This weekend, I finally finished the third and final game in The Sly Collection. I've been playing the collection pretty much exclusively since the New Year, and I've enjoyed the whole ride. It's definitely been fun, albeit a bit easy. The first game was a fairly straightforward platformer with some stealth elements and the occasional mini-game. The second game is definitely the series' showpiece, introducing larger, more complex heists, involving the whole Cooper gang and a fine balance of gameplay experiences (and two episodes taking place in Canada!). The third game spreads itself a bit too thin with the excessive focus on mini-games and multiple characters, few of whom get enough time in the spotlight, but it's still a good time.

I was surprisingly drawn in by the game's characters, particularly Bentley and Murray. I've developed a real fondness for the two of them. The games' stories had enough hooks to hold my interest. And I was impressed to see a wheelchair-bound protagonist in the third game. You don't see that often.

And the collection was a total trophy-stravaganza. More than 100 trophies, including 3 platinums, were enough to rocket me from level 10 all the way to level 12 once all was said and done. The first Platinum was a total cakewalk. The second was just as easy, only it took much longer. The third was slightly trickier, as you had to complete a series of master challenges in addition to the main story mode, but not nearly as challenging as I had been expecting after reading the forums. If you can handle the God of War challenges, for example, the Sly Challenges should be no problem.

So, three Sly Cooper games later and I'm already a month and a half into my year without buying games. This collection definitely helped me get a head start on 2011. I'll need to think of where I want to go from here. Should I keep going with the PS3 and clean up some old games and trophies? I have 3D Dot Game Heroes, Castle Crashers and a few PSN titles to 100%. Should I delve into StarCraft II (and possibly not resurface until next year)? Should I brave more of the impossible insanity of Super Meat Boy, now that I can use my PS3 controller on my PC? Or should I focus on some of my smaller PC titles, like P.B. Winterbottom, Bit.Trip Beat, and Puzzle Quest 2? I'm open to suggestions; otherwise, I'll see what pulls me in first.

Happy continued gaming!