5 Reasons Why I Hate Sly 4's Plot Twist

I'm going to level with you guys and say most video games aren't well written. You have the rare masterfully crafted Silent Hill 2s or Bastions, but I can assure you that Sucker Punch's Sly games are nowhere near that level of excellence. They're charming, cute, witty, and stylish, but not quite there on a level of storytelling. Still, they played to their strengths and struck a fascinating niche in my heart as some of my favourite games. However, I started to look at them more fondly after playing Sanzaru's sequel, Thieves in Time, especially after a plot twist roughly 2/3 through the game.

Naturally, if you don't want to be spoiled, you should turn back now and cut your loses by knowing shit goes down about 2/3 of the way through.

The antagonist of chapter 4, "Of Mice and Mechs", the Black Knight

What happened? In the fourth chapter we meet one of Sly's medieval ancestors, Sir Galleth of the Cooper Order (who is awesome, if I may add). In his time period, he was out to defeat a Black Knight who's robots infested the land. However, the Black Knight captured and exploited Galleth in a circus. After Galleth is freed by the gang, Bentley unsuccessfully researches the baddie to find criminal records (which is a change considering every one up to now had a file with Interpol). After a few missions, Bentley tails the knight into a building and catches the criminal without armour. It's Bentley's partner/girlfriend, Penelope, who until now has vanished since the game's first cutscene. Since his girlfriend betrayed him and is out to destroy Sly and his lineage, Bentley becomes depressed and is absent for the last 2 missions in the chapter. He returns at the last moment to save Sly, and talks to Penelope one last time. She didn't mean to hurt Bentley and only found Le Paradox to be a means to an end. Her mission was to free Bentley from Sly so he can fully achieve his potential. She also made a comment against the gang's policy of being "honourable thieves". Bentley looks through this, treasuring his friendship with Sly, and defeats Penelope to cement their break-up. In the epilogue, Penelope is then sent to jail where she later escapes.

As you can tell from my reactions both in assuming this and my reaction upon seeing it, I WAS NOT A HAPPY RAGGY!

Up until then the game's story was passable, even if it left me feeling hungry for more development and better flow. Sanzaru I assume are inexperienced and maybe even unsure what they wanted to do or even were able to do. Handling the first Sly game (a beloved, classic Sony franchise) in nearly 8 years is a big fucking deal. I have a feeling they felt they needed something to jolt the emotionally level and safe plot and have some big emotional conflict that would stun the players. I haven't been snooping around for reactions too much to protect myself from spoilers, but from what little I did see there was a surprising amount of people who thought this was a good and commendable risk. It's Sanzaru's way of rustling jimmies and being ballsy. Umm...really? Despite that, I can't agree that this was the proper way to do it. It's stupid, full of holes, and is a prime example of how weak the writing in this game is. Here are the 5 main reasons why.

1. It Changes NOTHING
To me at least, a plot twist should signify...well...a twist in the plot. A turning point. A good plot twist is supposed to build from there, which is something Sly 4 fails at. Does it build up? Very little, but what about payoff? Ok, let's ignore that the first stage of the boss fight was actually pretty cool in a Shadow of the Colossus sort of way. I mean PLOT payoff.

I made a comparison to Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando, and while I mentioned it because they both contained a masked character changing alliegence, GC handled the twist much better. Angela's reveal as the thief and finding out her motivations changes Ratchet's perspectives. He used to be a hired gun, but once finding his employer's intentions through Angela, the tables turn and there's new stakes and a new mission."Save the Protopet and protect Fizzwidget" turns into "Destroy the Protopet and bring down Fizzwidget". Ok so it isn't the BEST plot twist of all time, Ratchet and Sly games are in the same genre and are easier to compare. If you want to go a bit closer to home, let's look at Sly 2. A plot twist in Sly 2 was Neyla, a character that used to be friendly to Sly, betrayed the gang AND Carmelita to achieve her own goals. This starts at the end of chapter 3, and for most of the game you can see it escalate with the tension in Prague, Carmelita forced to go on the run, and peaking at the final chapter where she snatches all the Clockwerk parts for herself. It also leads to Bentley having his accident and being in a wheelchair.

Sly 4's plot twist bears no weight for the remainder of the game. Bentley may have "conquered his demons" (...it took him less than 40 minutes of game time), but in the big picture it's a mere speck. The plot and characters go on without her as if it never even happened. Le Paradox mentions Penelope twice briefly, and that's it. Penelope escapes from jail...somehow, but that was just a quick epilogue scene. So...what did we gain from all that? It just...happened and was gone. It can be argued that without this plot twist Le Paradox couldn't go back in time and cause trouble, but if you read on I mention why it still didn't need to work out like this. Also, he's a rich, powerful crime boss in a cartoon universe. He can have people for this or even steal/spy on Bentley's work.

2. It's All About Character
While Sanzaru did have the liberties to do some "creative changes", there's just something that doesn't add up to Penelope having an evil turn.

How did this...

• Nothing in the events before her disappearance (whether the few minutes of cutscene beforehand or from Sly 3) or from what Bentley said lead up to this. Penelope seemed really cool with Bentley's relationship with Sly. The only build-up you get is the recent mentioning of Penelope, that once ignored plot point being brought up again. And then you have the load screens talk an awful lot about her (including how she was the BLACK BARON in Sly 3. Take note at that title and look at the name of that antagonist). These are all off-hand references as opposed to something in character. When something like this happens, it's less a spontaneous act of feeling to knock the wind out of the player and more "Where the hell did that come from?"
• Penelope is sensitive and almost gives the impression of being shy and insecure (the internet pictures, anyone?). Doesn't fit her role here. She's not an aggressive, violent, badass action girl kind of character. I mean, she tried to kill Sly here 0___0. Every time she attacks enemies in Sly 3, she's usually very cute about it (listen to the things she says in the RC chopper missions for example). She's a kid having fun with her toys, pushing around the bullies. She did a sword fight against Le Fwee, but was an adorable little fight she did in a dress because she was cornered and the buzzard picked on Bentley. But...that last image of her in the epilogue I could barely recognize her. How did she get out? What's with the spray paint? Is she some kind of punk thief now?
• Adding on from above, she's a mouse. Mice aren't intimidating creatures...and she's a small, purple, child-like, dorky-looking mouse with a mousey voice. Odd choice for a villain, eh? And even with the change of heart she's still the least threatening villain in the game. Ok so maybe that doesn't matter too much on a character level, but think about it. Also keep note on how her design changed in Sly 3 to make her seem more threatening. She's taller, skinnier, ditching the scruffy hair and overalls for a sexy yellow jumpsuit and streaming blonde hair, it's all really strange.
• If she really loved Bentley, what kind of thing to say is "he's so cute when he's being dumb" or saying her suit "is just as stuffy as Bentley". WHAT? If I didn't know anything about her history in Sly 3 (and since the game is trying to draw a new audience, people like that are out there) then I wouldn't at all think they were a couple. Language like that makes Penelope seem unlikable and manipulative.
• There are hints that Penelope is acting out of greed, even if she may not admit it in the boss fight. It's obvious there IS a monetary insentive if she claimed she and Bentley could "make billions in weapon design". If she isn't a bad guy or wanting to side witht them, then also WHY are they making weapons?
• Again to add on, Penelope is SMART and sensitive, not STUPID. Despite being a means to an end, she couldn't have overseen Le Paradox's intentions. Bentley said that all their futures would be in jeopardy if Le Paradox's mission is complete. So...how is siding with that skunk help Bentley be free? Unless they had some other deal.
• Why is Penelope having issues with Sly's life of honourable thieving? Yanno, especially when she's thieving right back WITHOUT honour? She seemed pretty on board with it in nearly all of Sly 3. She knowingly became part of a huge thieving opperation to get Sly into the vault most likely out of prestige, challenge, or respect (since they basically had to earn Penelope's alliegance).
• Penelope...you...you try to destroy Sly and his lineage...but...dude...YOU WANTED TO GET INTO HIS IMAGINARY PANTS! No one noticed this? 0___0 Not a single person who condones this plot twist remembers this? You don't go from loving a guy to wanting to crush him and still claim to be sane (unless that's how love works and I'm terribly mistaken). From her first chapter to the 2nd last one, she has the hots for Sly and even ignored Bentley crushing on her (despite Bentley being the one to first contact her...with the internet pictures). After working together and a growing respect for their talents (also noticing that Sly's heart longed for Carmelita), Bentley and Penelope became a pair. No fancy writing or anything, but it was a cute little arc. But just because you're with the turtle doesn't mean you go out to harm his best friend...that you crushed on.

...turn into this?

3. IT'S BEEN DONE BEFORE!!!!!

Remember this bloke?

One of the absolute biggest problems I have with this plot twist is that this has been done before...in this series...and much better. Let's not forget that in Sly 3, Dr. M pulled this on Bentley. Throughout the game, it pops up that Bentley may or may not feel underappreciated, inferior, or overshadowed in the gang. He's not agile like Sly or strong like Murray. He's just the numbers guy that tells them where to go and what to do, while they...er...do. Not to mention he's in a wheelchair. While it didn't do a whole lot in the plot, it did build up to the finale with Dr. M, who was Sly's dad's "Bentley" in his gang. M tries to sympathize with Bentley and saying his hatred for the Coopers had to do with how used and marginalized he felt. He turned on Sly's dad for feelings just like Bentley's and hinting at the idea that Sly's dad could've been a real jerk if what M says is true. Because it was at the end and in one of the last missions there wasn't a whole lot of time for it to affect plot, but it did bring up some interesting ideas (some ideas that I wish were explored in Sly 4 actually) as well as lead up to Sly's final encounter in the vault. It fleshed out M's motive (which before this has just been thought to be greed or some other kind of hatred), gave Sly, Bentley, Murray, and the audience something to mull over, AND it built up drama for the big finale. I repeat, what did Sly 4's twist DO?

So ya...above all this comes off as really silly. Bentley ignored Dr. M's story and never budged an inch. He knows his role with Sly is important and the 3 of them are practically brothers. This has been hammered into the entire series and is an important part to the gang's dynamic. Bentley even saved Sly and Murray from jail (even braving the horrors of both the vicious jungle and driving stick-shift). Not to mention Sly is pretty damn humble and caring himself, and that is perhaps what separates Sly from his dad and maybe other thieves. I know Penelope wasn't there during that confrontation with M but COME THE FUCK ON! IT DIDN'T WORK! BENTLEY FEELS FINE WHERE HE IS! JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE HIS GIRLFRIEND DOESN'T MAKE IT BETTER!

4. Get The Order Right!
This is a pretty biiiiiig oopsie since it pretty much unravels everything associated with this plot twist. Between Sly 3 and 4 while Sly is faking amnesia, Bentley and Penelope are in a lab working on the time machine, maybe researching the Thievius Raccoonus on the side. Fair enough. Then Penelope vanishes along with the text in the Thievius Raccoonus.



My "WAIT A SECOND" face

Do you see what's wrong with this picture when connecting with Penelope's motives? I'll give you a hint.

BENTLEY WAS ALREADY FREE FROM SLY!!!

Really, he was! Look at the situation! Sly has been out of contact with the gang for some amount of time. For a while Bentley didn't even know Sly was faking. All of Bentley's projects are his own. Odds are Bentley wasn't even thieving in that time, so how is he "brainwashed"? This seems like everything this Penelope would've wanted unless Bentley disagreed with some of Penelope's ideas (again, not explained). Sly has no control over Bentley's life and there is no hints that point otherwise. There's no indication Sly, no matter how much he missed them, would ever go back if he didn't have to. It doesn't seem like Bentley was obsessing over the book either. I mean, he's making a TIME MACHINE! Priorities! It's a BIG project. So as far as I'm concerned, what's Penelope worried about? What was Bentley doing that pissed her off after Sly left? Sly is out of the picture, and he would've been maybe for good if Le Paradox didn't travel back in time...with the plans he got from Penelope.

...I need that picture again

 

WHAT?

How did Penelope plan this? How does this make sense? This is making my head spin! It was Penelope's plan to "free" Bentley from Sly that ultimately made Sly return and "re-capture" Bentley? HOW WAS THIS SUPPOSED TO WORK? THE SETUP IS FLAWED AND ILLOGICAL FROM IT'S VERY BASE!

5. It Didn't Need To Be This Way

Wanna give Decibel more relevance? Here's how.

Whether or not the bit could've been salvaged is anyone's guess. However, there are a few ways where there could be a case of Penelope betraying the gang and still make sense with many of the things I mentioned here kept in mind. Ordered from best to worst execution.

• Mind Control: My favourite because not only would it respect Penelope's character but also lead into the game's next baddie, Miss Decibel (and ya, the game really does lack flow leading to the next encounter. The only way they even got to Salim's time was that Carmelita just so happened to steal an old Arabian coin from Le Paradox's collection before being captured). Her vanishing like that would be consistent with a kidnapping. Using Penelope's intelligence, plans, and handywork with machinery mixed with Decibel's powers of mind control, it wouldn't be very farfetched to see how that would work. And the beauty of this is that the only thing that would NEED to change in the setup is the final cutscene in Galleth's area. Bentley defeating her can destroy some sort of mind control mechanism, she can be really guilty for what she did, she may or may not need to go to jail, and then lead the gang to the next time zone. The twist gets toned down, so it's less of an explosion that just "happened" and at least served a purpose to lead to the next chapter. Not to mention it gives Le Paradox a chance to badger the gang but turning one of their own against them.

• Permanent (?) Mind Control/Amnesia: Want it to use the elements of the mind control idea but still hold a greater impact to break the status quo? She could even stay as a baddie almost in a tragic way since there is a chance that mind control, tampering, or amnesia can make the old Penelope potentially gone forever. We know it's possible because of the Contessa's work as well as a danger revealed when trying to break Salim's buddies out of their trance. Very few changes need to be made to the story as well, since potentially this can still be traced to Decibel and it can be developed in later works. The old Penelope technically isn't harmed as a character, but is a victim and is not in the same mind as normal. There's your bloody drama! If they're planning to bring back Penelope as a good guy or bad guy in future installments, there's flexibility for that as well. Only problem is that some fans may not like Penelope to be axed like that. But at least it gives Sanzaru both the flexibility to change her character and a way for her to have a reason to change.

• Blackmail: Not as likely, but still plausible. And she would also be acting in a way where she would genuinely feel as doing right. Imagine if Le Paradox had some dangerous dirt or something else that would threaten Bentley and their work. Logic isn't an easy tool to use if there is seemingly no right answer. Betray Sly to help Bentley...in a different and more direct way. Would need some tweeking in dialogue and reveal still since she would still be in her right of mind and she crap she'll be saying won't reflect that choice. The end of the section could've been the same as the mind control method.

• Penelope Cloning: Because...er...bad guys have those kind of things? Ya, not very likely and we would still need to make a sort of rescue mission for real Penelope on top of rescuing Carmelita. It would explain a lot of her differences and would also give Le Paradox another chance to fuck with some heads.

• Time Fiddling With Penelope's Lineage: Not likely and completely convuluted, but...maaaaaaybe. Basically this is running that Le Paradox would find out a time machine plan, mess with Penelope's past or lineage, and change the modern Penelope to create an evil one. But ya, I can see this as being a nonsensical...dare I say it...paradox. But meh, if Tennessee really was hanged, there's a chance Sly technically wouldn't be born instead of his pages just vanishing. I would rather deal with that kind of plot hole. It would also need to assume other historical anomalies with the change in character wouldn't happen.

• Dimitri Did It!: ...not fucking likely but could you imagine? If a member of the gang was going to crack, it would be Dimitri. I mean, Sly DID say his suit sucked. Them's fighting words! He was guarding the book after all. Could've been a trap, and it's obvious Dimitri isn't the most trustworthy or respected individual in the gang. Before Le Paradox was revealed, I almost thought it was him in disguise. Dimitri isn't that bright, so whether he had silly malicious intentions or was manipulated it could still work...er...in a way...I guess. I'm just spit-balling here, and odds are everyone else would be complaining anyways. And ya, I guess that would sort of repeat the kind of baddie Grizz was.

So ya...plot twist is bad and you should feel bad. It was handled badly with so many holes it barely even floats. There are a few other reasons why I don't think the writing was that great, but I plan to go further into that another time. This was the big one that stuck with me in a bad way.

Why yes, I really do somewhat identify with Sly 3 Penelope. Thank you for asking.