You may not like it, but this is what peak Sly looks like.
Seriously, this is the absolute pinnacle of the Sly series, at least in my view. Despite the praise I showered Sly 2 with, Sly 3 truly feels like the culmination of everything the original trilogy was building towards. Not just narratively but also in a gameplay sense. Every aspect of the Sly series's gameplay formula has been fine-tuned and perfected here; there are really little to no flaws I find with it personally. It's a shorter adventure than Sly 2, sure, but that's for great reason, as there doesn't really feel like a wasted moment in Sly 3. It's the entry I've replayed the most for a reason, after all.
Yes, that all sounds like hyperbole of the highest caliber, I know, but it's not exactly misplaced. You can really tell that Sucker Punch put their all into this finale to pay tribute to their loyal fans and the series itself. Honor Among Thieves is rife with callbacks and cameos from familiar faces, all while artfully telling a mature story with a lot of heart that examines the Cooper Gang's brotherhood and Sly's legacy as a thief in a way that feels incredibly rewarding for your investment in these characters.
The gameplay is as tight and sharp as ever, of course, with the original trio getting some new mechanics and moves of their own as well as bringing in some new faces with their own unique style. It's the best the series has ever felt to play. Really, the only thing that could maybe bring it down slightly is that the grind to get new upgrades and gadgets from ThiefNet is quite a bit more taxing now, although you can keep the cashflow coming at a regular pace if you're willing to do some timed challenges and treasure hunts on the side.
I labeled Sly 2 as an 'above and beyond' type of sequel to the original. While that's still true, in my view, Sly 3 very much deserves the same label. It delivers the best gameplay, story, hub designs, and level designs in the series so far, all while telling an excellent story with much-needed narrative payoffs for its characters.
10/10
Seriously, this is the absolute pinnacle of the Sly series, at least in my view. Despite the praise I showered Sly 2 with, Sly 3 truly feels like the culmination of everything the original trilogy was building towards. Not just narratively but also in a gameplay sense. Every aspect of the Sly series's gameplay formula has been fine-tuned and perfected here; there are really little to no flaws I find with it personally. It's a shorter adventure than Sly 2, sure, but that's for great reason, as there doesn't really feel like a wasted moment in Sly 3. It's the entry I've replayed the most for a reason, after all.
Yes, that all sounds like hyperbole of the highest caliber, I know, but it's not exactly misplaced. You can really tell that Sucker Punch put their all into this finale to pay tribute to their loyal fans and the series itself. Honor Among Thieves is rife with callbacks and cameos from familiar faces, all while artfully telling a mature story with a lot of heart that examines the Cooper Gang's brotherhood and Sly's legacy as a thief in a way that feels incredibly rewarding for your investment in these characters.
The gameplay is as tight and sharp as ever, of course, with the original trio getting some new mechanics and moves of their own as well as bringing in some new faces with their own unique style. It's the best the series has ever felt to play. Really, the only thing that could maybe bring it down slightly is that the grind to get new upgrades and gadgets from ThiefNet is quite a bit more taxing now, although you can keep the cashflow coming at a regular pace if you're willing to do some timed challenges and treasure hunts on the side.
I labeled Sly 2 as an 'above and beyond' type of sequel to the original. While that's still true, in my view, Sly 3 very much deserves the same label. It delivers the best gameplay, story, hub designs, and level designs in the series so far, all while telling an excellent story with much-needed narrative payoffs for its characters.
10/10