Bentley's Hackpack Explained

Bentley's Hackpack
Developer:Sanzaru Games
Publisher:Sony Computer Entertainment
Composer:Peter McConnell
Series:Sly Cooper
Platforms:PlayStation 3
PlayStation Vita[1]
Genre:Action
Modes:Single-player

Bentley's Hackpack is a standalone minigame pack released on February 5, 2013, promoting and coinciding with the North American release of on the same date by Sanzaru Games.[2] Players take control of Bentley and have access to three of the arcade machines at Bentley's Arcade, which feature more challenging versions of the three hacking minigames in Thieves in Time.[3]

The game is available for both the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita via the PlayStation Store. This game is a part of Sony's cross-buy initiative, allowing purchasers of the PlayStation 3 version of the game to receive a free copy for the PlayStation Vita via the PlayStation Network. The game was released for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, iOS, and Android devices.[4] Bentley's Hackpack was made available via PlayStation Plus Premium's cloud gaming on PC and modern PlayStation consoles in September 2022, alongside other titles in the Sly Cooper series.[5]

Gameplay

Three arcade machines are available to play on: System Cracker, Alter Ego, and Spark Runner. Each arcade features 20 stages, each of which has five challenges for the player to beat (for a total of 300 challenges). Each challenge awards one token, and bonus tokens are sometimes awarded by unlocking certain levels; with each arcade machine awarding a maximum of 111 tokens.The tokens can be used to unlock the 65 prizes at Dimitri's Prize Gallery, which bears similarities to the Treasure Wall at any Hideout in Thieves in Time. The tokens are not spent, but each prize goes up in the number of tokens required.

Unlocking the final prize will let the player use a secret arcade machine, which is actually a hidden entrance to the basement of Bentley's Arcade. In here, the Cooper Gang perform a concert to the metal version of the theme song of Thieves in Time as the credits show on screen.

Plot

Characters such as Sly Cooper, Murray, Carmelita, El Jefe, and flashlight guards from Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time hang out at Bentley's Arcade in modern Paris on their off-time, suggesting that it is non-canon.

Development

Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time was planned to be released sometime in the fall of 2012, but Sony pushed the date back to February to give it ample room to release instead of in the middle of a crowded season. By September, Thieves in Time was complete and ready to be shipped, so Sanzaru began working on Bentley's Hackpack in secret.

Reception

Bentley's Hackpack received 7/10 from Destructoid[6] and 73/100 from Official PlayStation Magazine Benelux.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bentley's Hackpack . Playstation UK . 3 September 2013 . 6 June 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130606045534/http://uk.playstation.com/psn/games/detail/item581908/Bentleys-Hackpack%E2%84%A2/ . dead .
  2. Web site: PlayStation Lifestyle - Bentley's Hackpack Hits the PSN Tomorrow for $2.99, Includes 3 Mini Games from Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time . PlayStation Lifestyle.net . 2013-02-04 . 2013-02-04.
  3. Web site: First Impressions: Is Bentley's Hackpack Worth Your Coins? . . . Sammy . Barker . February 11, 2013 . 2022-10-25.
  4. Web site: Bentley's Hackpack Hits the PSN Tomorrow for $2.99, Includes 3 Mini Games from Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time . Dunning . Jason . February 4, 2013 . PlayStation LifeStyle . February 2, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130209201608/http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2013/02/04/bentleys-hackpack-hits-the-psn-tomorrow-for-2-99-includes-3-mini-games-from-sly-cooper-thieves-in-time/ . February 9, 2013.
  5. Web site: Is Sly on PlayStation Plus? . DBLTAP . Marhaly . Ramirez . August 21, 2022 . 2022-10-25.
  6. Web site: Review: Bentley's Hack Pack . Carter . Chris . February 13, 2013 . . February 2, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140220062754/http://www.destructoid.com/review-bentley-s-hack-pack-244831.phtml. February 20, 2014. live.
  7. Web site: Bentley's Hackpack for PlayStation 3 Reviews . . . February 2, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140426032101/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-3/bentleys-hackpack. April 26, 2014. live.