Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus PlayStation 2
Metascore
86 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 41 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 41
  3. Negative: 0 out of 41
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  1. Four Fat Chicks
    100
    This is an entertaining romp with just enough variation, humor and story to hold your attention right to the end.
  2. G4 TV
    100
    Exquisitely designed levels...Every moment seems fresh and new and deliberately designed to be fun.
  3. Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
    100
    The pacing and structure of the game means that the process of achieving goals and being rewarded is sufficiently frequent that you always feel like you're doing something new. [Nov 2002, p.182]
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  4. GameNow
    100
    It's got some of the best visuals I've ever seen on the PS2. [Nov 2002, p.62]
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  5. Gamer's Pulse
    96
    Represents everything good about gaming. Hands down, the best platform game of 2002.
  6. Gaming Maxx
    94
    While it is not long, it just is too much damn fun to put down or not play again.
  7. Game Informer
    93
    A game that borrows a page from the glory days of Crash Bandicoot and delivers a gameplay experience that sticks to its guns and keeps the action constant. [Nov 2002, p.108]
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  8. TotalPlayStation
    93
    An unequivocal blast. The framerate chokes, I wish to God it was about twice as long (I unlocked everything in just over eight hours), but everything else about the game is quite literally perfect.
  9. Game Over Online
    92
    Despite the game’s short life span, it is still one of the most entertaining platform games for any system, past or present.
  10. GamingTrend
    92
    For the rest of us, for those who just love playing good games with a great sense of style and high production values, Sly Cooper is not to be missed.
  11. GameZone
    91
    Sly Cooper is the first video game to directly parody the "Metal Gear Solid" series, and it does it really, really well.
  12. netjak
    91
    Enough fun to want to play through multiple times, and would be perfect if only there was more of it.
  13. GameSpy
    91
    As polished a platformer as you'll find this year...Its sterling production values accentuate its smooth, sublime gameplay. Heck, even the mini-games are polished.
  14. Entertainment Weekly
    91
    Sure, Sly is indebted to a certain Mario, but the adventure genre is far from spent, and Sly's guaranteed to steal a few gaming hours, if not an entire weekend. [20 Sept 2002]
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  15. Cinescape
    91
    The gameplay is addictive; there are tons of items in the environment to destroy, tricky enemies to sneak by, and some puzzles to figure out.
  16. Electric Playground
    90
    The worlds and characters the designers have created here will charm your boots off.
  17. GamerWeb Sony
    90
    What Sly Cooper lacks in length, it makes up for in gameplay variation, character design, as well as level design.
  18. GameReviewer
    90
    The best platformer to come about in years, and you owe it to yourself to play it.
  19. Play Magazine
    90
    It's got style. In fact, presentation-wise, you'll not find a better action game...anywhere. [Nov 2002, p.58]
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  20. Media and Games Online Network
    88
    A great platformer, whose only flaw is that it is rather short in length. The visuals and animations on Sly are just jaw-dropping, and the levels are diverse and gorgeous to sneak around in.
  21. Armchair Empire
    87
    Perhaps one of the coolest parts of this game is that after every level is completed, Sly learns a new stealth move, which helps him get by enemies and dodge traps and ambushes.

User Reviews

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User Score
8.6 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 96 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 34
  3. Negative: 2 out of 34
  1. thedarkpau
    10
    My favorite game of all time. I love everything about this game. I love the graphics and the gameplay beats any ratchet and clank or jak. I enjoy the stealth part of the game. The bosses are absolutely amazing but a bit easy. I have beaten this game over 10 times and i can always replay it. It was an amazing childhood game. The clue bottle collecting was a bit challenging and super fun. The master thief sprints are amazing and really challenge even very good platformer gamers. Overall i love sly cooper! Long live the thief!!!!!!!!!… Full Review »
  2. Yuichi
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. Sucker Punch did a pretty good job. The idea of a witty, charming, sly, raccoon and his accomplices, a very smart turtle, and a hippo for the getaway driver, was a great concept that has led to 2 other games and 1 in the making. The style of the game is completely different from the other 2 games. This helps make every level a different and fun experience. With 5 different bosses and five completely different locations, this game can hold your attention for a while. From an unknown-ed ocean where a mechanical, but smug frog is creating an endless storm to a volcano where you'll meet your greatest nemesis along with the swamps of Haiti, a ghost town Mesa City, and snowy mountains, the colors of all the levels are vibrant and are filled with interesting enemies. The controls are smooth and there are a variety of moves you can unlock throughout the game. There is honestly nothing I can think of at the moment that would make this a bad game so I will leave you with this. All the way through the game I'm sure you'll grow to like all the characters very much through the interesting story and will want to further your experience with the other 2 that have already come out.… Full Review »
  3. UndiyingPickle
    9
    Amazing level design, interesting but simple storyline and dynamic non repetitive gameplay deliver a beautiful experience that justifies the legend that sly cooper is to this date.
    The story is simple after the thievius raccoonus an old thief proffesional book from the sly family gets stealed in different parts is up to sly to recover the five different parts and rebuild the book, even if the story seems like just another revenge story it just never feels like such a cliche.
    As soon as you begin the game you will notice the smoothness of the controls and just how challenging the game is without being unfair.
    Each level has the same premise, recover keys, open doors, recover more keys and then open the door that leads to the boss. It sounds repetitive but it never gets old because each level and each section of it is just unique something that for a lot of games has always been a really though challenge to accomplish every single boss and every character in the game is just interesting the game fulfills that curiosity by explaining each of everyones history by beautiful full animated cutscenes, even if they are the bad guys they have a background story that you will have in your mind meanwhile your trying to get to them it just never gets old or repetitive and as i say before is impressive since the gameplay and the story are so simple.
    The only problem that i would have with this game is probably the final boss, even if the ending is so satisfying you just keep wondering who's this guy what makes this guy different from the other guys why is he so special this plot holes as some might call them never ruin the hole experience but they are definitely
    something that need to be said. In conclusion after playing this game you will get the praise that it receives and you will just fell in love with the series as i did, Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus deserves every single score and praise that gets as a franchise.    … Full Review »
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