I uploaded this list as a forum post years ago, but I feel like its best to leave it here.
Neon's video guide for Remaster (December 2020):
Here is a brief guide on how to compensate for remaster patches. Special mentions go to the following: @Oggyerino @Gnist @Remo @Snugggles @hdls @TaymNeon @YamadaTV
If it is not mentioned here, it probably works.
General rule of thumb about what works on Remaster
The main things that are different on PSN include:
- Proxies
- Load deficiencies
- Stuck Spots (either slightly harder or outright don't work)
- Waiting for the autosave in menu movement
- The game runs 1.7% faster than PS2 Disc
Fastest setup for Remaster
The fastest Remaster version is a Fat model PS3 running an NTSC-U Download (Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus) on an SSD. Specifics of models are as follows, any PS3 with the model of CECH-Axx through CECH-Kxx (the number at the end does not matter as it is just a region code, and only matters for BC PS3s). The reason we run NTSC-U specifically is due to a Health and Safety skip. By setting your system language to Dutch, German, Italian, Japanese or Korean, you can skip the health and safety warning that pops up everytime you reset, saving you about 7 seconds per reset. Running on an SSD is faster than running on the standard HDD that comes with the PS3, and running on disc is very slow and is not recommended.
PSN region breakdown:
NTSC-U (USA) > PAL > NTSC-J (JPN) > NTSC-J (KOR)
(Simplified) PS3 model breakdown:
Fat > Slim > Super Slim
PS3 hard drive breakdown:
SSD > HDD included with PS3 > Collection Disc
It's worth noting that there are language differencials, of which certain PSN versions can benefit from. If you plan to run Any% on PAL Remaster or on the PS Vita, Spanish is faster than English by about 0.5 seconds. While you can switch to French or Spanish on NTSC Remaster, you will lose the benefit of H&S Skip. For whatever reason, the PAL PS2 dubs have an insanely slow Clockwerk voice, but this was fixed on PS3.
You can time your resets and compare them to this guide to decide whether or not you should reset over some of the cutscenes or not: https://www.speedrun.com/sly1/guide/x1y6o
Other helpful tips to optimise resets, by Gnist: https://www.speedrun.com/sly2/guide/czfg4#ch3Tips_optimizations (this guide was made with Sly 2 in mind, but also applies to Sly 1 and 3 on PS3.) Video by Remo:
File Setup and Cutscene Skips
To set up your file, you have to simply watch the Paris introduction cutscene ("Sly, come in! Sly!!!") and save your game, as the Cinematic Skip file setup does not work on Remaster (and the Load Patch PS2 releases). Now, you have a run file set up, and now you can start running (provided that you follow the file regulation of 0 coins, 5 lives). In order to skip the cinematics, you have to reset your game over them, by holding down the PS Button, going to Quit Game, and selecting Yes to reset game.
Resetting the game on PS Vita will not skip the cinematics.
Paris and A Stealthy Approach (with Void Drown)
When you start the run, you immediately have to die four times in Paris, to make the game give you a pity charm. Using this pity charm, you can perform the ASA Void Drown to skip all of ASA and go straight to the end. A setup video for the Void Drown has been made by YamadaTV:
Alternative setup by Oggyerino:
The Paris mattress proxy does not work.
A Stealthy Approach (without Void Drown)
When you enter ASA, you cannot use the Sign Proxy to skip the cutscene at the end of the tunnel, so instead, you have to enter the tunnel, hit the cutscene, and when the Binocucom HUD pops up, pause the game and Exit to Hideout. Then, re-enter ASA and the cutscene should be skipped.
There is an alternate to this CSS, which involves using part of the above Void Drown setup to go around and above the tunnel.
The Van Bonk Proxy and Periscope Proxy do not work.
The stuck spot for Lighthouse Skip is a little bit more inconsistent but is still doable - it is highly reccommended to just use the Boost Jump route.
The Eye of the Storm (Raleigh boss fight)
There is a "sonic strat" you can do to skip waiting for the autosave to go away which involves getting the final hit on Raleigh midair and falling into the water or ledgegrabbing the platform.
A Rocky Start
The dog proxy, also known as Cletus Yeetus, does work on Remaster, but it is much weaker than the PS2 proxy. Due to its somewhat low success rate it's only recommended to learn if you are going for a top time (for about a 40-44 time)
Remaster Cletus setup by hdls, Snugggles and Slysonic:
If you don't plan to do Cletus Yeetus but you do plan to do full World 2 Skip, follow this route: While it is possible to skip the floor lasers cutscene, the charm route requires you to watch it in order to preserve 2 charms for the skip.
Muggshot's Turf (World 2 hub)
Instead of loading immediately after A Rocky Start, you instead want to pull off a series of out-of-bounds to skip the cutscene by the bridge, seen here:
A World 2 skip guide has been made by Oggyerino, with a setup made by Snugggles, so watch this video on how to navigate World 2, including the both major skips and the Mattress Jump:
Muggshot's Turf (without PSN World 2 Skip)
PSN World 2 Skip is probably one of the hardest tricks in the run, so for those who cannot do World 2 Skip, you will have to collect 3 keys. You can collect the key for A Rocky Start at the cost of the Rocky clip, then complete Murray's Big Gamble and Boneyard Casino. These missions are performed identical to an All Keys - Original run, with the exception of Murray's Big Gamble's key load. You have to watch the key animation then run to Boneyard Casino. Not doing PSN World 2 Skip loses roughly 3 minutes in total.
Last Call (Muggshot boss fight)
The load strat does not work here, so instead, you have to die as you hit the final mirror. Alternatively, you can also go for a precise pause when Muggshot dies, as seen at 13:39, to which you can View Map to Hideout.
The Dread Swamp Path
DSP Van Proxy and Van Jump OoB do not work.
The Lair of the Beast
Loading will not skip the beginning cutscene, and although you can Exit Level to skip it, it is faster to watch it.
Piranha Lake
The Fish Skip "jiggle setup" doesn't work, however you can use the alternative strat where you ram into the gate on top of the invisible wall to skip this level.
A Deadly Dance (Mz Ruby boss fight)
The load strat does not work here, so instead, you have to press Exit Level, and attempt the Double-Hit like that. You will know once you've gotten it if the percentage shows 22% (assuming you have done Rocky clip and have not entered extra levels). After exiting level from the boss fight, view map to Grave Undertaking and collect the charm here. Then immediately save game and load, and repeat, then view map to hideout.
A Perilous Ascent
The van proxy to icicle checkpoint does not work.
The beginning proxy to OoB "firework show" cutscene skip does not work.
The PS2 Charmless Lomaykay strats, where you wedge Sly between some trees for a superjump chain, does not work. Instead, you have to do the original Lomaykay strat and charm abuse to the nearby pit.
The Cold Heart of Hate
It is faster to watch the opening cinematic, as it is only 36 seconds
A Daring Rescue
Similar to ASA and Muggshot's Turf, you cannot skip the cutscene via loading. However, this time, you can skip the cutscene by pressing Select, and going to Burning Rubber or Hazardous Path, then immediately going back into ADR.
