By the end of the PlayStation 2’s second year, Sony had established the console as a home for inventive, unusual and occasionally sharper-edged games. That creative direction helped the platform stand apart from Nintendo’s family-focused alternatives, while giving developers room to experiment with different kinds of heroes and adventures.
Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus, the new 3D platformer from Rocket: Robot on Wheels developer Sucker Punch Productions, is a strong example of that approach. Alongside games such as Banjo-Kazooie and Jak and Daxter, it suggests the genre has plenty of room to grow when publishers support distinctive ideas instead of pushing every release towards the same formula.
A platforming hero with his own identity
Sly is a raccoon thief with charm, confidence and a carefully prepared plan. The character recalls Disney’s Robin Hood, but swaps broad comic antics for stealthy heists and a more deliberate sense of style. His rivalry with his police adversary, who is also his romantic interest, adds a playful star-crossed tension to their encounters on opposite sides of the law.
That personality gives Sly more definition than many of his contemporaries. He feels like the kind of all-ages character who could support animated television, action figures, comics and other forms of entertainment beyond the game itself. The anthropomorphic cast and timeless noir presentation reinforce that potential, drawing on the visual language of 1960s cartoons such as The Pink Panther and Secret Squirrel.
The presentation is unusually committed to its mood. A sneaking bassline follows Sly as he moves behind unaware enemies, adding another layer to the cartoon-noir atmosphere. The result is a game with a clear visual and musical identity rather than a generic platforming backdrop.
Stealth that welcomes newcomers
Style alone would not carry the game, and Sucker Punch gives Sly Cooper a useful mechanical hook. Traditional running and jumping are combined with approachable stealth, allowing players to choose between direct attacks and more careful movement through each environment.
Sly’s cane can knock enemies aside, but it also helps him swing from hooks, move along walls outside enemy sightlines, balance on narrow spires and reach elevated perches. This is not a substitute for a more demanding stealth game such as Metal Gear; instead, it offers an accessible introduction to the genre’s basic ideas.
Environmental actions are assigned to the circle button on the DualShock 2 controller, making it easy to understand how the surroundings can be used. That simplicity matters because Sly is vulnerable and cannot absorb many attacks. He is a nimble thief rather than a heavily armoured fighter, while his hippo companion Murray would be far better suited to charging into danger than waiting in the getaway van.
A promising start for 3D platformers
Sly Cooper has rough edges, including frustrating racing sections, but its strengths are difficult to overlook. In the PS2’s first two years, PlayStation introduced three appealing new mascot platformers, giving the genre a surprisingly strong foundation for the generation.
Sony’s earlier decision to let Crash Bandicoot and Spyro move elsewhere may have been shortsighted, yet Sly Cooper shows that the company can build another memorable platforming identity. Its first outstanding entry deserves the same long-term care already earned by the character’s concept, and it points towards a future in which 3D platformers can continue to thrive through personality, variety and strong creative direction.
That belief in recognisable characters and clear gameplay identities remains relevant across game culture, from living-room consoles to the wider arcade and gaming news conversation. For readers exploring how classic design fits into a modern game room, the arcade machine buying guide offers a useful starting point, while the broader range of arcade machines shows how enduring game ideas can become part of a physical collection.
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