Gaming Target - News: Sly Cooper steals a sequel

Written by Jonathan Nicklas on March 15, 2004

Sly Cooper steals a sequel: Jak III & Ratchet 3 won't be the only Sony-published, PS2-platforming sequels this year.

Sony Computer Entertainment America announced the September 2004 release of Sly 2: Band of Thieves, a comic crime caper, action-adventure game designed exclusively for PS2. Created by Seattle-based developer, Sucker Punch Productions, the company responsible for the worldwide million unit seller and "Greatest Hits" title Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus, Sly 2: Band of Thieves incorporates many of Sucker Punch's signature talents including award winning toon-shaded animation and art direction, visual style, immersive storylines, strong characters, and highly interactive worlds. Sly 2: Band of Thieves introduces never seen before design innovations, including all-new heist gameplay as players experience the next level of story driven, team based adventures.

"We are thrilled to have Sly 2: Band of Thieves as part of this year's premier PlayStation 2 lineup," said Ami Blaire, director, product marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "Recognized for their artistic style, creativity, superior technology and brilliant storytelling abilities, Sucker Punch continues to push the boundaries and revolutionizes the character-based action adventure genre once again."

Incorporating a creative new approach to team play, Sly and his crew work together to plan and pull off a series of big heists. With an enhanced move set, including pick-pocketing, vent crawls, rooftop chases, and stealth attacks, and a team of unique playable characters, Sly 2: Band of Thieves delivers a true thieving experience as players explore the open environments and must think on their feet to survive. Sly 2: Band of Thieves breaks the rules of convention and truly immerses players into a world with no laws or boundaries.

Sly and his crew are back! Say goodbye to the Brat Pack as you know it because there's a new Raccoon Pack in town that is raring to go. Word is out that Interpol has excavated the robotic remains of Clockwerk -- Sly's nemesis and sworn enemy of the Cooper clan. Sly and his gang discover the parts of Clockwerk are missing, and embark on a quest to ensure Clockwerk is never reassembled. The journey takes Sly and his crew to the far reaches of the globe, and along the way experience a plot full of deceit, surprising twists, and an exciting romantic triangle that will leave you wanting more.

Sly 2: Band of Thieves blends many gameplay elements together, including stealth, thievery, platform adventure, combat, strategy, and exploration, into one huge world. The adventure takes place across numerous locations, including Paris, Prague, India, the Canadian Wilderness and more, each with unique and diverse landscapes and environments all waiting to be explored. With its unique cel-shaded illustrated rendering technology, innovative character designs, realistic physics and variety of gameplay, Sly 2: Band of Thieves is set to become one of the biggest hits on PlayStation 2 this holiday season.