Monaco: What's Yours is Mine (PC/360)

Nothing gets the blood pumping like a good heist!  And if it is truly a good heist - things will go wrong....so very very wrong.

Monaco: What's Yours is Mine is a top down indie heist game where you can play with up to 4 players either local or online co-op (you can also go solo).  It has a very beautiful 8bit+shaders art asthetic (similar to Terraria in that regard).  It has a fantastic piano driven soundtrack that sets the mood - beit stealthy sneaking around or ramped up insanity when things go off the rails.  My advice is to play the game with friends.  Playing solo can be rewarding and really helps get you familiar with the mechanics of different characters and the in game mechanics of traps, alarms, etc. but the real charm of this game is found when instead of one clutsy bumbling nincompoop tripping alarms and alterting attack dogs....you have four people.  The multiplayer is great because you can choose from many different characters who all have different special abilities which cause the levels to play out differently based on what mix of classes you choose.

the Cleaner can knock unsuspecting enemies out

the Locksmith can pick locks uber-fast

the lookout and show your team where the guards are even through the fog of war

the mole can spoon his way through walls to change the level

the gentelman can wear many disguises and go undetected

the readhead can user her charm to swoon enraged guards and make them forgot they were about to fill you full of led

the hacker can inject virus into the electrical/computer systems

the pickpocket has a companion monkey that helps collect coins faster / from a greater distance (coins are important!)

So far I've really enjoyed playing with the Cleaner and the Mole but honestly there are some characters I haven't even tried yet! 

The story is given to you via cut scenes with charming dialogue from each of the charactes that lead you from mission to misison.  It took me awhile to get into the game and even comprehend what was going on and at times I've lost where my character is on the screen.  The screen has brilliant colors and busy action and lots of darkness as you have a "line of sight" mechanic that shows you where your character can see - when that little area gets filled with guards, dogs, other players, coins, fire, etc. it can get pretty disorienting but after awhile you become attached and familiar with your character and you begin to see things more clearly.

Depending on your mix of characters in your group you can plot and plan to attack the level based on your teams strengths and layout of the level.  Levels are typically multi-teired (i.e. 1 screen does not equal 1 level).  Most levels have "equipment" that you can pickup and use, a bandage kit to heal, a shotgun to waste face, a wrench to speed up actions, a laser guided crossbow for the silent kills etc.  For the cost of 10 gold coins you can get a reuse out of these items.  Collecting all the gold coins on a level will unlock a level of increased diffiulty.  You can plow through the game basically ignoring the gold coins but I think if you make it your plan to get 'em all you'll have a more fun time and will be playing more as the game is intended.

The game has 16 levels + 16 more difficult variations of those levels (I believe that is how it works) and is well worth the ~$15.00 (or ~$45.00 for a 4 pack) especially if you have some chums to play with locally or online that love to laugh.  Rumor has it that a level editor will be released soon (not sure if that is for both PC/360 or not).