Monaco 2 Review

Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine, Monaco 2's predecessor from 2013, developed by Pocketwatch Games, features pixel-art graphics in a crazy but brilliant, stealth-based heist. It came in the indie marketplace as a smart-level design, character class system, and highly captivating co-op play.

Now, its successor, Monaco 2, offers itself a grand visual overhaul and new game concepts without compromising on the magic that characterized the original and captured hearts so thoroughly.

Coming out amidst the revival of indie sequels such as Hades II and Silksong, Monaco 2 had much to live up to. Fortunately, Pocketwatch Games didn't merely give it a visual improvement; they overhauled the experience from scratch, using a new 3D engine and procedural world generation while keeping the strategic multiplayer foundation intact. Whether you're a returning player or a new one, this sequel is improved in every aspect, offering both co-op couch play and solo play.

While movie story RPGs and story-based games are overflowing with captivating narratives, Monaco 2 takes a refreshing approach with its incredibly light storytelling style. You play a team of ill-matched burglars, each with extraordinary power, who must coordinate fantastic heists across massive levels. That's the entire idea—and it plays precisely so.

The story in Monaco 2 may feel underwhelming, with a simple narrative thread tying together the missions. Still, it's easy to overlook that because the gameplay is so rich and engaging. You're not engaging in peak-level storytelling or worrying about ethics and moral dilemmas, like in Witcher 3 and Detroit: Become Human. You're here to outwit security guards, open the combinations of highly locked safes, and get away like a pro, either by yourself or with your friends. There's a similar feeling of your little mini-narrative to each task, with heist suspense, and that's what makes the game so addictive.

Essentially, Monaco 2 is a team-based stealth action game with a significant focus on choice. You hire a team of elite thieves and perform different high-risk robberies. The twist for the sequel is that instead of using the traditional 2D side perspective, Monaco 2 now utilizes a 3D isometric perspective and procedurally generated maps. Each mission is different, and no two plays are the same.

You begin each mission by selecting characters from your growing roster. Each one is specialized—some excel in hacking, others in combat or lockpicking. Choosing the right team composition can make or break a job. Once inside, it's all about real-time strategy and quick thinking. You'll disable alarms, evade patrolling guards, loot safes, and escape undetected—or deal with the fallout if things go sideways.

The procedural design plays a considerable role here. The dynamic level layouts mean players can't memorize guard patterns or safe locations. Whether played solo or together, each level is a puzzle box with many different solutions.

Combat takes a secondary focus in Monaco 2. The game is most charming in its setting, its puzzles, and its use of stealth skills. Interactive puzzle-solving, such as creeping through laser beams, breaking down computer terminals, or unlocking closed doors without triggering an alarm, adds depth.

When all goes wrong—and it does quite frequently—the game becomes frenetic. You can battle the guards, use gadgets, or create diversions to escape. Combat is deliberately hazardous and clunky; however, it reminds you that stealth is usually the preferable choice. The game makes you fight patiently and tactically, not bludgeoning your way through.

The nice combination of fighting and puzzling exists in the encouragement of experimentation. There is no "right" to pull off a heist. You move in unseen, or you burst in guns blazing, escaping only by the seat of your pants. That absence of closure is one of the game's best things.

Monaco 2 is at its finest when it shines in its stealth action, and here it is neatly compact and satisfying. Level design is good at introducing challenges that become intuitive hurdles, such as bypassing security lasers by bribing guards, hacking terminals, or sneaking past corridors where roaming guards patrol. Procedural generation ensures missions are never quite the same, always having a unique flavor for every heist. 

Even with its strengths, Monaco 2 is not perfect. The AI, when operating within normal parameters, will sometimes glitch—guards will get stuck or act out of character, and this will break you out of an otherwise compelling heist. 

In addition, the game's difficulty will sometimes spike extremely high, and playing alone on those more challenging missions can be daunting. Specific missions are designed with co-op in mind, which can leave solo players at a disadvantage unless they have precisely chosen characters and tactics.

All the playable characters have unique skills, and growing through heists opens you up to new gadgets and playable characters. Progression isn't from XP grinding; it's about skills. Playing more and getting familiar with how each character can excel means more and more experimentation for growth.

There are a few skills behind mission complete achievements, so you're rewarded for experimenting with different methods and compositions. The game gently pushes you out of your comfort zone—if you never play the Hacker, you'll never know the pleasure the Locksmith or Muscle can deliver with alternative configurations.

There's a low-key sense of meta-progression, as well. As you become more comfortable with the mechanics and the randomness of the layout of the game, your strategy changes. It's not brute stats—it's how smart you are.

Monaco 2 diverges from its pixel art origins and instead aims for a 3D isometric look, and the divergence is well worth it. The new graphics provide more detail without sacrificing the clean, sharp appearance that made the original game so easy to follow.

Characters are simple to distinguish, and every level is different in terms of atmosphere. Lighting is significant, too—whether it's reflections on the ground or shadows in the dark, it serves to create the atmosphere. Despite the extra detail, the graphics remain simple to comprehend, which is quite crucial for a game where decision-making needs to be fast.

The isometric point of view offers an entire picture of what's happening without distracting you from the action. The camera never changes position or location, so you always sense your environment correctly. Monaco 2's sound effects add a lot to the experience. The small audio cues—like the terminal-hacking sound, the quiet striding, or a yelping guard—keep you guessing as to what is happening. 

The music changes to suit the moment. When you're sneaking around, the music is relaxed and subdued. But when something goes wrong, and alarms start sounding, the music speeds up, making the moment even more intense. This change in music isn't done for show - it's keeping you engaged in what's going on and on course without being distracting.

Monaco 2 does what all successful sequels do: it takes the heart of the original and infuses it with fresh ideas to shake things up. Its open nature, high replayability, and emphasis on co-op play make it diverge from a genre that is usually constructed around linear paths and rigid stealth.

You can complete each mission your way—sneak in or go loud—and that level of freedom allows everybody to play their way. The improved graphics, responsive soundtrack, and well-executed co-op features are what make it all hang together.

There are a few minor bugs, and some of the single-player missions are difficult to start with, but these imperfections do not take much away from the game itself. With ongoing updates and maintenance by the developers, things can only get better.