Of all the mascot platformers on the PlayStation 2, only Sly Cooper managed to win my heart. In Sly 2 the gang goes on their biggest globe-trotting adventure yet, tackling a spice-dealing Tiger in India and a power-thirsty Bison in Canada among other nefarious, international creatures. But where Sly stands apart from his lombax and ottsel peers is with a heartfelt story that doesn’t treat its target child audience like they can’t handle a heavy narrative. Sly, Bentley, and Murray are a broken team by the game’s climax, and their fractured relationships are poised for the best redemption arc ever.
