Monaco: What's Yours is Mine (Video Game Review)

Monaco: What's Yours is Mine is the newest downloadable title from developer Pocketwatch Games and publisher Majesco Entertainment that sets players in the role of a great thief looking to strike it rich with progressively difficult heists with more and more loot. Monaco: What's Yours is Mine has been in development for several years by now, and fans of the indie games industry will have surely heard of this new release several times by now, as it has already won awards earlier in development at the Independent Games Festival. Like many of the greatest indie games, it's difficult to classify Monaco: What's Yours is Mine into a single genre of games; the title takes equal parts stealth and puzzle platforming and even includes moments of twin-stick shooting to create one of the best cooperative experiences we've every had the privilege to play. If you're a fan of great games, you shouldn't pass up the chance to pick up this gem at launch.

Monaco: What's Yours is Mine features storylines and genre clichés from heist action and drama films such as Ocean's Eleven. A team of thieves break out of a prison one stormy night and decide to team up and increase the size and versatility of their gang to pull off the biggest heists yet. Each character in the game has their own personality, profession, and most importantly, unique set of skills. Examples include The Cleaner whose quiet and serious nature proves he is always ready to get the job done and with brute force if necessary to The Redhead whose sultry tactics will distract guards with the perfect diversion as she slips out of the building with a bag full of loot. There are eight characters in the game, and each will have their own campaign in the game that can be played in solo or cooperative play. There are 30 chapters in total in Monaco: What's Yours is Mine, but level design is to perfectly executed in the game, you won't mind replaying the same stages numerous times while shooting for the highest scores, aiming to unlock challenges or rushing to nab the quickest times possible.

Although Monaco: What's Yours is Mine is an incredibly entertaining game when playing alone, the game also allows up to four players to team up locally or online to perform true movie-inspired heists. Playing cooperatively means the team will have a greater arsenal of skills at the ready to allow one player to keep lookout and call out guards as they see them while others hack computers to disable alarms or quickly pick locks to get the team to the destination quicker. The interesting aspect is that the game doesn't allow any team member to be left behind, so cunning plans may be need to be coordinated to save a downed teammate who happens to be laying beside a heavily armed guard! The camera angle in the game is over the top and zoomed out to allow a great majority of the map to be seen at once, which can be good for seeing your teammates in action but can also be confusing when a large group of characters are in a single area. Helpful weapons, disguises and other items can be found on stages to help players progress easier including shotguns, medkits and smoke bombs for a quick escape. Monaco: What's Yours is Mine is easily one of the most rewarding cooperative experiences ever created, and you'll find yourself unable to keep from passing out high fives and congratulations after a successful heist.

Monaco: What's Yours is Mine features some unique design choices and colorful sprites that players will quickly come to love, but during hectic sprints away from alerted enemies, it's far too easy to accidentally find yourself hacking a computer or running into a wall when you meant to unlock a door into the next room or climb inside a ventilation shaft. This minor problem is easily overlooked once you realize how great the lighting in the game is however. Lighting is a key part to your success in Monaco: What's Yours is Mine, as only players will have vision cones similar to enemies that restricts seeing around corners or into closed rooms. This makes the sneak button a vital part of any mission, since you never know when an enemy is lurking right behind a door. A great soundtrack created by Austin Wintory plays the perfect theme songs for exciting robberies, and it also changes tones drastically to allow you to know when you've been spotted and when it is safe to come back out from your hiding spot inside the potted plant. It's impossible to stress how much fun Monaco: What's Yours is Mine when playing with three friends or family members and desperately looking for places to hide when someone inevitably sets off an alarm or is found by a watch dog. Monaco: What's Yours is Mine offers a truly unique experience unlike any other game in the industry and is easily our favorite downloadable game of the year. Don't believe us? Then check out the demo and find out for yourself. Check out Monaco: What's Yours is Mine on PC and Xbox LIVE Arcade today!

Monaco: What's Yours is Mine is now available for Xbox LIVE Arcade and  Steam via PC and can be purchased for 1200 Microsoft Points or $14.99. The game has peaked at #1 on Steam and grossed over $1 million. Monaco: What's Yours is Mine is rated T by the ESRB for Blood, Crude Humor, Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco, Violence & Mild Language. For more information on the game, check out the official Monaco: What's Yours is Mine website.

Game Features:

Online Multiplayer 1-4

8 Playable Characters

30 Chapters

Online Leaderboards

Trophy/Achievement Support

Game Information:
Developer: Pocketwatch Games
Publisher: Majesco Entertainment
Platforms: Xbox LIVE Arcade (reviewed) & PC
Release Date: April 24, 2013 for PC & May 10, 2013 for Xbox LIVE Arcade

Score: 9 out of 10