- Maximo: Ghosts to Glory
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Maximo: Ghosts to Glory 
Cover artDeveloper(s) Capcom Digital Studios Publisher(s) Capcom Designer(s) David Siller, Scott Rogers, William Anderson Platform(s) PlayStation 2, PlayStation Network Release date(s) PlatStation 2
PlayStation Network
- NA October 4, 2011
Genre(s) Action-adventure Mode(s) Single-player Rating(s) - ESRB: Teen
Media/distribution 1 DVD, Download Maximo: Ghosts to Glory (also known as just simply Maximo [1] in Japan and Europe) is a 3D hack and slash platform game developed by Capcom for the PlayStation 2. The game is based in the Ghosts'n Goblins universe and features original character designs by Japanese illustrator Susumu Matsushita. It's a part of PlayStation 2 Greatest Hits. In 2011 the game was re-released on PlayStation Network for the PlayStation 3.
Contents
Development
Maximo is an attempt to merge the Ghosts'n Goblins universe with illustrator Susumu Matsushita manga artwork. The title was originally planned for Nintendo 64 but was delayed for several years and transferred for Dreamcast and later PlayStation 2.[2]
The concept was created by Capcom Digital Studio head David Siller who wanted to bring back "old school" game play. The game was produced by Mark Rogers and designed by David Siller, Bill Anderson and Scott Rogers. Jonathan Casco was the art director. 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. 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 composed by Tommy Tallarico.
Maximo was presented in E3 2001 and released in the end of the same year in Japan and in early 2002 in United States and Europe.
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 is split in 5 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 world, the player enter on a first mandatory stage and then moves to a portal stage with entrances for other stages in that world. Those portal stages offers options to save, travel to other worlds and buy health and food. Some enemies also appear in portal stages.
The game also has many references to Ghouls'n Ghosts gameplay elements, such as the ability to crush graves and the hero being attacked by spells turning into animals.
Reception
Publication Score Famitsu 32/40 GameSpot 7.9/10 IGN 9.2/10 Compiler Aggregate score Metacritic [3] 84 Maximo was well received, though criticized for being difficult and inaccessible. Saving is restricted to predetermined points and certain levels present obstacles that some have declared too challenging to overcome. The reviews were mixed, portraying the difficulty of the game. Ghost to Glory achieved PlayStation 2 Greatest Hits status in the United States selling more than 400,000 units in North America. A sequel, Maximo vs. Army of Zin was released in 2003 with better critical reception.
IGN ranked Maximo at #6 of Top 10 hardest games of PlayStation 2. [4]
The future of the series is unknown. Capcom not commented or announced any new plans for Maximo. Leaked artworks confirmed that a third game began in production in 2004 but was eventually cancelled.
See also
References
- ^ Game Data. GameFAQs. Retrieved on February 9, 2008.
- ^ "Hardcore Gaming 101: Ghosts 'n Goblins". Hardcore Gaming 101. http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/gng/gng5.htm. Retrieved 2010-02-03.
- ^ "Maximo: Ghosts to Glory (ps2) reviews at Metacritic.com". http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ps2/maximoghoststoglory.
- ^ "Most Challenging PS2 Games of All Time". IGN. April 27, 2005. http://ps2.ign.com/articles/608/608086p1.html.
External links
- Official
- General resources
Gargoyle's Quest series Maximo series Maximo: Ghosts to Glory • Maximo vs. Army of ZinPuzzle game Crossover games SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos • Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes • Namco × Capcom • Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds (Ultimate)Categories:- Ghosts'n Goblins
- 2001 video games
- 3D platform games
- Action-adventure games
- Cancelled Nintendo 64 games
- Cancelled Dreamcast games
- Capcom games
- PlayStation 2 games
- PlayStation Network games
- PlayStation 3 games
- Video games developed in the United States
- Video game spin-offs
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