GAME CLEAR No. 1 -- Maximo: Ghosts to Glory

Although I also record them elsewhere (such as my Backloggery), I’m gonna start recording my beaten games (and thoughts on them) on my blog. Will be nice to have them somewhere owned by me. This obviously isn’t this first game I’ve ever beaten, but it’s the first game I’ve beaten since deciding I want to do this, so I’m calling it number 1.

Maximo: Ghosts to Glory (2002, PS2)

Clear Date: 10/4/2020
Developer: Capcom Digital Studios
Publisher: Capcom

Maximo is a great execution of the concept the developers and designers had in mind: make Ghosts’n Goblins in 3D. Inasmuch as GnG is one of my favorite series (and I intend to beat the whole thing), this purchase was inevitable. The biggest delay was that until I finally decided to play this game, I didn’t own a PlayStation 2! By adding it to my collection, I now own at least one version of every video game console released by Nintendo, SEGA, Sony, and Microsoft as of 10/4/20. Bit of an odd final addition, eh? My hand was forced because the second game in the series has never been ported to any other console in North America. So it goes. I wanted to play the games for Halloween/October 2020, so I got myself a PS2 and got to work.

The game itself is a blast if you’re into 3D platformers from that time period, if you’re into Ghosts’n Goblins, or preferably both. The hack and slash action feels nice, and the platforming is sufficient, and the story is just enough to justify it all. The game can be reasonably criticized for an unfair part here or there, but despite the fact that both saving and continuing cost money, I never really found myself in a hole with respect to either. Nevertheless, the idea that I could have kept me on my toes. I like that! Very Resident Evil.

The game’s powerup system is neat. You can hold a litany of them, making Maximo more and more resilient and offensively powerful the longer you are able to survive. That is, staying alive makes it easier to stay alive even longer. Perish, though, and you lose all but a small handful of power ups you’ve designated as locked. You may lose further lives quickly as you struggle to regain your powers with an impotent, stubby sword and few tricks to get you out of jams. This encourages the player to tread lightly at all times and engage in battle judiciously. It’s cool!

The story is typical damsel in distress fare, and the pre-rendered cutscenes that deliver it are dated and silly. The majority of the voice acting is awful too. But who cares? Story was never going to be the reason to play a game like this. It’s fine.

Overall, the game is great if tough, 3D action platforming sounds like something you’d enjoy. It’s as simple as that.