A MUST PLAY. This is the best Sly game !!
I felt the love and effort put into this game throughout every second of this replay.

There was a massive improvement in gameplay; with so many characters added, no two missions are the same or constantly getting recycled, it actually feels like every character serves a purpose.

Replaying this years later (emulated instead of on a scratched, dying, toothpaste-ridden CD), I noticed the characters and story are incredibly well-written, especially considering this is a children's game. A lot of more sophisticated themes are being discussed that I didn't originally pick up on.

To add something more personal, I am obsessed with the art style and just the art in general. I remember sitting at my PlayStation 2 for hours just admiring the concept art, running around in the open world just listening to the ost and enjoying the map design, everything, even the guard character designs... This game truly had me in a chokehold <3

Now this is the Sly game.

One of the reasons I enjoy it so much more than the original is because of the sheer variety in gameplay, which I find a little stale in Sly 1. So much depth is added to the game just by making Bentley and Murray actual playable characters.

The plot is executed very well, I'd even say perfectly. It was so easy and fun to follow. I love the characters; there was definitely an upgrade between the original and the sequel. The bosses aren't just caricatures of a region, which makes them much more memorable, they all have such distinct styles and motives for their respective clockwork parts.

Finally, I adore the art. This is something I'm especially fond of when it comes to this franchise. The character designs, maps, and cutscenes never fail to amaze me with every replay.