Sly 2 is one of those 'above and beyond' type sequels where every single thing that could reasonably have been an issue with the original is improved, and things that didn't need to be improved are somehow made better. As I said in my review for Infamous 2, it's so nice to play a sequel that knows exactly what it's doing and why it's doing it.

Sly 2 trades the first game's quest for restoring the Cooper family's legacy and hunting their greatest adversary for a series of meticulously planned heists against an international gang of criminals. While the first game understandably focused almost entirely on Sly, this game instead gives Murray and Bentley some much-needed time in the spotlight. They both play very differently too, with Murray relying purely on brute force and muscle and Bentley relying entirely on gadgets to get the job done.

Though Sly is obviously the most satisfying character to play, taking control of the rest of the gang helps bring a nice change of pace to the proceedings without their roles being relegated to so-so minigame type levels with bizarre difficulty spikes as in Sly 1.

Sly 2 is also where the series finds its definitive identity. While that identity can still be felt in the original, it really becomes fully formed in Band of Thieves, oozing a bombastic style with its brightly colored comic book look and its film noir attitude and tone. It helps elevate Sly from a great platformer with an inspired vision to something truly special.

The story and particularly the dialogue also receive an upgrade, with mature, sharply written banter between the Cooper gang and their adversaries as they try to stay one step ahead at every turn. Its narrative might not be as dark and sinister as the original, but it doesn't intend to be, instead providing an Ocean's Eleven-style globetrotting caper with all the fun and dramatic twists that would entail.

Really, my only problems with Sly 2 are that the camera occasionally has a mind of its own, especially in tight corridors and corners, and that the game's length, while perfectly acceptable on its own, does start to reveal cracks in the repetitive nature of its gameplay and level structure as the chapters wind on in the back half of the game. Granted, it never really stops being fun to play, so it's not a totally egregious issue, but it's still noticeable. There’s also some spotty voice acting here and there from Neyla and Carmelita and issues with attaching to nearby climbing points as Sly.

Of course, the PS3 remaster has issues with glitches and sound problems on occasion, but that's not Sucker Punch's fault.

These blemishes, however, are not enough to bring down the whole and Sly 2 lives up to be a sequel that's better in nearly every single way from its predecessor, cementing this series as a classic worthy of unconditional respect and love.

9/10