If we wanted to get inside the Cooper Vault, we'd have to recruit a full-time demolitions specialist. However, Bentley's proposed candidate was a shock: my old enemy, the Panda King.
― Sly Cooper, from the episode's introduction[src]
"A Cold Alliance" is the fourth episode in Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves. It is set in the Kunlun Mountains of China and the main antagonist is a chinese warlord named General Tsao.
Synopsis[]
The Setup[]
After carefully analyzing the blueprints to Dr. M's fortress, Bentley came to the difficult conclusion that his current demolition skills would never be enough to complete the Cooper Vault job. Therefore, the gang needed to recruit a full-time demolitions expert.
The Panda King meditates in his shrine.
Bentley recommended recruiting a former Fiendish Five member, the Panda King. Sly was reluctant, however, to let that evil beast join the team due to his involvement with his parents' murder and the theft of the Thievius Raccoonus section, but Bentley firmly reasoned with him, explaining that the Panda King has renounced his criminal ways and had taken up meditation high up in the mountains as a monk.
Though still not convinced, Sly had no doubt the Panda King's skills will benefit the gang. The gang dressed up in their disguises and flew east... to China.
The Deal[]
The gang manages to get through to the Panda King.
The Panda King was not any more excited about the idea of joining the Cooper Gang than Sly. The whole deal would have been a bust without the Guru, who seems to have a spiritual connection with said formal member of the Fiendish Five.
The Panda King resignedly explained to the gang that he has a daughter named Jing King who was kidnapped by a powerful general from the northern mountains of China named Tsao. She was to be the bride in a forced marriage to this unscrupulous ruler and her dad was in exile.
The gang agreed to save the Panda King's daughter in exchange for his skills in the Cooper Vault heist. Sly still thought this was a bad idea, but he had to honor the rescue deal, so he had no other choice.
Jobs[]
| Job name | Completed by |
|---|---|
| "King of Fire" | Whole gang |
| The gang needs to find a way up to the Panda King's shrine and explain the situation to him. | |
| "Get a Job" | Bentley, Sly |
| In order to get an inside track on Tsao's wedding, Bentley gets a job as the wedding coordinator while he gets Sly a job as a wedding photographer. | |
| "Tearful Reunion" | Murray, Penelope, Panda King |
| Penelope locates a mysterious signal out in the water. Murray is asked to investigate it, and it turns out to be the team van. | |
| "Grapple-Cam Break-In" | Sly, Bentley |
| After stealing two keys with Sly's help, Bentley breaks into Tsao's house of business to learn more about the wedding. | |
| "Laptop Retrieval" | Bentley, Sly, the Guru |
| Tsao manages to discover the gang's hideout and steals Bentley's computer. The gang works together to reclaim it. | |
| "Vampiric Demise" | Bentley, Sly, Panda King |
| Sly and the Panda King work together to destroy the hopping vampires using fireworks. | |
| "Down the Line" | Murray, Penelope |
| After a failed attempt to open a strongbox containing phone wires, Penelope uses her RC car to rescue Murray from execution. | |
| "A Battery of Peril" | Bentley, Sly, Carmelita |
| Sly needs to get Carmelita to charge a battery so that he can stabilize it and bring it back to the van. | |
| "Operation: Wedding Crasher" | Sly, Penelope, Murray, Bentley |
| It is time for the gang to rescue Jing King, steal Tsao's treasure and get Carmelita to take the bride's place. | |
The Getaway[]
General Tsao is busted by his "bride."
General Tsao had his wedding on time, and everything went as he arranged, but the bride turned out to be a literal "shock". Having taken Jing King's place, Inspector Fox used her shock pistol to zap Tsao, thinking it was Sly in disguise. The second she placed the cuffs on him, she realized it was not Sly. Though a little disappointed, she did not mind taking Tsao into custody, as she was aware of how he had plagued the streets with the undead. From what Sly heard, the locals are glad to see him go behind bars.
The gang dropped off Jing King with her aunt. The Panda King insisted she will be safe there until he comes home, and that he needs to pay off his debt to the gang. Sly is still wary of him joining the team, but has no doubt his skills will come in handy.
The gang then decided to do some shopping in the backstreets of Shanghai before starting on their next adventure, just like from 3 years ago.
Master Thief Challenges[]
| Challenge name | Description |
|---|---|
| "Big Air in China" | Use Murray's Aboriginal Ball Form to reach each waypoint without taking damage and before time expires. |
| "Sharpshooter" | Keep Murray from taking significant damage from attacking guards. |
| "Treetop Tangle" | Defeat Tsao without sustaining significant damage. |
| "Tsao Showdown" | Defeat Tsao without sustaining significant damage. |
| "China Treasure Hunt" | Using your Treasure Map, follow the clues to find the hidden loot. |
Cinematics[]
Trivia[]
- The shopping the gang did at the end of "Fire in the Sky" in Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus is paid homage in this episode's ending, with the addition of Penelope, the Guru and the Panda King, as well as the difference in location.
- The boss for this episode is General Tsao and his character is a chicken. This is a reference to the popular Chinese dish, General Tso's Chicken, which is occasionally spelled "Tsao," along with many others.
- The Panda King also appears on this episode's title card, just like he did in "Fire in the Sky" of Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus.
- The red arches around the level can be destroyed with Carmelita's pistol. If done, a glitch occurs where the lights will remain floating in place.
Notes[]