Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus

Game Overview

Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus is an action-platformer developed by Sucker Punch Productions (with the PS Vita port handled by Sanzaru Games). You step into the shoes of Sly Cooper, a nimble and charismatic raccoon belonging to a long line of master thieves. When a villainous syndicate known as the Fiendish Five steals the Thievius Raccoonus—the ancient tome containing generations of Cooper family thieving secrets—Sly teams up with his loyal childhood friends Bentley the turtle and Murray the hippo to track down the pages.

Gameplay combines precise platforming, stealth mechanics, and obstacle navigation. Rather than relying on brute force, Sly must use his cane to hook onto pipes, walk tightropes, hide in shadows, and pickpocket guards. Each world introduces unique puzzle segments, mini-games, and boss showdowns against the members of the Fiendish Five.

Quick Specifications

• Platform: PlayStation Vita (PS Vita)

• Release Date: May 2014 (North America / Europe via Physical Compilation Cartridge & Digital PSN as part of The Sly Collection)

• Genre: Platformer, Stealth, Action, Adventure

• Developer: Sucker Punch Productions / Sanzaru Games

• Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

• Players: 1 Player (Single-Player)

• Play Length: Approximately 6 to 9 hours

• Region Format: Region Free (Physical Cartridge & Digital PSN)

Key Features

• Cel-Shaded Comic Book Style: Experience a distinctive, timeless visual presentation that mirrors classic animated Saturday-morning cartoon capers.

• Agile Stealth Platforming: Balance across ledges, scale drainpipes, and utilize shadow-hugging maneuvers to bypass security grids undetected.

• Memorable Trio Dynamic: Work alongside your trusted crew members, Bentley and Murray, who provide crucial intel, gadgets, and muscle.

• Remastered Handheld Port: Optimized specifically for the PS Vita with crisp native resolution support, trophies, and optional touch-screen shortcuts.

• Physical & Digital Availability: Released in western regions both as an individual digital download and bundled physically on cartridge alongside the second and third games in The Sly Collection.

Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)

Q: Is Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus available as a standalone physical game on PS Vita?

A: In western regions, the first game was physically bundled together with Sly 2: Band of Thieves and Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves inside The Sly Collection cartridge (though digital buyers could purchase them individually on the PSN store).

Q: How does the difficulty curve work in Sly Cooper?

A: The game uses a forgiving "lucky horseshoe" health system. As long as Sly holds a horseshoe charm, taking a hit will drain the charm rather than costing a life, making it approachable for platformer fans of all ages while offering rewarding master-thief challenges for completionists.

Q: Does the PS Vita version include trophies?

A: Yes, The Sly Collection version on PS Vita features an independent trophy set, complete with its own Platinum trophy for players who collect every clue bottle and vault key.

Q: How do the controls perform on the handheld?

A: The port maps actions seamlessly to the PS Vita's dual analog sticks and physical buttons, ensuring tight, responsive platforming control.