Monaco’ Review: Co-op Stealthy Goodness

‘Monaco’ Review: Co-op Stealthy Goodness
Reinvigorating a genre seems like a daunting task.

Reinvigorating a genre seems like a daunting task. This is especially difficult to do when the graphical steps taken are backwards rather than forwards. Yet, through moment after moment in Pocketwatch Games’ masterpiece Monaco: What’s Yours is Mine , there are bits and pieces of evolution and progression made in the stealth genre. Everything feels fresh and new and the nuances of the stealth genre are improved upon enough to make Monaco an exciting and unique experience all its own.

If you had not ascertained the information yet, or know nothing about Monaco , it is a 2-D stealth game that is available for PC from both Monaco’s official websiteand on Steam. It will be available soon for Xbox 360 when the developer works out an apparent bug.

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Monaco approaches stealth with the background of a classic heist movie. A team of crack specialists is assembled and they attempt to pull off the perfect heist. There are eight members on the team and each has a special ability. The “Gentleman” is the master of disguise. The “Cleaner” is the psychopathic muscle. The “Lockpick” is good at making cheeseburgers, or picking locks. Likely the latter. Each character plays better depending on the situation.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC7b6642AWM]

Luckily, Monaco supports more than one player to “case a joint”. Up to four players can take on the many roles Monaco offers and team up for the perfect heist. This means having the “Mole”, who can burrow through walls, becomes infinitely more valuable when he is digging holes for the “Hacker” to get through, who can then knock out the lights through an outlet. Yeah, it is cool. The co-op is a real selling point and it can be played both online and in front of one TV. Local multiplayer in the 21st century? I am on board.

This combines with some brilliant, although simple, game mechanics. The line of sight mechanic is particularly exceptional. Anything your character can see is presented in color and real time, whereas anything out of your character’s line of sight is presented as black and white blueprints. You know where the cameras and money are because you “cased the joint”, but you only know what it looks like when you really see it. Simple, but exceptional should really be the motto of most of Monaco’s features.

Monaco is separated into levels with each having a short back-story. These levels have a goal, such as stealing documents, breaking into a vault, or rescuing another character. Throughout the levels there are a certain number of coins which need to be stolen to “clean out” the location. Eventually, the player will need to start “cleaning out” locations to unlock more levels. This becomes exceptionally difficult as a one man crew when coming to the latter stages of the game. Often it can be so difficult it’s frustrating, but patience is key during these moments. Monaco rewards smart play and often when a mistake is made it is because of the player’s misstep, not the game’s shortcomings.

Other game mechanics are equally well-executed. Enemies are alert and adept. Shooting mechanics have a very Hotline Miami feel to them. The graphics are simplistic, with a neon flare. The soundtrack tumbles between piano lines and horns, with a brass feel to it all that emanates the old 1950’s feel that heist films often hold. All these features combine into a package that reminds us not that less can be made to be just as good as more, but that often less is more.

That is the greatest quality of Monaco. It is so simple to pick up and play, but so nuanced and memorable. If it was not for the spine-crushing difficulty that often accompanies the later stages of the game, it would be the perfect package. With  local and online co-op which requires true teamwork and a slew of quality gameplay elements, Monaco not only revives a tired genre, but is likely a top-runner as game of the year candidate so far in 2013. [/private_insider]

[review pros=”Revival of the stealth genre. Incredible line of sight mechanic. Fantastic soundtrack. Enticing co-op. Simple, but deeply nuanced.” Cons=”Tests your patience near the end.” score=95]