With the clever use of thievery and charm, Sucker Punch's "Sly Cooper" may be the next platformer set to sneak its way into your PS2, and your heart.

The game tells the story of Sly Cooper, an orphaned raccoon who must reclaim the book that contains his family's thieving techniques. Evil forces have scattered the tome, called the Thievius Raccoonus, and it's up to the sexy ring-tailed protagonist to use his talents to gather the book's pages and make the world a safer place. Sly will also benefit from some helpful friends, like Bentley the spectacled turtle for example.

Visually the game is dynamite. The character models are sassy and tart, the backgrounds vivid and detailed, and the animations smooth and subtle. This will definitely be one of the best-looking platformers coming out this year.

As for gameplay, the staples are present and accounted for, whether it's item collecting or chasm jumping. What makes the maneuverings unique is the stealthy activities you'd expect from a master thief. You'll do enough sneaking, creeping, rappelling and barrel-hiding to make Solid Snake proud. For the more advanced players, you can also unlock additional powers for Sly.

Though it may seem like platformers will be a dime a dozen in the coming months, "Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus" is shaping up to be one of the most solid performers of 2002. Look for it this September.