In spite of difficulty spikes, this stealth/action game will easily steal your time – and your friends, too.
There are times that Monaco will test your patience – either in single player or co-op, depending who you're paired up with – but staying with it is the real reward. The gameplay teeters graciously between stealth and action, with a line-of-sight system that works brilliantly. You'll know a guard's on you depending where they shine their light, and you can only see areas where you're stepping into, adding a bit to the intrigue. But the gameplay manages to stay fair most of the time, even giving you additional options like shooting guards (these guys do like to make a mess, sometimes) and collecting extra health and ammo – even though it gets sparse later in the game.
Single player is challenging on its own, but, honestly, you haven't really seen what Monaco can accomplish unless you try the four-player co-op. Supported locally and on Xbox Live, multiplayer works wondrously, with each player playing a part, whether it's a distraction or the main man (or woman) doing the job. We didn't run into any server problems whatsoever, though things can get hectic on-screen if all your guys are in one place. Still, it's a party game with a unique twist – and you don't see that very often.
The graphics may not impress at first, especially with the Atari 2600 style characters, but, really, the level design utterly surprises, with challenges around every corner, and, as I stated, great lighting that really gives you a sense of mystery. The in-between convo portions of the game are hilarious, too, especially when the Cleaner speaks – or doesn't really.
