After looking at a few screenshots of Maximo, I have to admit that even I wasn't all that hyped up about it. They just looked like a blurry, jagged mess. So obviously, my expectations weren't all that high. But, after a few seconds of playing, I realized that screenshots do Maximo no justice at all. World after world, I was simply amazed by the look and style of the game. Maximo excels in so many areas; it's really hard to decide where to start. It's obvious that most of the graphical power went into the first level, The Graveyard. A thick haunting fog covering areas and some nifty lighting effects really work in giving the world a spooky feel. Stylish, well-animated characters populate all these worlds. It was also refreshing to see a Roman knight instead of the typical medieval one. Unless you HAVE to have ultra-realistic, true-to-life graphics, you will not be disappointed.

Other than gameplay, the music is an obvious homage to Ghosts and Goblins. It's interesting to hear how each level theme incorporates a familiar cord or phrase from the original game. Sound effects are excellent, although they are pretty much the effects you would expect to hear.

After returning from a military campaign, Maximo returns home only to see that his bride and castle have been taken over by an evil wizard, Achilles. After an unsuccessful attempt at stopping the wizard, Maximo is killed. Not a good way to start a game, huh? But, as it turns out, Maximo has an ally in a very ticked off Grim Reaper. It seems that Achilles has been reviving the dead, which is putting a hurt on the ol' 'Harvester of Souls' business. Seeing opportunity, the Reaper offers Maximo the chance to avenge his death if he agrees to help free the souls Achilles has been stealing from him.

Maximo defines the 'old-school' style of gaming. You have a set number of players, you have a limited amount of continues, and you have to work for just about everything in the game. Heck, it even has you rescuing random Maidens just to get a 'Sorry, but our princess is in another castle' type message. This type of game is one of the reasons I got sucked into gaming in the first place. There's no deep-rooted story, overly gory scenes, or extreme violence. It's just pure, addictive fun. Basically this is the type of game older gamers used to play on the NES.

The general set up is very simple and straightforward. After completing the first level of a world, you enter the second level, which acts as a hub to the other levels and the world's boss. This is also the only place in the game where you can save, so finding the Reflection Pool should always be your first order of business.

The gameplay itself is very reminiscent of Mario 64. Maximo also throws in some 'old-school' game elements such as platform jumping, power-ups, and secret areas. Speaking of secret areas - if you are a gamer who loves to search for hidden areas, Maximo will feel like heaven to you. At the end of every level, you are given a percent saying how many secrets you have found, and as aggravating as it can get, trying to get 100 percent can be an addicting endeavor.

Maximo is hard, that's the easiest way to put it. However, the game is so addictive and fun, it becomes more of a 'I need to get better at doing this...', rather than 'OH MY GOD! That is so cheap...'. Numerous times I came across areas that I got flustered at, but with a little practice (and some armor) I was able to get by. The camera angles do present a few blind jumps as well, but after a few tumbles into a lava pit, you learn how to compensate.

Learning to control Maximo is easy enough to learn, but mastering everything will take time. You start with your standard attacks, which are displayed in the lower left-hand corner. As you progress through the worlds, you will learn new attacks, but be careful, because if you die you lose them. I really enjoyed using the shield. Not only does it protect him, but with the right power-ups, it can become a nasty little weapon, and in some areas, the shield is the only way to grab treasures.

Maximo is a one of those games that should be on every gamer's shelf. Not only is it extremely fun to play, but it provides a nice nostalgic romp for older gamers. While it is a little hard in some spots, overall it is one of the most rewarding gaming experiences I have had in awhile.