14 DAY TRIAL // 
Quite a lot of stealth games have been launched in the last year or so, ranging from full-fledged experiences like Dishonored to more independent efforts like Mark of the Ninja.
Now, a new title has appeared that combines stealth with an old-school top-down mechanic, in the form of Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine, an indie project coming from studio PocketWatch Games.
With the promise of multiple classes with different areas of expertise, not to mention the world of Monte Carlo that's filled with all sorts of great robbery targets, the game is looking pretty good, especially since it also allows for a cooperative playthrough of its missions.
Does Monaco manage to pull off the perfect heist or should it be left in jail? Let's find out.
Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine kicks off with a daring prison break in which the team of robbers escapes from the Monte Carlo jail. What follows is a series of daring heists, some driven by necessity, in order to add new allies to the team, others just for fun and loot.
These robberies will take players all over the city, from its yacht-filled docks, to embassies, museums, casinos and, of course, the royal palace. There are also unlockable variations that include certain characters or requirements.
A simple mission starts with the character selection screen, in which the player can decide what class he wants to control. There's the Lockpicker, who can unlock doors and safes much faster, the Lookout, who can detect enemies while standing still, the Pickpocket, who has a pet monkey that can grab nearby loot undetected, the Cleaner, who can incapacitate unaware enemies, the Mole, who can tear down walls, the Gentleman, who can disguise himself, the Hacker, who can unleash viruses from any power socket, and the Redhead, who can charm enemies.
All these characters have different advantages, so it's probably best to try them all before deciding on a favorite. However, when playing alone, you're probably better off with some clear choices like the Cleaner, as the ability to temporarily take out enemies is extremely handy.
While Monaco is quite fun when played alone, it truly shines when played cooperatively, either online or locally, thanks to the special mode that allows teams of different characters, or even the same ones, to attempt the regular heists in its story.
The result can be a carefully orchestrated plan that goes off without a hitch but, more often than not, panic will certainly kick in when someone is detected and the guards are swooping in from all directions. At this point, the heist becomes an "every man for himself" affair, with people running all over the place while trying to escape the guards who'll punch or shoot at the thieves.
The environment is designed extremely well, with different points of entry and access routes, not to mention plenty of secrets that need to be explored, and multiple levels. The top-down mechanic works really well, as players can only check out what they see through their fields of view, while the rest of the building appears as a schematic.
Guards are pretty smart and will alter their patrol routes depending on the actions of the player. They can be oblivious to what's happening around them, suspicious (a question mark appears above them) or aggressive (an exclamation mark appears). There are also regular civilians who'll run to warn guards if they spot the player(s).
While some foes will want to punch the thieves, others will use their weapons, like pistols or rifles, slowly decreasing the life points of the player. When you're alone, you can continue the heist two more times with other classes. When playing cooperatively, other characters can revive their buddies.
In terms of visuals, Monaco looks really impressive, managing to make perfect use of the pixelated style while making everything stand out. The colors are vibrant, the environments are quite varied, and you'll certainly enjoy your adventures.
Sound-wise, the game is also quite good, managing to deliver a great soundtrack that accompanies the heists and changes depending on whether you're detected or not. While there's no voice acting, the dialog is quite hilarious, especially after you get the Hacker to join your crew.
Conclusion
Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine is a great cooperative experience, both when playing stealthily or when playing chaotically. When going at it alone, it can be a bit tough and you're practically forced to make "safe" choices like the Cleaner or the Mole, but it's still quite enjoyable and requires a bit of practice to master its missions.
