CIM Part Two: Maximo Final Thoughts

In part two of my ongoing series involving Capcom games of yore I will be giving my final impressions on Maximo. If you missed a previous part of the series I will start each entry with links to previous entries.

 

CIM Part One: Maximo Ghosts to Glory

 

CIM Part Two: Maximo Final Thoughts

 

 

Release Date: February 11, 2002

Developer: Capcom Digital Studios

Metacritic Score: 84

Total Completion Rate: 45%

 

OVERVIEW

 

Wow this game is hard. It is soul crushingly hard. I had to watch five episodes of My Little Pony and write a lengthy teen angst poem using the refrain of "Why, God, WHY?" before I could write this. Okay not really, but it is really hard. I really wanted to beat the whole game because I was enjoying it quite a bit. It's a shame that they don't make action platformers like this anymore. It reminds me of Jak and Daxter and cIassic Nintendo games like Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time, among others. Those games, though, could be beaten. This game, I'm not so sure. After replaying an entire level at least a dozen times I finally came to the conclusion that I simply wasn't going to beat this game any time soon. Since I wanted to beat more than one Capcom game before school started I decided that I had experienced enough of the game (45% or so) to give my overall impressions. I guess I'll say this. If you miss the 3D platforming games of past generations and relish a nearly insurmountable challenge then do yourself a favor and get this game. You can get it on Gamespot's Game Market for a mighty $1.75.

 

GRAPHICS

 

I really like the look of this game. It has a great art styIe that simply isn't used anymore. Why does everything have to be so dark and gritty these days? Are people really so against games that have a more cartoony vibe? Obviously this game's technical achievements are pretty limited by today's standards. There is no widescreen option and the resolution is stuck at 480i. The textures are basic and the animation is limited, but seriously, this game looks good if you can get past the low resolution.

 

AUDIO

 

Like I said before, the voice acting is pretty terrible and the music is good at not getting in the way but little else. There is no surround sound support. The effects sound decent enough. This is an old game and the audio has definitely not aged as well as the rest of the game. It isn't bad, but it all sounds very lo-fi.

 

CONCLUSION

 

In the end Maximo is worth playing for masochists and those who miss the simple and light hearted games that defined the N64 era.

 

 

COMING UP

Onimusha 2 Part One (Probably on Friday)

Onimusha 2 Part Two (Next Week)