Jetpack
A burst of thrusters that turns a rooftop gap into a non-issue.
The Jetpack is a gadget in the Sly Cooper video game franchise, granting Sly Cooper a short burst of upward and forward momentum. It functions as a mobility tool within the series' gadget system, allowing the player to reach elevated platforms, cross gaps, and reposition mid-chase in ways the base parkour set cannot.
Appearing across multiple entries in the series, the Jetpack is one of several purchasable or collectible gadgets that expand Sly's toolkit. It is not a permanent transformation but a timed boost, fitting the series' emphasis on acrobatic, momentum-based parkour rather than sustained flight.
- Type
- Gadget / Mobility item
- Primary user
- Sly Cooper
- Function
- Short-duration vertical and forward boost
- First appears
- Sly 2: Band of Thieves
- Also appears in
- Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves
- Acquisition
- Purchased or collected as part of the in-game gadget system
Lore & Background
In the world of Sly Cooper, the team's gadgets are a mix of scavenged tech and clever engineering. The Jetpack fits that aesthetic: it is not military hardware or a villain's weapon, but a compact, slightly cobbled-together boost unit that snaps onto Sly's back. The design language across the series favors playful, cartoonish tech—exposed tanks, a single visible nozzle, and a compact fuel cell—keeping it visually distinct from the heavier, more sinister gear associated with antagonists like Carmine or Doctor Marmalade.
Mechanically, the Jetpack serves as a bridge between Sly's ground-based acrobatics and the verticality of the environments. In open chase sequences and platforming sections, it lets the player commit to a leap and then extend the arc, turning near-misses into clean landings. The brief, punchy duration of the boost reinforces the series' rhythm: quick, decisive inputs rather than sustained aerial control.
Across the franchise, the Jetpack occupies a consistent niche. It is never the star gadget in the way a grappling hook or a vehicle might be, but it is a reliable utility tool that appears in the gadget roster of multiple entries, reinforcing the idea that Sly's team is always one step ahead with the right piece of kit for the job.
In Their Own Story
The rain had just stopped over the city, and the rooftop tiles still glistled. Sly crouched at the ledge, watching the guard patrol below loop its route. Two seconds. Three. He tapped the small switch on his wrist, and the twin nozzles behind his back hissed to life with a faint blue glow. He leapt.
For a heartbeat, the world stretched—wind roaring, the city tilting sideways beneath him. The boost carried him past a ventilation shaft, over a gap that had no business being crossable on foot, and onto the next roof with a soft thud of paws on wet tile. The nozzles sputtered, cooled, went dark.
Sly rolled his shoulders, grinned at the sky, and was already running.
Reader's Guide
Jetpack – Sly 2: Band of Thieves Function: A timed boost that propels Sly upward and forward, extending jump distance and allowing access to higher platforms. Activated with a single button press; the boost lasts a short, fixed duration before the fuel is spent. User: Sly Cooper (player-controlled). Obtained: Available as part of the gadget roster; can be purchased from the in-game shop or found as a collectible in certain levels. Once acquired, it is usable for the remainder of the playthrough.
Jetpack – Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves Function: Same core mechanic—vertical/forward boost for traversal and repositioning. Integrated into the expanded gadget system of the entry. User: Sly Cooper. Obtained: Part of the gadget set available through the game's progression; unlocked as Sly's toolkit grows.
General tips: - Time the boost at the apex of a jump to maximize horizontal distance. - Useful in chase sequences to shortcut over obstacles the patrol path doesn't expect. - The boost is short; plan your landing before you commit. It is a gap-filler, not a flight mode. - In multi-character sections, the Jetpack is tied to Sly; other team members rely on their own unique abilities for verticality.
Did You Know?
- The Jetpack's visual design across the series leans into a scrappy, hand-assembled look—exposed tanks and a single nozzle—deliberately contrasting with the sleek, corporate tech of the franchise's villains.
- The boost is intentionally brief, reinforcing the Sly Cooper series' core design philosophy of quick, momentum-based parkour rather than sustained aerial control.
- The Jetpack functions as a utility gadget alongside other tools in the roster, meaning it is one of several options the player can cycle through rather than the sole means of vertical traversal.
- In chase sequences, the Jetpack can be used to shortcut over obstacles that the enemy patrol path does not account for, turning a linear pursuit into a three-dimensional problem.
More in Items & Equipment
Elsewhere in the Sly Cooper universe
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