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[Neith]

So I tried this back in the day but never really got into it.

I'm now playing this in 4K on PCSX2. It runs fairly well on my rig and the emulator has come a long way.

The graphics are still cartoony and surprisingly hold up decently well in 4K. I have been enjoying my time with this relic, but I have a few complaints here that hold this game back from greatness. I was wondering if anybody could tell me if the sequel fixes anything.

Maximo loves to waste your time. Not Dark Souls waste your time, but NES fuck you in the teeth waste your time. This game has a camera from the abyss of hell. The thing literally is almost always pointing in the wrong direction.

And Maximo is not forgiving. I am playing with save states, and the game is still a decent challenge as I don't really abuse the save states. I die plenty in this game, although I do like to keep my cheese feet to keep the hand guys at bay so I will reload a state now and then just to make the game more fun.

At any rate once your armor is gone you can find it nearly impossible to continue on in a decent way. The hit detection seems off, the game is a bit laggy, and the camera will fight you through every step of the way. I have no idea who the brave souls were that completed this game back in the day but hey respect to you.

This is Save State: the game at this point. It really actually makes the experience more fun. The levels all have that low budget late 90s charm to them that you cannot resist. The game itself is built on a fairly solid foundation, but it does have its flaws that kind of derail the experience without save states.

Random chests are hidden everywhere, which makes getting 100% completely pointless without a guide. They could have had boxers or something that led you to chests and that would have been much cooler.

I do like the powerups. Enemies are decent if a bit samey, and some of them are cheap as hell. There are also random ground release sequences that will kill you instantly. This was Dark Souls for kids back in the day lol.

With a better camera and better controls/movement this game would literally be an all-time classic. As it is it's just a decently fun game and an ode to the old school. I'm the kind of gamer that puts all my games on the hardest difficulty if possible barring shmups and stuff like that, but this one hell no. I wouldn't even attempt wasting my time going through this normally. I could do it, but I just don't think it's worth it.

All in all it is a lot of fun discovering these old games again and playing them in 4K on the big screen.

I'm also playing Aria of Sorrow with some xBRZ and visualboy's smart motion interpolation. It's actually also pretty fun and looks decent to me. Along with that I have been working my way through Yoshi's Island, which still remains one of the best games of all time.

You guys play any old games lately that you have fond memories of, or maybe you are just finding the game for the first time?

 

[Gitaroo]

One of the few that.I wish would get a hd remaster.

 

[redcrayon]

I completed both Maximo and the sequel back in the day, but don't think I could do it now, lack of time and patience.

 

[Alphahawk]

The thing that killed that game for me was the continue system. To continue you would have to grab coins that were fairly hard to find, and everytime you used one, they would jack up how many you need to do it again. It was meant to add to the challenge, but it just wasn't fun, it was super tense and unnerving and not in a good way. I actually owned the game twice and gave it up both times because of the system.

 

[Tye The Czar]

I'd agree on a remaster, but on the conditions of a rebalanced(and optional) difficulty.

The thing that killed that game for me was the continue system. To continue you would have to grab coins that were fairly hard to find, and everytime you used one, they would jack up how many you need to do it again. It was meant to add to the challenge, but it just wasn't fun, it was super tense and unnerving and not in a good way. I actually owned the game twice and gave it up both times because of the system.

That was just cruel. I saw myself replaying levels just to farm enough koins. The better option would be to force you to pay a percentage of your koins instead.

 

[aesupreme1]

I absolutely loved Maximo and its sequel. I played both games to completion, and have yearned for a third game ever since. With the resurgence of platformers this year, it actually got me thinking about this game a couple of months back.

I purchased two games 6 months before I owned a PS2. One was Devil May Cry, the other was Maximo: Ghosts to Glory.

 

[anniestarheart]

I like this game! definitely not without its flaws... but I have fond memories. The sequel is one of those ps2 games I'd like to try at some point!

 

[RickFrick'n]

I feel as if the sequel improved on the original in many ways, but both games were so good! I should do a replay soon. Thanks for bringing up this old ghost of a game!

 

[NolbertoS]

I wish Capcom would re-release the Maximo series as part of the Ghosts N Goblins collection. Miss playing these classics.

 

[Oreiller]

I've only ever played the sequel, which was pretty fun. It reminded me a lot of Medievil actually.

I guess I should play the first game eventually.

 

[RadarScope1]

I played this game at release and beat it. The thing is, I am not a very skilled gamer. I have seen posters here in the years since talk about the difficulty but I don't remember it being too hard, other than a tough final boss. I also recall I played this at a time that I was getting back into gaming after a few years away from serious gaming. I think I just viewed the game as a modern take on retro platformers, so I guess retrying and replaying levels seemed natural in that way. Oh, and I loved the continue system; thought it was brilliant.

I own the sequel but have never really touched it.

 

[Neith]

Hello, can anyone tell me if the camera is improved in the sequel even a little bit?

I totally agree about the continue system. I know they were going for old school difficulty here, but without save stats this game is simply a pain in the ass and not in the right way.

I remember trying to like it, and then basically just giving up because the game was not teaching me how to succeed and the camera was just mind blowingly bad.

With save stats I am actually getting to see the game, and it's pretty fun all told.

I was hoping the sequel improved the camera.

I played this game at release and beat it. The thing is, I am not a very skilled gamer. I have seen posters here in the years since talk about the difficulty but I don't remember it being too hard, other than a tough final boss. I also recall I played this at a time that I was getting back into gaming after a few years away from serious gaming. I think I just viewed the game as a modern take on retro platformers, so I guess retrying and replaying levels seemed natural in that way. Oh, and I loved the continue system; thought it was brilliant.

I own the sequel but have never really touched it.

To be frank I don't think people are totally put off by the difficulty alone. You get a better sword and plenty of chances at lives, but the camera is simply horrendous in this game, and the deaths you do waste time on are almost all cheap as hell for the most part.

Also, I agree games like these are RIPE for a proper 4K remaster. Come on man a two game packaged deal with upgraded camera and whatever else for 29.99 or 19.99? I'd buy that day one!

 

[Jerry Orbach]

Hello, can anyone tell me if the camera is improved in the sequel even a little bit?

They fixed everything wrong with the camera for Army of Zin. The biggest change is you can move it while Max is moving, which makes all the difference in the world. They also removed the cost to save your game, added slots to preserve your equipment after dying, made your boxers vibrate when you're near secrets... it's still challenging in terms of platforming, but all the frustrating bullshit is gone. They also changed the combat from learning the correct counter and timing for each enemy to a generic button-mashy combo system, which was controversial, but satisfying enough in a Dynasty Warriors sense that even if you disagree philosophically it won't get in the way of enjoying everything else. I would argue Army of Zin was a DKC2 level improvement over Ghosts to Glory.

 

[Neith]

They fixed everything wrong with the camera for Army of Zin. The biggest change is you can move it while Max is moving, which makes all the difference in the world. They also removed the cost to save your game, added slots to preserve your equipment after dying, made your boxers vibrate when you're near secrets... it's still challenging in terms of platforming, but all the frustrating bullshit is gone. They also changed the combat from learning the correct counter and timing for each enemy to a generic button-mashy combo system, which was controversial, but satisfying enough in a Dynasty Warriors sense that even if you disagree philosophically it won't get in the way of enjoying everything else. I would argue Army of Zin was a DKC2 level improvement over Ghosts to Glory.

OH WOW. I am going to definitely go along with playing the sequel then! Thanks for the info. It appears they learned a lot from the first one. It's sad these games are so little known nowadays.

The combat thing seems different, but I'll have to see what I think about that. As long as the camera is better it has to be better lol.

I do enjoy the combat in the 1st one, but hit detection and other things can seem a bit off when so much precision is required. With the longer sword it is better, so I will have to see if the second game is a downgrade in that area.

Boxers vibrate lol. Oh joy. They really did fix all their bullshit.

 

[leroidys]

Just stumbled across this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeLkUMByLwA

Had no idea there was a 3rd game in production. Looks to be much more similar to the action/adventure/platformer games of that generation, and less of an arcade throwback.

 

[Poppy]

oh man you had to pay currency to save in maximo didn't you? that's so awesome

 

[MoogleMan]

I loved that game so much.

I still gotta go through army of zin.

 

[Neith]

Just stumbled across this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeLkUMByLwA

Had no idea there was a 3rd game in production. Looks to be much more similar to the action/adventure/platformer games of that generation, and less of an arcade throwback.

That is very cool. I bet the sales or something must have cancelled it. I think two games is fine though. I am really looking forward to 2 even though I barely started 1 lol. The game is solid, but that camera OOPH.

 

[Blindy]

Anyone know why Army of Zin isn't available in the NA Psn? Seems like the only way in playibg the sequel would be to make a European Psn account. Always struck me as very odd.