The fun loving criminal that is Sly Cooper and his band of thieves are about to make another return to the PlayStation 2 in what will no doubt be the most engaging foray into the series yet. Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves takes a few twists and turns that make the game more entertaining this time around, with new multiplayer elements that let you either control Sly's gang or a rival gang of thieves or police and a new twist that puts the antics of the master thief in a whole new direction.

I had a chance to talk with one of the producers behind Naughty Dog and asked him why 3-D would be such an important element to the game. He explained that the idea really helps Sly become something not so commonplace and would allow gamers to be sucked in. I then had a chance to play some segments in 3-D, including a battle with a large rabbit warrior in a Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon setting, complete with large bamboo trees that could be climbed and just as easily knocked down.

This battle was fantastic, with a fight first atop the trees with Sly and his foe flying all over the place while dodging each other's attacks. The battle then took to the ground, with these two fighting with devastating attacks and knocking down trees faster than a hippie-hating bulldozer. All this time, the 3-D graphics represented a new dimension brilliantly, complete with shading and the same great look that Sly Cooper always retained.

Another sequence in the game represented Sly's sneakiness as only it could, having him do some platform jumping and move past deadly lasers in an underground cavern. This sequence also used 3-D in a seamless way, drawing the gamer in and allowing them to really get further into the game.

But one cool element that I wasn't expecting (and asked for in my Sly 2: Band of Thieves review) was a multiplayer element. The Sucker Punch producer and I engaged in a cool biplane battle, complete with scattered power-ups and some great shooting action (I beat him 5-2). The physics feel right at home, complete with tricks like doing a barrel roll and being able to maneuver out of gunfire with a quick 180 degree
turn. You can also destroy objects on the ground, much to the delight of those in a more destructive sense of thievery.

Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves looks to be a stunning entry for the series, and one of the last ballyhooed PlayStation 2 efforts before the series no doubt jumps to PS3. The producer was excited for the potential of the system, but did not confirm the series' next-gen existence yet. Oh, well, time will certainly be the factor. In the meantime, Honor Among Thieves should steal your attention this fall.