Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus

Twenty-four years ago today, a certain raccoon with a penchant for larceny made his debut. Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus arrived on the PlayStation 2 in North America on September 24, 2002, introducing players to a world of daring heists and cunning escapes.

WHY IT STILL MATTERS

This wasn't your typical run-and-gun adventure. Sly Cooper was all about finesse. You played as Sly, the latest in a long line of master thieves, aiming to recover pages of his family's ancient thieving manual, the Thievius Raccoonus, stolen by a gang of villains. The gameplay revolved around stealth, observation, and precise movements. Creeping through shadows, disabling guards, and pulling off elaborate heists felt less like breaking the law and more like executing a perfectly choreographed performance. It was a game that encouraged you to think like a thief, planning your moves and exploiting your environment.

The game's visual style was also a standout, with a cel-shaded aesthetic that gave it a distinct cartoonish charm. This, combined with a witty script and a cast of memorable characters like Sly's tech-savvy turtle friend Bentley and the muscle-bound, but gentle, hippo Murray, created an engaging and lighthearted experience. It was a breath of fresh air in the gaming landscape of 2002, offering a unique blend of platforming, puzzle-solving, and pure, unadulterated stealth.