Title Maximo: Ghosts to Glory Manufacturer Capcom System/Year Playstation 2/2002 Genre 3D Platforming, Action-Adventure. Players 1 Other systems none Maximo! Overview The story of Maximo begins after our hero returns home from a war, only to find out that his once friend and trusted royal advisor, Achille, has betrayed him, taken over his throne, and kidnapped Princess Sophia. Achille uses his new found powers of the underworld, to kill Maximo, and also to control hordes of the Undead, for his own evil army. Now, Maximo has to form an uneasy alliance with Grim, keeper of the dead, in order to come back to life, revive the four imprisoned wise Sorceresses, free his Kingdom from the evil Achille, and rescue Sophia, the true love of his life. Let the epic adventure begin! Graphics 9/10 Visually, "Maximo: Ghosts To Glory" is a very good looking Video Game. Each stage in the game has a different "theme" to it, and they are visually represented very well, throughout the entire game. For example, the Under World Stages have interesting Fire-Effects to them, as well as Hellish-Looking Creatures that dwell there. Another stage has a "Graveyard Theme," with gravestones, and coffins, while another set of stages have Snow and Ice environments. The many enemies that you encounter also reflect the theme of the stages that they appear on. For example, in the Jungle Stages, Maximo is attacked, by Giant Poison-Spitting Plants. Our hero also encounters big Snow Yetis, in the Frozen Waste Lands, while during the "Bone Yard" Stages, he has to watch out for Flying Ghosts, and Zombies. The main character that you control, Maximo, has several sets of gestures and animations that describe to you, what he is doing, or the current condition that he is in. He usually wears full body armor, with a helmet. However, if our hero takes too much damage in battle, he will keep on losing bits and pieces of his armor, until he is left in only his boxer shorts! Now, you?ll need to get Power-Up Items, to regain his armor and health supply, in order for him to survive. In other instances, if Maximo stands still long enough, he will do different things like look around his surroundings, in a startled manner, or just start to hum a tune to himself. Also, if he stands too close to the edge of a platform, or a ledge, he will panic, and try to quickly regain his footing. The only problem I saw with the graphics, were in certain areas of the stages, some of the backgrounds looked very flat, or like they were cut and pasted into place. Gameplay/Controls 7/10 Maximo is armed with a Sword, and a Shield. The Shield, he typically uses to defend himself against an onslaught of enemy attacks. He primarily attacks by slashing and cutting with his sword, but he can also throw his shield as a long range offensive weapon. He also has a very powerful and useful "Downward Strike," that can used to defeat powerful enemies, break open containers, and even uncover various secret areas, as well as hidden items. If you are surrounded by enemies, a well-timed counter-clock wise spin of the left analog stick, pressed with the main slash button, will make Maximo, perform a powerful Spinning Attack. Some enemies, you can just stab, or cut to defeat them. Others are not so simple, and may require you to use a combination of various attacks, in a specific order, so as to defeat them. To ease things up a bit for our hero, Maximo can actually pick up a diverse variety of Sword and Shield Power-Ups, which all have different destructive effects on the enemies, and the huge bosses. For example, an Ice Power-Up can enable our hero to freeze certain foes first, before performing follow-up attacks to finish them. The Flame Sword can do significant damage to certain enemies, who have a weakness for fire. Even his trusted Shield, can receive offensive and defensive Elemental Power-Ups, too. The different Sword and Shield "Enchantments," are all limited in their uses, one way or another, so be sure to try and replenish them with various items, that you encounter along the way. Each of the main Bosses can be fought against, only after you complete a certain number of stages, in the each of the different worlds that they command. Once you engage them in battle, you have to employ a different set of strategies, for each of them. They all may be huge, and intimidating, but they all have patterns to exploit, and weak spots to strike at. Once you defeat the bosses, you free one of the beautiful Sorceresses that were held captive. She will then provide you with information, and give you different Power-Up Options. You can even choose to accept her kiss only, which you can use later on, to unlock more secrets, after you beat the game. Unfortunately, you don't have the option of changing the button layout, to suit your personal taste. However, the default configuration actually works out fairly well, once you get used to playing the game. A frustrating part of the gameplay, involves the extensive platform jumping. I state "frustrating," because, once you do jump from one ledge to another, you may, or may not land safely. Maximo unfortunately has a tendency, of over-shooting, or falling short of his intended landing area. This leads to many unnecessary deaths, due to your character falling down to his untimely doom. And, you will be required to make many tricky platform to platform jumps, both small and big ones, throughout this game. Another problem comes from occasional "Hit Range" Issues. Sometimes, it appears as if you will hit your enemies, but you don't seem to "reach" them, for some reason. Also, it may seem like you are safely away from your foes, and out of their range, but they somehow still manage to! strike you. Sound/Music 10/10 The music in the game, all match the various themes, of the many stages throughout your journeys. The Jungle Stages have a somewhat tribal sound to them, with drumbeats, while the Graveyard stages have a slightly creepy and humorous music to them. The later Castle Maximo stages all have more "heroic" themed music. Just listening to the music in the Ice Worlds, would give you the impression that you were a Pirate, on an epic High-Seas Adventure. Once again, all of the music fits very well into the overall look and feel of the game. The sound effects are also very well assembled in this title. Everytime Maximo's Sword hits a different surface, or different material, it will produce an appropriate, and distinct sound effect, which corresponds with what is going on in the game. There is usually a louder clang or clash when his weapon strikes a harder rock surface, or a metal object. When he hits something softer, like a mound of snow, or some plants, the sounds produced from those, are appropriately less intense. Replay Value 8/10 If some of the Platform Jumping Frustrations and the game's increasing difficulty don't scare you away, then you will be returning to play this title, over and over again. There are many features to unlock, but they are only accessible, after you beat the game, a number of times. Plus, there is a Percentage Ranking System that keeps track of exactly how much of the game, you have completed. To achieve 100% Game Mastery, you have to unlock, and uncover everything hidden, in all of the stages, within the game. Also, once you get all of the Sorceresses Kisses, there are more secrets that they will reveal, as well. The Heroic Good Versus Treacherous Evil Storyline, is easy to get into, and is told in a few nicely rendered 3D Cut Scenes, that really don?t interrupt the overall flow of the game. You get to save each of the cut scenes that you unlock, so can get to view them over again, like a Mini-Movie. Overall 8/10 "Maximo: Ghosts To Glory," is indeed an exciting 3D Platforming Game, with classic Action-Adventure Features, like its 2D predecessors "Ghosts 'N' Goblins," and "Ghouls 'N' Ghosts." Maximo is really easy to get into, but ultimately quite a big challenge to completely master, in the end. Audio & Graphics are really what shine, in this title. The gameplay is very good too, with only a few problems here & there. In the long run, this title will most likely be seen as one of Capcom?s better 3D Classic games, for the PlayStation 2. Recommended! - By MASTER-WARRIOR