, it's cel-shading done well, as this 3D platform adventure from Sony looks pretty sumptuous.

As the story goes, there's a new thief in town by the name of Sly Raccoon. A charming, wry and charismatic thief at that. Born into a family of the world's greatest thieves, Sly is given, on his eighth birthday, the Thievius Raccoonus, a family heirloom that is passed down from generation to generation containing all of their best-kept secrets and thieving techniques. Unfortunately, this book is soon stolen by a gang of ruthless villains and subsequently split five ways, lost forever. But fret ye not, as the game starts ten years on, with the cunning thief embarking on a quest to steal it back. Hurrah!

Essentially a 3D platformer, Sly Raccoon places quite an emphasis on stealth, with players sneaking around the richly detailed, toon-shaded environments as they attempt to prove they are the best thief ever. You need to keep your wits about you as you sneak through the day and night, get caught up in rooftop chases and dodge security guards.

As the book was split into five pieces, you won't be surprised to discover that there are five unique hideouts to explore if you are to have any success. These include Ice, Underwater, Bayou, Venice, and Industrial. In each case, the multi-tiered gameplay throws up an assortment of primary, secondary and tertiary objectives that need to be overcome in order to make progress.

May the best thief win!