Common Sense Media Review
By Marc Saltzman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Raccoon thief stars in fun adventure with cartoon violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time
What's It About?
Available on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita, SLY COOPER: THIEVES IN TIME picks up right after the events in Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves. Gamers are reintroduced to Sly Cooper, a raccoon thief, and his friends, including a brainy turtle named Bentley and burly hippo, Murray. In the prologue, we learn the famous Thievius Raccoonus -- a "thieving" instruction guide that belongs to the Cooper Clan -- is being messed with by a mysterious meddler, and so the gang travels back through time to find Sly's ancestors and restore the family legacy before it's too late. You'll zap to periods of time ranging from Ancient Arabia and Feudal Japan to Medieval England and the Wild West. Played from a third-person perspective, this single-player adventure folds in action, puzzle-solving, and platforming elements. Much of the time will be spent stealthily traipsing around environments, dressing up in costumes, finding loot, and collecting items. The game is fully playable in 3D for those with supported televisions, plus the game offers cross-platform game saves between the PS3 and PSVita versions (sold separately).
Is It Any Good?
Yes, Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time is a lot of fun, even if you're not too familiar with previous Sly Cooper games. With worlds twice as large as previous games, more playable characters (and costumes), tighter controls, and more detailed graphics, Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time is a great pick that won't break the bank ($20 less than most other new PS3 games). Gamers will no doubt enjoy adventuring through the varied time periods, plus the solid writing and humorous scenarios are on par with past games.
While the stealthy sequences and platforming is a blast, the game does fall short in the combat department -- you simply need to button mash to defeat enemies, for the most part (depending on whom you're controlling at the time); thankfully, it doesn't take away from the overall fun factor. Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time might not be "game of the year" but delivers the goods for tweens and teens. Note: The PS3 and PSVita versions of the game are the same, though the PSVita doesn't support 3D graphics.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether it matters if Sly Cooper only steals from other thieves. Does that make it OK? Does it give the message to kids as young as age 10 (per the ESRB rating) that it's fine to take what isn't yours? Or do kids at that age already know it's just a game?
Families can also talk about how you find good video games for kids.
Game Details
- Platforms : PlayStation 3 , PlayStation Vita
- Subjects : Language & Reading : following directions , reading
- Skills : Thinking & Reasoning : applying information , decision-making , solving puzzles
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Sony Computer Entertainment
- Release date : February 5, 2013
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Animals , Friendship , History
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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