When comparing Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine vs Magicka, the Slant community recommends Magicka for most people. In the question“What are the best local co-op PC games?” Magicka is ranked 12th while Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine is ranked 31st. The most important reason people chose Magicka is:
Since the main gameplay mechanic of casting spells is skill based on how quickly you execute a certain key combination, there's a high chance of misclicking or mistargeting and accidentally attacking your ally. There’s nothing quite like thunderbolting or summoning death on your friends.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Concealing line-of-sight system that keeps the player guessing what's next
Monaco implements a line-of-sight system that many top-down games forgo. By taking advantage of this, the player does not know what awaits around the corner, which helps keep the tension and excitement levels of the game high.
Pro Fun chaotic mix of early level cooperation that requires late game competition to win
Co-op mode often descends into chaotic fun as people try to work together to complete the objectives while still competing against one another to steal the most money and get the highest score. This creates a scenario where you will need to cooperate with your team of players, but still maintain enough wherewithal in order to steal more than anyone else, while they are doing the same. It is definitely a mix of gameplay that is at odds with itself, which can create some pretty fun scenarios where you can stab your teammates in the back.
Pro Minimalistic art style that you would not think is able to capture the French Riviera setting, but does so perfectly
The minimalist art style is strikingly beautiful. The glowing French Rivera is represented in vibrant pixels that evoke a feeling of the lights and energy one would expect of such a location.
Pro Refreshing co-op that actually requires everyone to work together, no single person can carry the group
Unlike many games where the strongest players can carry the group along, Monaco requires the participation of every player in order to succeed – giving everyone a chance to feel like the hero.
Pro The dynamic soundtrack morphs to fit each scenario of the game perfectly
The soundtrack by Grammy-nominated composer Austin Wintory is a jazz-themed composition that adapts to the situation you’re in – remaining subtle while you’re unnoticed and kicking into high gear when you’re wreaking havoc.
Pro No need for third party VoIP clients, it is built in
A built-in VoIP system lets you speak to your teammates in real time. This is a great feature for a game that requires such excellent teamwork and that relies on the social aspect for so much of the fun.
Pro Chaotic gameplay that results in amusing friendly fire
Since the main gameplay mechanic of casting spells is skill based on how quickly you execute a certain key combination, there's a high chance of misclicking or mistargeting and accidentally attacking your ally. There’s nothing quite like thunderbolting or summoning death on your friends.
Pro The spell system is pretty unique
Magicka has a unique spell-casting system based on adding elements such as fire, water, and stone to an action queue.
There are eight basic elements (each assigned to a key), of which up to five can be queued at a time. Some elements can be combined in the queuing process (such as fire and water to create steam). The effect of the spell changes to match the elements you add to the queue. Additionally, there are four casting methods: beam (right-click), area (shift+right-click), self-cast (middle-click), and imbue weapon (shift+click).
Pro Funny story and music
Story twists and music create an fun and easy gameplay atmosphere.
Pro Two different gameplay modes
Other than the standard campaign mode there's also a survival mode that's your standard affair with increasingly difficult waves of enemies. There's also an online leader board for survival mode.
Pro Casual fun with friends
Not too complex gameplay allows hilarious time with friends even if they don't know the game.
Cons
Con Art style can lead to confusion
In a frantic game like Monaco, the distinction between a door and a light switch can be a life-or-death mistake. The minimalist design can be very pretty, but may also be very irritating in situations where time is short.
Con Requires all players to be good enough
Monaco is not a very good game for adults and children to play together. It can be frustrating when the players' skill levels are too mismatched.
Con Some balancing issues
Some sections feature overpowered enemies that feel more like a cheap trick than a challenge. These parts are few, but they are particularly frustrating.
Con A bit of a learning curve
With the number of spells you have at your command comes the challenge of discovering and remembering them all. But once you know them, you'll be able to counter anything that's thrown at you.
Con Memorizing spells is extremely difficult
The vast combination of elements make it all but impossible to blindly figure out what spell combos the game has and even the wiki page has no usefulness in finding spells for your play style.
Con Optimization could be better
At certain times during competitive play, the game can lag or slow down (not rare for an online game), which may mess up the timing of skill shots in the game. Being that timing is highly important to the gameplay, having a poor netcode that fluctuates during play can be upsetting, especially if it results in a loss.