Bentley's Hackpack

Bentley's Hackpack
Developer(s)Sanzaru Games
Publisher(s)Sony Computer Entertainment
Composer(s)Peter McConnell
SeriesSly Cooper
Platform(s)PlayStation 3
PlayStation Vita[2]
iOS
Android
Release
  • NA: February 5, 2013[1]
  • AU: March 28, 2013
  • EU: March 28, 2013
iOS, Android
January 17, 2014
Genre(s)Action
Mode(s)Single-player

Bentley's Hackpack is a 2013 minigame compilation video game developed by Sanzaru Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita. It was developed to promote and coincide with the North American release of Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time on the same date by Sanzaru Games.[3] 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.[4]

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.[5] It was also released on iOS and Android in 2014, the first time an existing Sony game was ported to mobile phones.[6]

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[7] and 73/100 from Official PlayStation Magazine Benelux.[8]

References

  1. ^ Cardona, Christian (September 21, 2012). "Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time Out on PS3 and PS Vita February 5th". PlayStation Blog. Archived from the original on February 19, 2016. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  2. ^ "Bentley's Hackpack". Playstation UK. Archived from the original on June 6, 2013. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  3. ^ "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. February 4, 2013. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
  4. ^ Barker, Sammy (February 11, 2013). "First Impressions: Is Bentley's Hackpack Worth Your Coins?". Push Square. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  5. ^ Dunning, Jason (February 4, 2013). "Bentley's Hackpack Hits the PSN Tomorrow for $2.99, Includes 3 Mini Games from Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time". PlayStation LifeStyle. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  6. ^ Cook, Dave (January 17, 2014). "Sly Cooper spin-off Bentley's Hackpack releases on iOS & Android". VG247. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
  7. ^ Carter, Chris (February 13, 2013). "Review: Bentley's Hack Pack". Destructoid. Archived from the original on February 20, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  8. ^ "Bentley's Hackpack for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on April 26, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2014.