Sly Cooper Vita Coming, Does What Madden 13 Won't

I was probably going to blow off covering Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time at PlayStation's Pre-E3 event. The game looks great, but how many different ways are there to describe Sly's gameplay? Well, turns out there are now two ways -- PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita.
 
Yes, Sanzaru Games is bringing Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time to both the PS3 and the Vita. The games will share one Trophy set and one save file. So, just like MLB 12: The Show, you'll be able to play on your TV and then transfer your save for when you're headed out with the Vita. Something Madden NFL 13 is skipping this year.
But that's not to say the games are identical. Well, their content is, but the controls aren't. Whereas the PS3 has two extra shoulder buttons to play with, the Vita's going to make up the difference with the touch screen. A tap will switch Sly into one of his ancestors' disguises (the whole game is about jumping around Sly's family tree and using unique abilities) and a tap will activate the binoculars (which you aim by moving the Vita and taking advantage of the gyroscopes in the device). Tapping the back touch will pop-up a compass pointing to your objective.
I was excited for Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time before, but something about the game on the Vita really clicked for me. Switching to Sly's Robin Hood-like costume, I'd shoot arrows and steer them through the air with the Vita's tilt controls, and it was fun. Sure, the Vita version drops the action from 60 frames per second to 30, but Thieves in Time still looked pretty and as colorful as the console experience.
 

I can't really put it into words, but all this felt like an experience made better on the Vita. Leaping on the tight rope the arrow drew through the air, navigating past traps, playing as Carmelita -- it all felt like an experience I'd want to tackle on the go. Thankfully, I now can.