Maximo: Ghosts to Glory

Maximo: Ghosts to Glory, known in Japan, Korea, Europe and Australia as Maximo (マキシモ, Makishimo), is a 3D hack and slash platform video game developed by Capcom for the PlayStation 2. The game is based on the Ghosts 'n Goblins universe and features original character designs by Japanese illustrator Susumu Matsushita. The game was followed by a sequel, Maximo vs. Army of Zin in 2003.

Maximo: Ghosts to Glory
North American cover art
Developer(s)Capcom Digital Studios
Publisher(s)Capcom
Producer(s)Mark Rogers
Designer(s)David Siller
Scott Rogers
William Anderson
Programmer(s)Sean Butterworth, Keith Weatherly
Artist(s)Susumu Matsushita
SeriesGhosts 'n Goblins
Platform(s)PlayStation 2
Release
  • JP: December 27, 2001
  • NA: February 11, 2002
  • EU: March 1, 2002
Genre(s)Action-adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay

Maximo takes place in a dynamic, fully 3D world. The character is controlled by the player and can move freely within areas by running, jumping, crouching, and performing other various motions. Gameplay revolves around defeating large numbers of enemies, which can be accomplished by attacking with a sword and shield, and combos and special moves. Like in the Ghosts series, Maximo fights wearing armor. If he is hit, he will lose corresponding pieces of armor and eventually be reduced to wearing his boxer shorts, with another hit resulting in him losing a life. If Maximo loses all his lives, he can continue by giving Death Coins to the Grim Reaper. However, every time he loses all his lives, the required cost for a continue increases. The game features more references to Ghosts gameplay elements, such as the ability to crush graves and the hero being attacked by spells turning into animals.

The game is split in five major worlds: The Boneyard, The Great Dank, Graveyard of Ships, Realm of Spirit and Castle Maximo. Each world has four stages to beat and a boss battle. In a given world, it's mandatory for the player to enter into the first stage, and then he may move on to a portal stage with entrances for other stages in that world. Those portal stages offer options to save, travel to other worlds and buy health and food. Some enemies also appear in portal stages. After defeating each boss, the player can choose to either receive a health bonus, or receive a kiss from a rescued sorceress, with a special reward granted for getting kisses from all four sorceresses.

Plot

Maximo, a brave king, returns to his castle from the far off war to find his kingdom is falling with the sorceresses being imprisoned throughout. Worst of yet was that his once trusted advisor Achille has forced Queen Sophia to marry him. He attempts to rescue her from his clutches who has awoken the power of the underworld. However Achille proves too powerful and strikes down Maximo with one blast of his dark magic, killing him. Now floating in the underworld, Maximo is approached by Grim who reveals that Achille is drilling into the underworld to harvest souls, fueling his undead army. Feeling that he would be out of the job if there are no more dead, Grim makes a deal with Maximo to bring him back to life in exchange for stopping Achille's evil plans; sending him back to the earth in the process where his journey begins

Development and release

Maximo is an attempt to merge the Ghosts 'n Goblins universe with illustrator Susumu Matsushita's manga artwork. The title was originally planned for Nintendo 64 but was delayed for several years and transferred for Dreamcast and later PlayStation 2.[1]

The concept was created by Capcom Digital Studio head David Siller (creator of Crash Bandicoot and Aero the Acro-Bat) who wanted to bring back "old school" gameplay. The artistic team placed special emphasis on the design and rendering of the characters, as well as putting a great deal of work into the environmental effects. Siller also drew the level designs on paper in pencil and pen.[2] The game's music, which varies from stage to stage, includes orchestrated remixes of the tracks found in Ghouls 'n Ghosts and Ghosts 'n Goblins, arranged by artists from Tommy Tallarico Studios.

Maximo was presented in E3 2001. It was released at the end of the same year in Japan and in early 2002 in the United States, Korea, and Europe.

The game was re-released on the budget labels Greatest Hits in North America and The Best in Japan on the PlayStation 2. It was also re-released on the PlayStation Network for the PlayStation 3 in North America on October 4, 2011 and in Europe on February 15, 2012.

Reception

The game received "favorable" reviews according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[3] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 31 out of 40.[8]

The game achieved PlayStation 2 Greatest Hits status in the United States, selling more than 400,000 units in North America. IGN ranked Maximo at #6 on its list of the Top 10 Most Challenging PS2 Games of All Time, saying it was "a real test for true-blooded action-seekers."[19] Complex’s Rich Knight named Maximo the 43rd best PlayStation 2 game, believing it successfully captured the spirit of Ghosts ‘n Goblins.[20]

Sequel

A sequel titled Maximo vs. Army of Zin was released in 2003, also for the PlayStation 2. Leaked artworks confirmed that a third game began in production in 2004 but was eventually cancelled.

References
  1. "Hardcore Gaming 101: Ghosts 'n Goblins". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on 7 December 2009. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  2. Sheffield, Brandon (November 2009). "Good Old Designs Spotlight on David Siller" (PDF). Game Developer. Vol. 16 no. 10. United Business Media. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  3. "Maximo: Ghosts to Glory for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  4. Marriott, Scott Alan. "Maximo: Ghosts to Glory – Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  5. Edge staff (February 2002). "Maximo". Edge (107).
  6. EGM staff (March 2002). "Maximo: Ghosts to Glory". Electronic Gaming Monthly (152): 136.
  7. Bramwell, Tom (28 February 2002). "Maximo : Ghosts to Glory". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  8. "プレイステーション2 – マキシモ". Famitsu. 915: 90. 30 June 2006.
  9. Reiner, Andrew (March 2002). "Maximo: Ghosts to Glory". Game Informer (107): 76. Archived from the original on 20 March 2008. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  10. Tokyo Drifter (March 2002). "Maximo: Ghosts to Glory Review for PS2 on GamePro.com". GamePro: 94. Archived from the original on 6 February 2005. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  11. G-Wok (February 2002). "Maximo: Ghosts to Glory Review". Game Revolution. Archived from the original on 8 September 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  12. Satterfield, Shane (8 February 2002). "Maximo: Ghosts to Glory Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 13 July 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  13. Guzman, Hector (12 February 2002). "Maximo: Ghosts to Glory". GameSpy. Archived from the original on 5 February 2005. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  14. Bedigian, Louis (11 February 2002). "Maximo: Ghosts to Glory Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on 10 February 2008. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  15. Perry, Douglass C. (13 February 2002). "Maximo: Ghosts to Glory". IGN. Archived from the original on 27 January 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  16. "Maximo: Ghosts to Glory". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine: 104. March 2002.
  17. Saltzman, Marc (13 March 2002). "Gaming getaways". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on 11 February 2008. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  18. Porter, Alex (15 February 2002). "Maximo: Ghosts to Glory". Maxim. Archived from the original on 6 June 2002. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  19. IGN staff (27 April 2005). "The Top 10 Most Challenging PS2 Games of All Time". IGN. Archived from the original on 27 October 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  20. Rich Knight (1 March 2018). "The 50 Best PS2 Games Ever". Complex. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
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