4/5 ★ – PhatBaby's review of Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus.

Let me tell you guys. Sly Cooper? Now *that's* the good shit. I played this game an absolute ton when I was a tot, but never beat it because my 8-year-old self had the dexterity of a troll. Playing it back, I'm surprised by how well Sucker Punch's first AAA PlayStation blockbuster holds up. Not only is Thievius Raccoonus' delightful noir world an absolute joy to dive into, but its stealth-infused Crash-Bandicoot-esque levels are filled to the brim with both style and substance. I've always loved platformers that trim the fat and keep things simple, and I can't think of many games that do that better than Sly Cooper. Conquering a stage usually takes little more than five to ten minutes, but in that time, Sucker Punch will always pack a smart new idea or gauntlet of increasingly difficult obstacles. It never reuses concepts too frequently and, thanks to fluid traversal and responsive controls, the pacing of levels is short, sweet and satisfying. Add to that the fact that players are only grinding out one core collectable – which actually rewards them with worthwhile new abilities – and you have a solid framework for a terrific platformer. Take that and lather Sly Cooper's ridiculously charming world over the top of it, and now you're cooking with a bonafide classic. From the gorgeously animated cutscenes that introduce and conclude each act to the thoughtfully penned banter between Sly, Bentley, Murray and Carmelita, Thievius Racoonus dishes up a world filled with personality. Despite the fact its core formula is admittedly repetitive, Sucker Punch completely gets away with it because of this deep-seated charm, disguising its simple gameplay loop with quirky locales and eccentric villains. Plus, let's be real. My boy Sly Cooper is the wise-cracking, lady-killing, master thieving Chad that Nathan Drake only dreams he could be. My man's got mad Robin Hood drip but he's still out here respecting his homies, and I'll say it right now, that's the kind of hunk we can all appreciate. Much like Crash, the game does falter when it decides to randomly implement vehicle missions (because they universally handle like trash), and it could really do with a better health mechanic. But I came away pretty impressed with Sly Cooper. It's aged like a fine wine. So many modern platformers get tangled up trying to offer complex mechanics, giant open-worlds and an assortment of collectables, but what Sly Cooper shows you is that fun, refined gameplay and a focus on character go a long way. I kept coming back to Thievius Racoonus because I wanted to spend longer in its endearing world, hang out with its loveable main cast and conquer its unique, fast-paced stages. Well, that and I wanted to see if Sly Cooper would ever tell Bentley to shut up after listening to his life story for the 70th time while trying to crack a safe (Spoiler: He never did...).