Maximo: Ghosts to Glory Strategy Guide Review
by Louis Bedigian

Last year, BradyGames launched their new Signature Series of strategy guides with the release of the Devil May Cry Official Strategy Guide.  That guide included many additional features not available in their regular strategy guides, such as interviews with the game's developers; an awesome art gallery; and a special cover that includes foil, matte laminate and a spot gloss finish.  Devil May Cry was followed by the release of BradyGames' Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Final Fantasy X Official Strategy Guides.  Now they continue the Signature Series with an official strategy guide for Capcom's latest masterpiece, Maximo: Ghosts to Glory.

Like most every guide BradyGames publishes, the Maximo OSG contains every secret in the game.  The guide is spread out over 5 chapters, covering everything from Maximo's villains to the game's deepest and darkest secrets.

1. Knight School

Want to know everything there is to know about Maximo, his items and his special moves?  Then you've come to the right place.  Knight School will turn you, the average gamer, into a fierce, hard-hitting knight over night.

2. Maps

I haven't needed to use an external map since the days of Super Ghouls 'N' Ghosts.  So many games, even non-linear titles like Banjo-Kazooie, require time and patience to complete them, but not much skill.  It didn't take much brains to locate all of the puzzle pieces either.  While I can't say that Maximo is a game that requires a lot of thought, it is a game that requires a lot of skill.  Finding all of the power-ups and health items is not easy, and locating each and every chest in the game is next to impossible.  To unearth a hidden chest, you must jump on the ground above it.  This means that you could jump everywhere in sight and still not be able to find all of the chests.  I've been playing (and beating) video games for more than 12 years, but that doesn't make Maximo any easier for me to play.  You must find every chest if you want to unlock all of the game's secrets.  Are you ready?  If not, don't fret, because BradyGames has got you covered.

3. Walkthrough

If the ghosts and goblins in Maximo are getting you down, then this is just the thing you need.  No aspect of the game has been overlooked.  For me, there's almost too much info!  I didn't use the walkthrough to beat the game because I didn't want any of it to be spoiled, but if you're stuck and can't win no matter what you do, this guide will help you out.  The other features are great, but you don't buy a strategy guide for interviews -- regardless of how interesting they are -- you buy it because you need help beating the game.  This guide will get you through the tough levels; the really, really tough levels; and any other area you have trouble with.  This guide also contains a complete listing of the many creatures that appear in each world, as well as the difficulty rating for every level.

4. Interviews

One of the special features included with most (if not all) of the Signature Series strategy guides is a section devoted to interviews with the people who helped develop the game.  For their Maximo strategy guide, BradyGames was lucky enough to interview Mark Rodgers (producer), Susumu Mabushita (artist), Yoshi Hatano (programmer), Tommy Tallarico (music and sound effects) and Joey Kuras (sound effects).  These interviews are very interesting.  They give a little history of the game's development, telling us what inspired the developers, what games they enjoy playing in their spare time, etc.  Mark and Yoshi also reveal the future of Maximo in their interviews, saying that the next game they will be working on is "something surprising to do with Maximo."  I have no idea what the "surprising something" is, but as long as it's not a kart racer, I'm sure it'll be great.  The interviews section has always been one of my favorite parts of a strategy guide (other publishers, such as GameFan, have included exclusive interviews in their guides as well).  Even if you've already beaten Maximo, this guide is still worth looking into.  It's not just a guide -- it's a collector's item.  You won't find these interviews anywhere else!

5. History

Maximo's family tree dates back to 1985 when Ghosts 'N' Goblins was released for the Nintendo Entertainment system.  Every game in the series provided an enjoyable experience that will last a lifetime.  I have not played Super Ghouls 'N' Ghosts in more than five years and my memories have not faded.  Seeing the pictures of it in this guide reminded me of the early 90s and all of the great action/adventure games released back then.  There was so much innovation and so much to love because it was the beginning of a new era.  Right now, we are at the beginning of yet another era, and just like before, Maximo is one of the games leading the way, this time in the form of Maximo: Ghosts to Glory.

If you're unaware of the older games I mentioned, then the history is an absolute must-read.  I knew all about Maximo's history and I still enjoyed reading it.  It's fun to relive the past.  I wish I hadn't sold my copy of Super Ghouls 'N' Ghosts because I really want to play it right now.  Ironically, I sold it to get a Nintendo 64.  Maximo was originally in development for the N64.  It was later moved to the Dreamcast and then the PlayStation 2 because of popularity issues (Capcom did not want to release a high-profile game on a failing console).  But now I have Maximo, the greatest game in the Ghosts 'N' Goblins series and I wouldn't trade it in for the world.

6. Bonus Mastery Level

Maximo's secret levels are some of the hardest ones that I have ever had to unlock in a game.  The things you have to go through to get them...it's almost ridiculous!  The first thing you'll see when you open the guide is a Bonus Hidden Level Pack explaining how to beat them.  It says "no peaking" on the back, but I doubt that anyone's going to listen.  You may be wondering how you can unlock the levels in the first place.  Those answers and more can be found throughout the rest of this comprehensive guide.

Note: If you're listening Capcom, please don't misunderstand what I am saying about Maximo.  It is a wonderful game and I wouldn't want to change the difficulty in the least bit.  I loved the challenge and welcome an even greater challenge in the sequel.  There is going to be a sequel, right guys? :)

Click here to purchase the guide from BradyGames

Click here to read GZ's Maximo Review