32_Footsteps's Full Review: Maximo: Ghosts to Glory for PlayStation 2
I had heard about Maximo nearly a year ago, and I was practically salivating at the chance to play it. Billed as the successor to Capcom's classic side scroller "Ghouls and Ghosts" (or "Ghosts and Goblins," depending on where you first saw it), I had anxiously awaited to see what new adventures would await Arthur.
ER... make that Maximo. When I first heard the title, I thought it was in reference to a powerful ghost that Arthur, the old hero to Capcom's games, would have to fight. Instead, it is the main character, who made a deal with the Grim Reaper to stop his murderer, King Achille, from plundering the ranks of the dead for an army. You do still have to save the princess, of course, but not from Satan. Man, since when did games become more censored?
The story is serviceable, inasmuch as a game like this needs one. Additionally, the opening interplay between Maximo and Death is somewhat humorous. However, I'm going to make this brief because this game is all about action.
The game is set up as a fairly standard 3-d rear camera game, with similar controls to many others. The controls are rather smooth, and cleaner than most of what these games present. Maximo's movements are rather clean, and he can even tiptoe well. In addition, the game makes complete use of the controller, which few games do. While you do have to keep your fingers a bit busy, this is a video game. If you didn't want your fingers busy, you'd play soccer.
However, this is where the game's flaws begin to show. The game is reliant on little flourishes that are quite simply pointless. The greatest example is your jumping. Like many 3-D action games, you can double jump. However, because your single jump is so short, you basically have to double jump every time. Honestly, if the double jump is the only useful one, why don't you just make the main character have a single, higher jump? That is a bit of a poor planning decision.
Graphically, the game is fairly solid. While it was impressive enough that Final Fantasy X seemed to finally be free of the heavy polygons plaguing other 128-bit titles, the fact that Maximo and his enemies are also pretty well-curved (no, not in that sense, you perverts) in a high-action game like this is particularly noteworthy. while I do wish, somewhat, that the game would have used less cartoony graphics - I keep suspecting Maximo to pull an anvil on his foes - they are overall great.
Fitting with the graphics, the sound is also pretty strong. While it isn't Verdi, the tunes fit in well with the mood, and with the exception of the Grim Reaper, the voices are fairly well-chosen as well. The effects feel uninspired at times, but those are only minor compared to what else the game has to offer.
However, the game does have one serious flaw, which haunts the entire package. Namely, it has very little variety. This rears its head in three forms.
First, unlike Arthur, Maximo doesn't get a wide array of weapons. He has his sword, and he can fling his shield. Even with the various elements you can find to charge up the sword, that comes to a grand total of 6 different ways to attack, all pretty similar. Meanwhile, the first Ghost & Goblins game had over a dozen weapons, including two different throwing torches. Someone, fill me in here... we are dealing with a video game system that is exponentially more powerful than my old NES, and it cannot support as many weapons in an action game? Horrible.
Well, it doesn't matter much, since you also have basically waves of the same enemy coming after you. You fight skeletons. Lots of skeletons. There are a couple of twists, like some having shields, and some being palette swaps. And while you need slightly different techniques for each one, you'll discover that you rely on the same three or four techniques for all your foes. As you'd expect, knowing that you're just going to thrust, or swipe twice quickly, and clear the screen is more than slightly disappointing. That, and the fact that again, the original had more enemies than this is a let down.
Of course, that is mitigated somewhat because each stage is a series of tricky jumps, with the occasional enemy nearby and only one horde thrown in, right by the exit. So you instead have the joy of just going through jump after tricky jump, until you get to the exit. Granted, every so often, they throw a new trick to the jumps - hidden enemies, moving platforms - but it is pretty much the same set-up that many action games have. It's like they share one set of maps, and just decorate them differently.
However, Capcom did throw in one fun thing to mess around with, for people a bit bored with the ordinary game. When your character takes enough damage, you'll find Maximo running around with a sword, a shield, and his white boxers covered with hearts. Very classic, but don't you ever get tired of those old undies? Well, perhaps the most fun parts of the game is finding the hidden areas where you can buy new boxers. I've actually bought new boxers and gotten damaged enough just to see my new undies in action. Hey, and they stayed clean, too. For the record, I personally prefer the "POW" boxers, but the monogrammed ones are nice too.
However, as much as I like collecting new and exciting underwear in video games, it doesn't make it enough to make up for the game's shortcomings. Granted, the game is fun at first, as you make your way through the first couple of levels. However, after you get past the first few levels, and discover that the only thing changing is your shorts, you'll quickly tire of the game. It's a fun way to spend an afternoon, but considering the variety found in the last version of the game, the incredible Super Ghouls & Ghosts, you'll see that Maximo isn't revenant enough to touch Arthur. As Ash would say, "Hail to the king, baby."
Video Games. Bringing new life to a classic theme, Maximo: Ghosts to Glory is a 3D action-adventure inspired by Capcom's memorable Ghosts 'n Goblins, ...More at DeepDiscount.com
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