Probably the biggest push to the graphics is the game's 3-D levels. I talked about this a little bit when I gave the game a try a few months ago at E3, and was wowed by the effect. Now, I still am, although I could see how easily it could give a person a headache if you dwell too long. These levels are worth checking out, mainly for the "wow" factor and giving the game a further enhanced sense of depth, but if you're sick of it, you're given the option to just through the normal way, without the 3-D effect. It's cool.

When it comes to sound, Sucker Punch does their homework, and here they've once again completed it like an advanced term paper. The voice actors from the previous games are back (aside from yet another new woman voicing Carmelita Fox- what gives?), and deliver in their respective roles. The music is just as terrific as always, carrying with it a tone of mystery and yet sounding like something that would fit right in with the Ocean's films. The sound effects aren't too expansive, but they work, for what's provided.

Then you come to the game's controls, and this is where old meets new in a mostly good kind of way. Sly still controls elegantly, using combat to his advantage and being able to grab hooks, pipes, and other surfaces to sneak around with ease. His stealth motions are still top-of-the-line, and his combat's been improved, removing the uppercut-like move and replacing it with some kind of cane charge. To see him whisk across pipes with ease with just a press of the button is awesome.

Bentley has also seen improvement, and speaks volumes for handicapped heroes. Besides having some great brain activity going on, he's able to swing around his wheelchair for a short attack, drop bombs, and use some kind of electronic device that's a weapon and grapplie item in itself, the Grapple Cam. He can also take health from guards if needed, and use his brain power to solve the occasional puzzle. He's gotten much better.

Meanwhile, I'm not so sure about Murray. He continues to have some strong physical attacks, and the addition of a move where he can roll up in a ball and go guard bowling is cool, but he mostly has some kind of stuttering in his system that doesn't quite go smoothly. He's still a riot, especially in the sub-missions where he goes to "find himself", but his gameplay isn't as well put together as the others. Still, it suffices.

Then you have all sorts of new characters, including a couple of familiar foes from previous games and some others. Carmelita Fox is controllable for a couple of missions, and while some may like the gunplay she offers, it gets a little old. Penelope is a new assistance who works with an RC system, and she adds a bit of diversity to the game that's rather cool. The Guru is some kind of mindful character who's more into possession than straight-up attacks, and his style can be rather tricky. It takes some getting used to.

Past that, the gameplay's fine, and there's a bit of change-ups here and there to keep things fresh. There's a number of mini-games scattered throughout, including a lemonade drinking contest (for you lemonade lushes out there), vehicluar stages involving both planes and boats, and an interesting twist that lets you choose your own dialogue with specific characters, which can really twist the story around rather easily. All of this adds up to the replay value, along with the ability to acquire new items. Most noteworthy is the parachute, which allows Sly to sneak inside aircraft to plant devices and then land safely afterwards, in a dazzling visual display.

The single player game is definitely a must-play, as there are a number of regular and bonus missions to complete, as well as the free-roaming environments to keep you plenty busy. But the game scores major points for adding something I addressed as missing in Band of Thieves- and that's multiplayer. Sure, it's not the strongest multiplayer out there, and zero support is provided for online play, but it's a start. You can choose from a number of games, ranging from aerial combat to Cops and Robbers, and they'll keep you and your kids/friends/others plenty busy. Kudos to Sucker Punch for deciding to take a chance and coming up with roses.

Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves is by no means a must-have classic like other Sony hits, mainly because not all of its inhabitants are of pure interest and some camera snags get in the way of the game's beauty. But it is still heartily recommended, and the best Sly game yet. The single player mode is loads of fun, and multiplayer just adds on more hours of heisting madness. It puts a smile on my face and leaves me wondering just what the team will come up with next on the PSP and PS3. Whatever it is, it's bound to be a steal.