The advent of the 3D platformer during the fifth console generation led to the genre reaching its creative and commercial peak in the sixth before somehow falling out of vogue. The PS2 was second to none when it came to 3D platformers, with the Sly Cooper franchise standing out in comparison to the likes of Jak & Daxter or Ratchet & Clank. Rather than strictly adhere to the standard exploration, platforming, light combat, and collect-a-thon gameplay of its competitors, Sly Cooper took a page from Ape Escape and injected a healthy amount of stealth gameplay, with one game in the franchise standing out as a series highlight: Sly 2.
Releasing September 14, 2004, Sly 2 took everything that made the original Sly Cooper and the Thievius Racoonus a hit and expanded upon it. Stages were larger, featuring multiple areas, shortcuts, secrets, and several objectives to complete. There were collectibles, sure, but they weren't nearly as much of a focus as the stealth elements, with Sly needing to carefully navigate environments while observing enemy patrol routes, breaking line of sight, and avoiding encounters when possible. Sly 2 is a great 3D platformer (and perhaps one of the greatest on the PS2), but it's also a reminder that stealth games don't need to be dark and violent to succeed.
Sly 2's Approach to Stealth Laid the Groundwork for Future Sucker Punch Games
While Sly 2 is a platformer game at heart, its "heist" aspect lends itself to a seamless integration of stealth mechanics that go beyond what players saw in the series' first entry. But rather than force the stealth segments on the player in tricky "pass/fail" scenarios with zero margin for error, Sly 2 approaches stealth in a way that's more forgiving, sidestepping the frustration that can occasionally arise from needing to play through mandatory stealth sections. Though there was no way to know at the time of its release, looking back on Sly 2 with 20 years of hindsight shows that it lays the groundwork for what Sucker Punch would later do with games like Ghost of Tsushima.
In both Sly 2 and Ghost of Tsushima, the stealth mechanics aren't mandatory but instead encouraged. Players are rewarded for taking things slow, being observant, and avoiding raising the alarm whenever possible. Getting spotted doesn't lead to immediate failure but instead ratchets up the difficulty a bit. Of course, players can always retreat in these scenarios and wait for enemy alerts to die down, giving another crack at passing through like the proverbial thief in the night. While the mechanics behind the stealth segments are rock-solid, the light penalty for failure encourages persistence rather than frustration.
The Humor and Charm of Sly 2 Broke a Stealth Game Mold in 2004
Prior to Sly 2's release in 2004, most stealth games strictly adhered to either militaristic settings or featured violent takedowns. The genre's breakout success in 1998 came about courtesy of three games that serve as perfect examples of this, with Metal Gear Solid and Tenchu popularizing the stealth genre for console players and the seminal Thief: The Dark Project acting as the genre's PC hit. The PS2's other major stealth game from 2004, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, is practically Sly 2' s polar opposite despite both games fitting squarely in the genre.
Ultimately, Sly 2 (and, to a lesser extent, its predecessor) proves that stealth games don't need to take themselves too seriously as long as they approach the genre's mechanics with respect. Sly 2 isn't a violent game, but it's also not for kids either, featuring a smart story, some excellent dialogue and character development, and a surprisingly satisfying payoff. Sly 2 broke the mold in all the right ways 20 years ago, and it's both one of Sucker Punch's best games and a reminder that the PlayStation needs to see the return of its gentleman thief.
- Released
- September 14, 2004
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Alcohol Reference, Mild Fantasy Violence, Use of Tobacco
- Developer(s)
- Sucker Punch
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Computer Entertainment
- Prequel(s)
- Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus
WHERE TO PLAY
The raccoon rascal is back in his riskiest adventure yet - and this time he'll need the help of a full criminal crew to craft his crimes.
The cuddly kleptomaniac returns to put the Thievius Raccoonus skills he picked up in the previous hit game Sly Raccoon to good use. Like a cartoon-styled Sam Fisher, Sly skitters up drainpipes, creeps over rooftops and tip-toes past guards in order to recover his booty. This time he's after the dormant bits and pieces of his old nemesis Clockwerk, which have been snatched for no-doubt dastardly purposes.
In Band of Thieves, Sly faces his biggest challenge ever. This time around, exploration and free-roaming environments form a major part of the game. Far from causing Sly a problem, this gives you even more opportunities to try out your old thieving skills and a few new ones to boot, including the ability to pickpocket. Explore to find hidden cash caches, and make life hell for the wandering security guards and violent thugs that populate the many environments you'll encounter on Sly's quest.
- Franchise
- Sly Cooper
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Stealth, Adventure
- How Long To Beat
- 15 Hours
