Sly Cooper
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Sly Cooper (known as Sly Raccoon in Europe) is the star character and anti-hero of two platform games developed by Sucker Punch Productions for the Sony PlayStation 2.
Sly is a young raccoon who is descended from a long line of master thieves. He grew up an orphan after his father was killed by a gang known as the Fiendish Five. This gang also stole the Thievius Raccoonus, a book containing the Cooper family's thieving techniques. Sly's quest to recover his family's book is the basis for the first game.
Sly's primary weapon in the games is his family's cane.
Sly Cooper is aided in his adventures by his friends Bentley, a brainy turtle, and Murray, a strong, muscular hippo. In the first game, Murray is a reckless race car driver type, yet in the sequel, he takes on the persona of a professional wrestler. While the game offers no clear explanation, numerous mentions are made that Murray is the only member strong enough to handle some of the missions.
Sly and his friends make their home in Paris, but the nationality of the characters is never made clear in the games.
The world in which Sly Cooper and his friends live appears to be inhabited only by anthropomorphic animals.
Sly's archenemy is Clockwerk, a mysterious robotic owl. Clockwerk is revealed to have been hunting Sly's family line for years, which led to his decision to replace his body with machinery. It is also revealed that Clockwerk spared his life in the attack on his family to prove that the Cooper Clan would be unable to be great thieves without the Thievius Raccoonus.
In the first game, Clockwerk serves as the final boss, as well as the man "pulling the strings".
The second game focuses on a different gang, the Klaww Gang, who has stolen the pieces of Clockwerk's body that were left over after the first game to use in their own plans, and Sly's attempts to recover them.
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In both games, Cooper and his friends are pursued by Inspector Carmelita Fox, a detective from Interpol. Although the two are bitter rivals, they team up on occasion to defeat common foes. Carmelita is also portrayed as a possible love interest for Sly.
Sly Cooper and other characters from the games were also featured in a comic book published in 2004 by Gamepro Magazine to promote the release of Sly 2: Band of Thieves.
A third game, Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves is apparently scheduled for release sometime this fall. However, the exact date is unknown, and since the exact release date was not revealed at E3, it is anyone's guess as to when this information will be available. In addition, Sucker Punch Productions does not have any information on the upcoming game on their homepage. However the latter is not surprising considering the secrecy they kept around the second game before the release of the aforementioned issue of Gamepro Magazine in 2004.
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Heroes
Band of Thieves
Sly Cooper-Born into a long line of master thieves, Sly's life has not been an easy one. Orphaned by the Fiendish Five's raid on his house, he was sent to a local orphanage with no possessions except for his father's hat and cane. At the orphanage, he met Bentley the Turtle and Murray the Hippo, who would become his two best friends and the core of the Band of Thieves. In his early life of thievery, Sly acquired an adversary: Carmelita Fox, a detective determined to bring him in. Sly became rather flirtatious with her, but has never gotten serious...yet. Sly took on the Fiendish Five, recovering the Thievius Raccoonus, and two years later took on the Klaww Gang. Sly's skills include pick pocketing, infiltration, and disguise. In the Klaww Gang incidents, Sly received an updated feature on his Binocucom: a spy camera.
Bentley the Turtle-Bentley was delivered as an egg to the orphanage where he met Sly and Murray. Bentley became the team's strategist, tech expert, demolitions engineer, and business organizer. Bentley's most annoying personality trait is his extreme paranoia, which improved some when he got out in the field. Bentley often disapproves of Sly's methods, but puts up with them. Bentley utilizes a wide range of gadgets in his missions, including a sleep dart launcher, several bombs, and other such items. During the battle with Clock-La, Bentley sustained an injury that has left him confined to a wheelchair. However, he has tricked out the wheelchair with an assortment of gizmos just waiting to be used.
Murray the Hippo/The Murray-Murray has always been the doer of the group. One of the few things known about his early life is that he was a pizza delivery boy, who hotwired cars and was fired for dropping the pizzas. He serves as the team driver and the muscle in their operations. Murray was at first cowardly and rather prone to doing stupid things, but during the two years between facing the Fiendish Five and the Klaww Gang, he turned into a professional wrestler-like combatant, who still sometimes did stupid things. Murray's main weapons are his fists, which he uses to utmost effeciency in protecting his friends. Murray was deeply wounded phsycologically during the Klaww Gang jobs, first by the loss of the team van, and then by Bentley's injuries. This prompted Murray to leave the team and start a life of pacifism. However, it wasn't long before Sly and Bentley came to collect him.
Interpol
Inspector Carmelita Montoya Fox-Sly's constant nemesis and the anti-hero of the Sly Cooper world. Carmelita has been on Sly and co.'s case since day one, chasing after them with her shock pistol. Being the latest in a line of cops, she has a very black and white view on the law. Anyone who breaks the law in any way must be brought to justice. However, she too has broken the law by fleeing the cops during her brief period of suspected criminal activity. Carmelita has helped the Cooper Gang defeat Clockwerk twice, and was responsible for the destruction of the Hate Chip. Carmelita is very emotional, and despite her ignorance of Sly's flirting, she does appear to have feelings toward him-very positive feelings.
Enemies
Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus
The Fiendish Five
- Clockwerk-An owl who some time in the distant past developed a hatred for the Cooper clan. Clockwerk founded the Fiendish Five, and personally wiped out Sly's parents. Clockwerk set up shop in the Krakarov volcano, where he mined the rare alloy contained in the mountain to build his hover vehicles, Robo Falcons, and a gigantic Death Ray. When Sly came looking for Clockwerk, he found Carmelita Fox imprisoned in a hazard filled chamber. However, when he got to the containment unit, he became trapped himself. Clockwerk appeared on several nearby screens, gloating as Sly succumbed to his gas chamber. However, Sly escaped and formed a temporary alliance with Inspector Fox. When Sly grabbed the jetpack at the top of the now lava immersed Death Ray, Clockwerk appeared. The giant bird had replaced his body with robotic parts to supplement his hatred of the Cooper clan, which kept him alive. Clockwerk then confronted Sly in battle, and Sly beat him by destroying his head. However, Clockwerk's spectre would return to haunt Sly in the form of his components, which were stolen by the Klaww Gang and later reassembled. Despite the explosive defeat of Clock-La, the parts remained untouched. However, when Carmelita destroyed the Hate Chip, the parts aged into nothingness.
- Muggshot-Born the runt of the litter, Muggshot was mocked and teased by everyone in the neighborhood. The only friends he could find were on the big screen, where he saw his first gangster. Inspired, Muggshot worked out for the rest of his childhood, turning into a gigantic mass of muscle. Following his theft of Tennesse Kid Cooper's section of the Thievius Raccoonus, he took off for Mesa City to establish himself as a gambling kingpin. However, Sly and the gang were able to defeat him, and he was dragged off to jail. He later reappears to challenge Carmelita Fox.
- Mz. Ruby-As the descendant of a family of voodoo mystics, Mz. Ruby was feared as a child. Learning to summon the undead, Mz. Ruby turned to crime. After she stole Slytankhamen's section of the Thievius Raccoonus, she headed into the Haitian jungle. She established a massive voodoo facility, creating an army of voodoo zombies. However, Sly was able to penetrate her Skull Temple, and beat her in a voodoo face off. Mz. Ruby's illegal zombie production earned her a life sentence in jail.
- Panda King-A poor child growing up on the streets of China, the Panda King was fascinated with fireworks. He spent 10 years learning the art, then attempted to present his works to the noblemen of China. He was chased away, and took revenge by turning into a demolitions master. Following his theft of Otto Van Cooper's blueprints, he returned to China's Kunlun mountains to develop his new Flame Fu firework technique. Sly and the gang penetrated his mountain stronghold, and left him stunned for Carmelita Fox to pick up. Rumor has it, he joins the gang in order to defeat Dr. M.
- Sir Raleigh-Wealthy, priveleged, and living in luxury, Sir Raleigh nevertheless grew bored with his life. He tried piracy at one point, and found it to his liking. Becoming addicted to crime, Raleigh joined the Fiendish Five, establishing himself as Chief Machinist. After obtaining Riuichi Cooper's notes, he made for the Isle O' Wrath, a small island off the Coast of Wales, in the center of the Welsh Triangle. Raleigh turned out to be the cause of the Triangle, using his storm machine to foul up the weather to wreck ships. However, Sly was able to get aboard the machine and defeat Raleigh. Carmelita promptly showed up to toss Raleigh into jail.
Sly 2: Band of Thieves
The Klaww Gang
- Arpeggio-Though he was a brilliant being, Arpeggio was dissatisfied. While attending a prestigious boarding school, he found himself to be physically infuriating: his tiny wings would not allow him to fly. Arpeggio turned to the works of the Italian masters of the Renaissance period, looking at their designs of flying machines in search of a way to make himself fly. He came into the Klaww Gang as mechanical expert, and serviced all the Clockwerk parts for use in the Klaww Gang's schemes. However, Arpeggio secretly planned to reassemble Clockwerk and merge with him, giving him not only the ability to fly, but the power of immortality. However, Arpeggio's brilliant scheme involving the use of all the Klaww Gang's talents and manipulating Sly and co. into stealing the Clockwerk parts didn't factor in a betrayal by his protege Neyla. When Arpeggio tried to order her out of the Clockwerk Frame, she crushed him.
- Dimitri-Once a passionate artist, Dimitri's unique "kinetic aesthetic" didn't sit well with the art community. In rage, Dimitri took to forging old masterpieces, punishing the world for his dismissal. Dimitri set up a nightclub in Paris, where he funneled Rajan's illegal spice through the city in preparation for Arpeggio's master plan. He also had set up a counterfeit money printing press beneath the club, using the Clockwerk Tail Feathers as plates. However, despite his energy shooting rings, Dimitri was beaten. He later reformed and became a dance instructor on a cruise ship. Some time after the Klaww Gang incidents, he allied himself with the Cooper Gang to take on the forces of the mysterious Dr. M.
- Jean Bison-A prospector from the 1850's, Jean Bison was frozen alive in an avalanche. After 120 years in the cooler, global warming thawed him out. Jean Bison remained true to his time, seeking to tame the wild by damming every river and chopping down every tree. He joined the Klaww Gang to bankrole his war on nature, and attached the Clockwerk Lungs and Stomach to his three best trains: the Iron Horses. However, the gang robbed his trains and brought down his shipping empire. Escaping the Gang and Interpol alike, Bison returned to his home base, preparing another Northern Light Battery for Arpeggio and setting up for the Lumberjack Games. The gang competed in the games in turns: Murray in log chopping with Bentley providing a distraction, Sly in wall climbing with Murray helping out, and Bentley in log rolling with Sly getting rid of the judges. However, Bison saw through their ruse and knocked them unconscious. When Bentley confronted Bison in his saw mill, he learned that Bison had stolen all the Cooper Gang's Clockwerk parts and sold them to Arpeggio, along with Bison's Clockwerk Talons. Bentley then engaged Bison in combat and defeated him. Jean reformed and joined the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and ended up back in the ice box while saving baby penguins.
- Rajan-Growing up poor on the streets of Calcutta, Rajan started his life of crime early, selling black market spices that cause the consumers to become uncontrollably enraged, as well as making them hypnosis-susceptable. Rajan's outfit joined the Klaww Gang, and Rajan proclaimed himself "Lord of the Hills". He held a ball in his newly purchased palace to show off the Clockwerk Wings, which were shortly afterward stolen by Sly and the Gang. Rajan was forced to retreat to his spice temple, where he had hidden the Clockwerk Heart. After Sly and co. flooded the temple, Rajan took them on, knocking Sly unconcious. However, Murray managed to overpower him and recover the Clockwerk Heart half Rajan had attached to his staff. Rajan reformed and became the manager of a chain of rug dealers across North America.
Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves
- Dr. M the Monkey
- Octavius the Octopus
- Muggshot the Bulldog
- Dingo Boss (Not currently known)
- Lion Boss (Not currently known)
- The Pilot Boss (Not currently known)
- The Prince the Rooster
Other Characters
These two characters were featured prominently in Sly 2: Band of Thieves.
- Constable Neyla-When Sly comes to steal the Clockwerk parts, he runs into Carmelita and her new partner, Constable Neyla. Neyla intentionally mentions the Klaww Gang in Sly's hearing range, to set him loose upon the criminals. At first, Neyla appears to be Sly and co.'s dream come true, helping them break into Dimitri's disco room and then Rajan's spice temple. However, when Sly and Neyla get into position to attack Rajan, she leaps away, leaving Sly at Rajan's mercy. After Rajan's defeat by Murray, Neyla returns with Carmelita and the Contessa. In addition to turning in Sly and Murray, she also frames Carmelita. Neyla later returns on Interpol's orders to arrest the Contessa with an army of mercernaries. However, Neyla steals one of the Clockwerk Eyes, forcing Sly to pursue her. Neyla gets promoted to Captain after collecting the senseless Contessa, and continues to pursue the Cooper Gang. Neyla appears to fight Bentley's RC Chopper, but ends up getting shot down. She next appears on Arpeggio's blimp, revealing herself to be Arpeggio's protege. However, Neyla proves as treacherous as ever, taking out Arpeggio and merging with the Clockwerk Frame to become Clock-La. Carmelita, on the run, helps Sly and the gang shoot down the robot owl. However, Clock-La still survives, and it is only after Bentley removes the Hate Chip that Neyla's threat is ended forever.
- The Contessa-A prominent hypnotist and prison warden working for Interpol, the Contessa first appeared at Rajan's ball in India. She then captured Sly, Murray, and Carmelita at Rajan's temple, following Neyla's betrayal. Bentley pursues them to the Contessa's clinic in Prague, where he learns of her secret membership in the Klaww Gang. The Contessa's plot: using hypnotism to cure criminals of their unlawful conditions, while in reality forcing them to reveal the locations of their loot and clearing the field of competition. However, Bentley freed Sly from her prison, and the two conspired to free Murray. Despite their best efforts, the Contessa escaped. Not willing to back down, the gang pursued her to her castle estate, where she was hiding with the Clockwerk Eyes. Sly's infiltration revealed even more shocking news: Carmelita, trapped in the Contessa's reeducation tower, was in danger of being hypnotized into taking the fall for the Contessa at Interpol. After a few tricky missions, the gang freed Carmelita, who chased the Contessa out of the tower. She showed up shortly after, however, to battle Sly. Despite his defeat of her, she grabbed the Clockwerk Eye he had obtained. She then used it in a rematch against him, but was again defeated. According to the epilogue of Sly 2, the Contessa later reformed and became a highly successful real-estate broker.
See Also
- Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus
- Sly 2: Band of Thieves
- Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves (Under Construction)