The Sly Collection
- November 9, 2010
- Sucker Punch Productions
- 12h median play time
Sly's jump to PS Vita is a resounding success, with solid gameplay and stories wrapped in impressive technical polish and Cross-Save support.
The Sly Collection is a remastered compilation of three comedy stealth games: Sly Cooper and the Thievius Racconus, Sly 2: Band of Thieves, and Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves. Players control the raccoon Sly and his gang in a series of thrilling heists, using stealth, combat, strategy, and exploration. The game offers various modes, including single-player, split-screen co-op, and local multi-player for up to 2 players.
Reviews
- The Sly Collection features beautifully remastered HD graphics that enhance the nostalgic experience of the original games.
- Each game offers a unique blend of platforming, stealth, and humor, making them enjoyable for players of all ages.
- The collection provides great value, with three full games and easy trophy achievements, making it a worthwhile purchase for both new and returning players.
- There are occasional technical issues, such as audio sync problems and frame rate dips, which can detract from the overall experience.
- The mini-games included in the collection feel tacked on and lack depth, often serving only as a means to earn trophies.
- Navigating between the games requires quitting and restarting, which can be an inconvenient and frustrating experience for players.
- graphics15 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics in the Sly Collection have been significantly enhanced, featuring refined HD visuals that surpass the original PS2 graphics and rival many current downloadable titles. Players appreciate the clarity and detail of the artwork, which maintains a nostalgic charm while benefiting from modern upgrades like anti-aliasing and 720p resolution. Overall, the remastered graphics contribute to a smooth gameplay experience, making it a visually appealing collection for fans of the franchise.
“The game's visuals are completely cleaned up, refined, and clear as crystals.”
“It's amazing what anti-aliasing and 720p graphics can do to an old game; the Sly Collection could be comparable to what's available on the PSN.”
“The artwork and concept for these vast levels are amazing and detailed and really fit into the Sly universe.”
“Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus, the first entry in the franchise, is the one that remastering is more difficult to do due to the dated graphics.”
“The graphics still look better than the PS2 graphics, but they are still dated, which adds to the nostalgia factor.”
“The artwork and concept for these vast levels are amazing and detailed, fitting perfectly into the Sly universe.”
- story15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The story in this game follows Sly as he embarks on a global quest to confront an ancient family enemy, featuring a mix of humor and engaging cutscenes that enhance the narrative. Players appreciate the open-world design and the ability to control multiple characters, each with unique skills for various missions, while the backstory adds depth to the characters. However, some players feel that the cutscenes can be overly lengthy, potentially interrupting the flow of gameplay.
“Sly once again embarks on a quest across the globe to put an end to his ancient family enemy before it is too late.”
“The story is probably the best I've seen.”
“The stories are fun and there is plenty of backstory that gets you interested in the characters, but sometimes the cutscenes can be too long.”
“This game steps away from the classic nature of the first game and opens up vast levels to explore and missions to do with broader steps and plans in mind.”
“Noticed in Sly 2 and 3, at the end of a mission when returning to the hideout, there is a short scene of the hideout door.”
“There is a comical cutscene to tie in stuff after and before each mission.”
- gameplay13 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay in the Sly series maintains familiar mechanics while introducing larger locations and a greater variety of mini-game segments, enhancing the overall experience. Players enjoy a mix of stealth, action, and humor, with new features like disguises and character diversity adding depth. The controls are intuitive, ensuring a smooth experience across the games, which collectively offer substantial playtime and a vibrant, cartoonish aesthetic.
“And unlike Sly 2, where most of the gameplay consists of action segments, Sly 3 has more mini-game segments such as piloting airplanes, controlling remote RC cars, and playing with fireworks. As much fun as the Sly collections are, it still has its fair share of problems.”
“There are some new features and mechanics, such as disguises for Sly and Murray being slightly weaker, but the other characters that are invited into the game add some diversity to the gameplay when you get to play as them.”
“The gameplay is very smooth, with no frame rate issues anywhere to be seen, and loading times are short. The controls are intuitive and easy to get used to, with training parts at the start of each game that help you get into the feel of the game. To be honest, the controls are easy; use them once or twice and it's like riding a bike!”
“The gameplay is pretty basic and is explained as you go along with plenty of collectibles and extra abilities to obtain along the way.”
“And unlike Sly 2 where most of the gameplay consists of action segments, Sly 3 has more mini-game segments such as piloting airplanes, controlling remote RC cars, playing with fireworks, etc. As much fun as the Sly collections are, it still has its fair share of problems.”
“Gameplay feels like watching a cartoon.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in these video games is well-received, adding a lighthearted touch to engaging stories suitable for all ages. Players appreciate the blend of humor with action and adventure, enhancing the overall fun of the gameplay experience, which spans 24-36 hours across multiple titles.
“The video games are great stories for all ages and are full of humor, action, and adventure, with some nice themes woven throughout the narratives.”
“Each game is fun with a nice bit of humor thrown in. Each game can take upwards of 8-12 hours to complete, so you are looking at 24-36 hours of gameplay. The games themselves have a very unique feel to them -- you sneak around levels gathering clues, coins, and avoiding traps/security systems to reach your goal.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, the games demonstrate strong stability on the PS3, with only minor visual glitches reported that do not impact gameplay. The visual upgrades are notable, yet the performance remains reliable.
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the overall experience.”
“There are numerous bugs that disrupt gameplay, leading to frustrating moments.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The optimization in Sly 3 is generally well-received, with some users noting that the Binocucom feature does not fully expand to the screen edges, likely due to adjustments made for widescreen compatibility. Overall, this minor issue is not seen as a significant drawback.
“The Binocucom in Sly 3 doesn't expand completely over the screen; you can see outside of it to the left and right. I think it's just because they optimized it for widescreen, so it's no big deal.”
“The Binocucom in Sly 3 doesn't expand completely over the screen; you can see outside of it to the left and right. I think it's just because they optimized it for widescreen, so it's no biggie.”
Critic Reviews
Stealing your heart – Sly Cooper Collection review
While some small technical issues crop up every once in a while, the Sly Cooper Collection on Vita is a surprisingly competent handheld port of three excellent games.
75%The Sly Trilogy Review
Sly and his band of thieves are back with a bang in this HD remake for the PlayStation 3
80%The Sly Trilogy PS Vita Review
Sly's jump to PS Vita is a resounding success, with solid gameplay and stories wrapped in impressive technical polish and Cross-Save support.
85%