Dimitri has finally cashed in on that favor we promised him back in Holland. We’re tasked with recovering the treasure that was stolen from his grandfather when he was still a young man. If we succeed, not only will we repay the favor, but only gain a new member for the Cooper Gang.
We just need to outwit a town of bloodthirsty pirates in order to do so. Can’t be too difficult, can it?
In any other world or setting, an anachronistic pirate adventure starring a modern-day gang of thieves would seem really odd and/or out of place. But for Sly Cooper, and almost specifically Sly Cooper, everyone in the team feels right at home here in Blood Bath Bay. If anything, the cell-shaded graphic and animation style, combined with the charisma of the core cast, work to seamlessly blend the gang into almost any type of setting that the team at Sucker Punch could envision some form of thievery taking place.
And as someone who enjoys pirate fiction, it’s fun seeing all the homages to said fiction. When Sly is jousting with his words the way Guybrush Threepwood does in Monkey Island, it’s easy to feel the reverence that the development team held for this genre. I can almost picture in my head the person in the pre-production room enthusiastically pitching the pirate scenario to the rest of the team when I play these missions.
To top it off, we get some genuinely great moments between Bentley and Penelope in this hub world. Watching them bond, and have a heart-to-heart moment as Penelope gets over her puppy love for Sly and realizes she gets along with Bentley far more, gives both characters what they need to grow and develop.
It’s not the most profound writing in the world, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s good, and that’s all that matters.
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