Sometimes, when all else fails, it takes a
thief to do the job right. Now if that thief has a personal interest in the job
…

Sly Cooper is up to his old thieving ways in
the next edition of the franchise – Sly 2: Band of Thieves, a title for the
PlayStation 2 console from Sony and Sucker Punch. Sporting a huge, free-roaming
environment, terrific graphics and shaded with a hint of intriguing storyline,
this is a title that should have Sly fans, as well as those interested in
adventure gaming with a light touch in plot and some nice challenges, chomping
at the bit.

To understand the premise of the story, you
have to understand a little bit about Sly’s past. Not long ago there was a
maniacal and envious villain known as Clockwerk. He was jealous of the Cooper
gang, and eliminated Sly’s family. Sly ended up orphaned but it was during this
time that he met Bentley and Murray, which became part of his new gang.

Bentley and Murray are actually playable in
this game, hence the title – Band of Thieves.

Clockwerk was just a wee bit deranged and was
replacing his body parts with mechanical devices. Though he was eventually
destroyed, and his pieces scattered, he did remain a threat. Should those pieces
ever be reassembled, it would spell disaster.

To that end, Sly has undertaken a series of
missions to recover those parts.

The introductory missions act as a tutorial to
the gameplay fundamentals, but also help evolve the plot. Sly finds out that the
Klaww Gang has made off with some of the parts, and a nefarious artist named
Dimitri is using the Clockwerk feathers to print bogus money. Dimitri made a
name for himself, after his original artwork was roundly rejected, by forging
copies of the masters and selling them off to unsuspecting buyers.

Bentley, the brains of the outfit, and Murray
– otherwise known as The Murray, a superhero in his own mind – is the brawn that
aids the slinking Sly through the world. The missions in this title are not
overly complex, and you can use your binoculars to locate waypoints to most of
them. There are also little glittery clues as to which direction you should be
moving. All this combines to help gamers work through the setting.

And it is  precisely that environment that is one
of the draws to this title. The city is Sly’s to roam and own. The streets and
rooftops may have adversaries, but with a little ingenuity, and Sly’s trusty
hook for climbing and fighting, he can avoid most of them while carrying out his
missions. Bentley will help with mission briefings and his expertise in
explosives, while Murray is around to pound anything that gets in the way – but
only on certain occasions. This game really belongs to Sly and thus focuses on
his antics for the majority of the adventure. The indoor aspects of the game are
linear, but that only stands to reason.

The control elements are very simple and easy
to use throughout the game, and the indoor missions are broken down and players
will usually be able to work through with minimal loss of direction.

Sly 2 is accessible and entertaining. The
graphics are rich and use a 360-degree rotatable camera, and the whole game is
underscored with dynamic lighting and shading. The animation is very nicely
done. This game looks like a lush animated cartoon in which players control the
action.  The sound is nearly perfect to carry the mood of the game.

There is a lot to like about Sly 2, a lot that
was done very well. This title is a terrific sequel to Thievius Raccoonus, and
anyone that enjoys a good old-fashioned adventure, with clever writing and
sterling eye candy, would do well to pick up this title.

Gameplay: 9

The environment is huge but the controls are
simple enough to allow players to explore without complication. The transition
from area-to-area is relatively seamless, and the game only loads out after
completion of missions.

Graphics: 9.2

Stylized, with a terrific cartoon flair, this
game is a treat for the eyes. The camera does hang up on walls occasionally, but
that stands to reason.

Sound: 9

The musical score really supports the mood,
and the dialogue is top-notch. The soundtrack of this game partners with the
graphics for a well-rounded game.

Difficulty: Easy/Medium

The game does get slightly more challenging as
you progress through the levels.

Concept: 9

Allowing players to take on the roles of
Bentley or Murray, in addition to Sly, offers a nice diversity. The puzzles are
not overly complex, but with a city to climb across, that doesn’t seem to make a
really huge difference.

Overall: 9.1

This is entertaining adventure gaming in one
of its best outings. Sly 2 expands the franchise, gives players more of the
wonderful treats of gaming that the original did while advancing it just enough
to make it feel fresh. Sly 2 is a delight.