Bentley (Sly Cooper)

Bentley is a fictional character featured in the Sly Cooper series of video games developed by Sucker Punch Productions for the PlayStation 2. Like Murray, Bentley has no surname given to him, supposedly in the Japanese version Bentley actually has a surname, "Wiseturtle". His voice is provided by Matt Olsen. It is often said that Bentley and Olsen share a striking resemblance to each other, aside from the obvious species difference.

This turtle, a trusted friend of the game's title character, is an expert in computer-hacking and other electronic devices. He's also quite well read, often stating "I read about this...." when deducing something new and alien to the team. It is revealed in the second game that he has asthma. In the third game, he is revealed to be allergic to tomatoes and lemons (Bentley shouts this to the gang as Murray drinks down pitcher of lemonade in the mission "Lemon Rage" in the level "Rumble Down Under"). Another of his catchphrases is "If I did my math right, and I always do my math right..."

Bentley is quite a popular character in the series due not only to his great contribution and bravery to the team, but because of his great character development and his dedication to the Cooper Gang. It has been said by fans of the game that because of his enormous character development, many consider Bentley the alternative main character of the Sly Cooper series. While the Cooper Gang are a true team, Dr. M's statement at the end of the third game stating that Bentley is the most contributing member of the gang are arguably true. Despite this however, he has also shown that he is rather fiercely protective of his best friends at the same time, as shown by his emotional reaction to events such as Sly and Murray's capture in "Sly 2", and his reunion with Murray as well as his dilemma at the end of the third game. Bentley's apparent casual attire is a red bow tie around his neck, and what appears to be a short sleeved dress shirt, a watch around his wrist, and a sweater-vest worn humorously underneath his shell. This is his outfit in "Sly 1" and is seen a few other times in the others. In "Sly 2", Bentley wears what appears to be either a bullet proof vest or a safety vest, along with complementary knee and elbow pads, showing humorously that Bentley is a safety first type of guy. He also wore a pith helmet on his head. In "Sly 3", as well as being confined to a wheelchair, Bentley now wears what appears to be blue bicycle safety gear and helmet. Bentley wears glasses throughout the games and wears gloves throughout in Sly 2 and Sly 3.

Bentley is listed as being 18 in the first game. Since "Sly 2" takes place two years later, this would make Bentley 20 by the second game and possibly 21 by the third.

tory

Bentley met both Sly and Murray the hippo when the three were in the same orphanage as children. Bentley has no knowledge of his family, having been delivered anonymously to the orphanage while still an egg. Bentley would often hide under his bed from bullies and study technology and read lots of books, eventually meeting Sly and Murray. Finding he and his intellect and knowledge fit in perfectly with Sly's cunning and adventurous flair, and Murray's strength and enthusiasm, he formed a bond that would become lifelong. In the scenes in each game where Sly explains how he met Bentley and Murray, it also show the three of them growing up at a faster rate. While both Sly and Murray's physical traits change, Bentley simply grows larger (and even then, he is still smaller than Sly and Murray).

"Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus"

Bentley changes the most as the games progress. In the first game, "Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus", he is portrayed as a quiet, timid shut-in person. Sometimes even a bit stressed and uptight, although he does this only because he wants to protect his friends any way he can. Helping Sly and Murray from behind the scenes, Bentley was essential to the Cooper gang's exploits in retrieving the Thievius Raccoonus even though he never set out of the safety of the van. Bentley does most of the planning, but when Sly fell victim to a gas chamber trap, he put aside his fears and did some superb hacking to save the day and Sly's life.

""

In "Sly 2: Band of Thieves", Bentley has changed. Bentley becomes the team's expert in explosives and mechanical variety. Bentley also shows that he's capable of extremely advanced planning; even more so than the first game. Bentley is arguably the glue of all the team's plans and strategies. Accompanying Sly and Murray across the world to recover the lost pieces of Clockwerk, many things change for Bentley along the way. As opposed to the timid shut in he once was, Bentley is now willing to perform field work for the team. As the game starts, the player is given the impression that this is Bentley's first time doing actual field work, as evidenced by his unrelenting tenseness on the field and his standoffish way of speaking. This wears away slowly however, as the game progresses. During Episode 4 however, Bentley finally gets to show just what he's made of when Sly and Murray are captured by The Contessa and Bentley is left to fend for himself. Bentley becomes the main character temporarily, all cut-ins are of Bentley's insignia during the end of Episode 3 and most of Chapter 4 instead of Sly's insignia, which is usually shown. Humorously, instead of "Sly and the Gang in..." during the intro of Episode 4, the title reads "Bentley saves the gang in.." with the "and" crossed out in crude red marker. Bravely taking the challenge at hand by himself, Bentley manages to save his friends and seems to gain a great deal of confidence in his ability finally.

Bentley continues to greatly help the team, becoming much more forward with the others due to his experiences. Sadly however, eventually a sudden tragedy strikes Bentley at the climax of the game. After Sly defeats the evil Clock-la, Bentley enters the robot's jaws in an attempt to remove the "Hate Chip" which controls the creature. He was crushed by the jaws, and as a result, is confined to a wheelchair he customized himself in the sequel "". Murray feels very psychologically hurt by this since he wasn't paying attention. Bentley however, holds absolutely no ill will towards his friend believing that he did everything he could and that it wasn't his fault.

""

In between the second and third game, Sly and Murray recover Bentley from the hospital he was staying in. He shows however, that he feels insecure with going back and feels like he'd be a "burden" to the team now that he's crippled. Sly has none of that however, and the three escape, although Murray later leaves the team to do some soul searching, and settles in Australia to train himself with a Guru. Judging from Bentley's reunion with Murray in the third game, it seems he greatly missed his friend.

In "Sly 3", Bentley grows more still. He plays quite a central role in the third game's story. As well as having to deal with his paralysis, Bentley seems surprisingly brash at times now. He has been told more than once he had "gotten devious over the years", since his plans have steadily became more violent and painful for the enemy. At various times in the game, Bentley confronts the villain of the episode by himself and is quite verbally offensive. Bentley has also quite successfully turned his weakness into his greatest strength, as Bentley's wheelchair is loaded with all sorts of technology making Bentley quite a threat. Every weapon Bentley has is integrated in the chair and is clearly shown in the game (e.g. in Binocucom radio messages, while every other characters face is close to the camera Bentley's is leaning back giving the impression that the Binocucom is on a mechanical arm).

Bentley agrees to help Sly open the Cooper Vault and after a rather dramatic reunion with Murray, the three go on to build an elite team of thieves to tackle this challenge. Eventually, he finds a love interest: the mouse pilot known as Penelope. At first however, she is attracted to Sly and Bentley shows very subtle but strong feelings of jealousy over this. He can't bring himself to hate his friend however, but luckily he is able to prove his incredible heroism by saving Penelope twice. She returns the favor, and their blossoming love serves as an inspiration to Sly in his relationship with Carmelita Fox. Penelope is also the only character Bentley has shown even a small amount of insecurity over his disablement to.

Throughout the game, Bentley's contribution to the team effort is greatly emphasized. Not only does Bentley strive day in and day out to come up with a master plan to tackle the vault, all the jobs in the game arguably would never have been possible without Bentley. As well as the jealousy against Sly due to Penelope's attraction to him at first, it is hinted that there may be a notion that Bentley does all the real work and Sly takes all the credit. The games' villain Dr. M reveals he was the previous Cooper gang's "brain" like Bentley, and he tries to convince him that Sly isn't his real friend. Bentley himself begins to have a suspicion that he and Murray are simply subordinates to Sly since only Sly is allowed to enter the vaults' superstructure. Murray reminds Bentley however, that if the two had switched places Sly would be happy for Bentley because he's something more than credit or treasure, he's a true friend. Bentley's doubt is cleared and he stands by his beloved friends to the end, proving that they have a true friendship the previous gang seemed to lack.

Epilogue

After the final battle, Sly disappears. Bentley eventually finds that Sly has seemingly become an amnesiac due to an injury. Bentley finds Sly's cane and equipment as well as all of his family's stockpiled treasure after. When Sly doesn't return after a few months or so, the team splits up and goes their separate ways. Bentley and Penelope are the last ones remaining, constructing a new, more advanced Cooper Vault to maintain the legacy. Bentley seemingly inherits the Thievius Raccoonus in the end, becoming the first non-Cooper to write in the book. This emphasizes Sly's statement that Bentley is not a sidekick or lackey, but his "equal;" not only does he get to write in the book like Sly, Sly entrusts the family legacy and the Cooper Gang itself to Bentley.

Bentley however, is far too smart to be fooled by Sly's "amnesia", which is quite obviously implied to be an act to get close to Carmelita. While spying on Sly and Carmelita, Sly winks at him and Bentley can only chuckle and comment "That sneaky devil!" Whether the team gets back together or not is up in the air, although Bentley rather boldly states that while the gang's adventures may be over for now, the possibilities of something even bigger aren't. He also reveals that he is working on a time machine, apparently with the goal of seeing how things will turn out for the gang in the future. It might actually have something in common with the recently emerged Sly Cooper 4 rumors.

Abilities

Bentley's abilities include hacking. In Sly 1, this is his only mission. In Sly 2, he has a Crossbow/Sleep dart Gun which can shoot Sleep darts and puts guards to sleep. He also has bombs to blow guards up after he puts them to sleep. His only physical attack in Sly 2 was to swing his Dart gun which is quite weak. He also had an RC chopper. In Sly 3, his wheelchair has Boosters, bombs and Sleep darts like Sly 2 and he can Pickpocket with the PPP (Pick Pocket Pole) and a grapple cam. His main attack is Wheelchair Spin. His gadgets consist of various helpful gizmos.

Trivia

* It was revealed on the Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus website that he was a child prodigy.

* In Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus, it is stated that the year is 1997. Bentley is 18 in this game, which means that he was born in 1979.

*He apparently has an I.Q. of at least 140, as revealed in both Sly 1 and 2.