Since the release of the PlayStation 5, 3D platformers have managed to find a new home. Titles like Sackboy: A Big Adventure and the upcoming Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart have helped drive home the idea that the genre has massive potential to thrive on the new system. However, while Sony has always been known for its 3D platformers, Sly Cooper still hasn't gotten the time in the spotlight he deserves. With the PlayStation 5's latest technological advancements, now is the perfect time for the character to return.

The Sly Cooper series originally began in 2002 with Sly Cooper and the Thevious Raccoonus. The series follows Sly, a master thief who, along with his crew, steals valuable items. But rather than sell these items, Sly is often shown stealing to beat rival enemies to the punch. The last time the character was seen was in 2013's, Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time. Though the game received largely positive reception, there still has not been a sequel announced in almost ten years.

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One of the reasons that now is the time for Sly to make a comeback partially has to do with the secret ending found in Thieves in Time. Players who collect all the trophies in the game can unlock a secret post-credits scene. The short scene shows that Sly, who was lost in a blimp crash at the end of the game, actually survived. Surveying the wreckage, it is revealed that he is in Egypt, facing a temple and pyramids. The fifth Sly Cooper game pick up immediately after that cliffhanger, as Sly and his friends try to reunite.

The level of detail that the PlayStation 5 can provide could make for some of the best-looking levels that the franchise has ever seen. Whether in the city playing as Bentley, Murray and Carmelita Fox or in the desert as Sly, the cartoon art style would take on new life. Like Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, the PS5 can help make each backdrop feel like a living, breathing world. Cityscapes could feature traffic as players jump from the rooftops, while desert scenes bring the oasis to life with independently moving sand particles.

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Sly Cooper's ingenuity with respect to gadgets and stealth has always made him stand among some of the best characters in PlayStation's lineup, including heroes like Nathan Drake or Jak and Daxter. With the DualSense controller, Sly's gadgets could have a whole new layer of detail added to them. The DualSense is best known for its adaptive triggers, which mimic resistance on things like bowstrings and even heavy levers. The controller also uses haptic feedback vibrations, a touchscreen and gyro controls. With Sly and company, whether it's a hover pack or smoke bomb, each of their gadgets could be tailored to at least one of these functions.

The PlayStation 5 has been doing a fantastic job in creating games that showcase the best qualities of the console. Whether it's a brand new franchise or a long-running classic, each game has utilized the console's features to the best of its ability. Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is preparing to show what a AAA game made specifically for the PS5 will look and feel like. Hopefully the game is excellent and it will prove why Sly Cooper deserves the next-gen treatment. Not only could a fifth game continue the long-running story, but it can also introduce an iconic character to a new generation.

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