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PS2 | Adventure | Maximo: Ghosts to Glory

Boxart for Maximo: Ghosts to Glory
Maximo: Ghosts to Glory 39 screen shots
  • GRAPHICS: 5.0
  • SOUND: 4.5
  • CONTROL: 5.0
  • FUN FACTOR 4.5
  • AVG USER SCORE 4.0
  • AVG CRITIC SCORE 4.4
Winner of the GamePro Editor's Choice Award

Review: Maximo: Ghosts to Glory

Review by TOKYODRIFTER | 02/13/2002 | 16:40:28 PM PST

Old-school gamers, go pick up this game right now. Everyone else, please read the review then go pick up this game.

Maximo isn?t a direct follow-up to the classic Ghosts N? Goblins franchise, but it is surely the spiritual successor upgraded and reinterpreted for the PlayStation 2.

Ghouls to Ghosts to Glory
From the arcades to the NES and SNES systems, the Ghosts N? Goblins series was a benchmark in platform action gaming, offering a very tough challenge and devious level design. Maximo steps into these very big shoes and comes out as a classic in its own right. The game?s difficulty is more forgiving than that of the earlier thumb bruisers, which opens up things for younger gamers, but there?s tons of challenge for those looking to uncover everything the game has to offer.

Nod to the Old School
Old-school gaming is all about good gameplay, and Maximo doesn?t stray too far from the "straight out of the text book" time-honored formulas. The various attacks and moves are perfectly balanced and are all essential throughout the game. Platform jumping plays a large role in the game and would become repetitive if the level design was not topnotch.

The environments are laid out well and look great?as do the creatures that inhabit them, including Maximo himself. In fact, this is one of the sharpest-looking action games yet seen on the PlayStation 2. Designed by famous artist Susumu Matsushita, the game?s characters include enemies and saucy heroines that vibrate with personality?even though they don?t really speak all that much. What little voice-acting there is takes place in the cinemas and is solid except for the tongue-in-cheek Death character, but that?s a matter of personal preference. Thankfully, the original theme song from the Ghosts N? Goblins series has been updated and blended with each of the levels, creating a great kick of nostalgia. Players not familiar with the tunes can still enjoy a wonderful orchestral style score that will please any ear.

Perfection?Almost
Maximo gets so much right that its small imperfections seem more magnified than they should be. The camera is the plague of 3D action, and Maximo is not immune. Areas with tight corners and frequent falls from ledges due to obscured views are a tough pill to swallow. Even more odd is that the Boss fights get easier as you get further into the game. Perhaps this is to offset the higher difficulty in the later levels, but it sort of makes things anti-climatic.

Minor annoyances aside, Maximo is highly recommended for anyone looking for a great dose of old school action or just plain great action period. You get everything from a damsel in distress to level after level of evil ghouls, and you don?t have to beat the game twice to see the ending.


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