Maximo vs. Army of Zin

Can Maximo?s second outing live up to the original -- or perhaps outdo it?

The first game, Maximo: Ghosts To Glory, was a fine 3D platformer in the tradition of the classic Ghosts ?N Goblins series, but some felt many aspects of the game, such as the precision jumps and strict continue system, were too difficult or unfair. Maximo vs. Army of Zin modernizes these elements to address such concerns and polishes everything else that worked to boot.

Past Glory
Two key ingredients that made Maximo?s previous adventure stand out were the tight controls and intricate level designs. The developers behind Maximo vs. Army of Zin were well aware of this and tweaked those strengths to great effect. All the things you wished were improved upon from the original?s gameplay has been addressed, too. The combat system is more complex with rewarding combo bonuses; you have new upgradeable weapons at your disposal; and the platform jumping is a tad more forgiving. It?s worth expanding on the platform-jumping issue as it was so unforgiving in the last game. The sequel hasn?t dumbed it down at all, just softened it enough to prevent gamers from destroying their controllers out of frustration. Now, you can grab onto ledges if your timing isn?t perfect, and most of the toughest jumps are optional grabs for items instead of barriers preventing you from advancing.

The level designs also have more variety with some neat interactive touches and tricky secret areas to discover. Progression through the levels is well balanced, but there is definitely a big jump in difficulty after defeating the first boss. You?ll also see the differences in terrain reflect the story rather than encountering an obligatory snow or jungle area for the sake of mixing things up.

To the Max
The visuals have been noticeably beefed up with a more mature-looking Maximo, detailed enemies, and distinct levels. The game features a lot more graphical effects, which give the overall production a slick, polished look. Also adding to the presentation are the greatly improved in-game and prerendered cinematics. Fans of the cheesecake-laden movies from the last game may be disappointed that the focus is more on the story this time than rescuing hot maidens. The unlockable picture and movie gallery is back and larger than ever, adding incentives to master every task.

The audio presentation is great and features a variety of themes that match the levels. The original Maximo had musical themes that closely evoked the Ghosts ?N Goblins tunes, but that?s almost nonexistent this time out. Whether that?s a plus or minus for you depends on your preferences. The voice acting is good, although the characters could use a lot more fleshing out and the dialogue could be a bit punchier. Also, very little attempt is made to catch up or explain references to players who haven?t played Maximo: Ghosts To Glory.

In the end, Maximo vs. Army of Zin comes off as a fantastic platformer with a long and challenging adventure that also packs a healthy amount of replay value. However, it is highly recommended that you check out the first game before tackling the Zin.

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