Sly 2: Band of Thieves

"Great personality, stylishly told,, and FUN."

Introduction:
Sly 2: Band of Thieves takes off from the first game; however, this time you take control of not only Sly, but his friends Bentley (an intelligent turtle) and Murray (a nothing-but-brawns hippo).

Gameplay:
The usual platformer components are here-- run, jump, and climb places. Sly 2, though, really gets a chance to shine when it comes to the many different types of missions it offers the player. Everything from picking pockets to beat'em up brawls to tango dancing is included in Sly 2.
Each character has their own play style. For example, Sly takes care of the sneaky platforming aspect, Bentley works out the technical points of a mission, and Murray makes use of his strength in beat'em up missions.
During these missions, players will collect gold coins that can be used to buy special powers for each character (smokescreens, remote bombs among others).
Lastly, The controls are simple and solid.

Story:
Sly 2 begins with Sly learning that the pieces of the robotic Clockwerk, an evil creature that wishes to wipe out Sly's bloodline, have been stolen. This spells trouble for our mischievous raccoon, should all the pieces come together. In hopes of stopping the rebirth of his greatest enemy, Sly employs the help of his friends Murray and Bentley in hopes of stealing back all the pieces.
The story is stylishly told like a heist movie. If you've ever seen the movie Confidence then you may have an idea of how the story is told.

Graphics/Sound:
Although the cel-shaded graphics of Sly 2 aren't cutting-edge by any means, they certainly fit the personality of the game. The cartoonish, large worlds are colorfully painted, and well-designed. The animations and movements of each character are also well done.
The sound effects are above average and fit the game well, but in some areas they do get repetitive.
The music is decent with some catchy tunes here and there.

Replayability:
Most people have beaten the game in 10-15 hours; however, there are some reasons to revisit each level and achieve a 100% in it. Throughout every level are bottles (30 in each). Once the player collects all 30 in a level, new special moves will be available in the shop.

Final Suggestion:
I picked the game up soley based on the screenshots and the good stories I've heard about the first Sly Cooper game. At $40, Sly 2 is about $10 less than what one would normally pay for a game. If you're a fan of the first Sly, or are looking for a stylish and fun platformer, Sly 2 is right up your alley.
All others will want to rent before they buy, especially given the relatively short game-span.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 09/20/04