Editing Maximo vs. Army of Zin

{{Short description|2003 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title= Maximo vs. Army of Zin
|image = Maximo vs. Army of Zin.jpg
|caption = European cover art
|developer = [[Capcom|Capcom Production Studio 8]]
|publisher = [[Capcom]]
|engine =
|director = Mark Rogers
|producer = Mark Rogers
|designer = Scott Rogers<br />Dave Ralston
|programmer = Yoshi Hatano<br />Keith Weatherly<br />Narayanan Vaidyanathan<br />Tetsuya Sakashita
|artist = Jonathan Casco<br />Joe Pearson
|writer = Beau Smith
|composer = [[Tommy Tallarico]]<br />Cris Leisch<br />Sam Hulick<br />Shane Keip<br />[[Rob King]]<br />[[Michael Richard Plowman]]
|series = ''[[Ghosts 'n Goblins]]''
|platforms = [[PlayStation 2]]
|released = {{vgrelease|JP|September 18, 2003|NA|January 20, 2004<ref>{{Cite web |last=Perry |first=Douglass C. |date=January 14, 2004 |title=Maximo Vs. The Army of Zin: Update |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/01/14/maximo-vs-the-army-of-zin-update |access-date=July 10, 2024 |website=[[IGN]] |language=en |archive-date=July 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711031004/https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/01/14/maximo-vs-the-army-of-zin-update |url-status=live }}</ref>|PAL|February 13, 2004<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bramwell |first=Tom |date=February 13, 2004 |title=What's New? |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/news130204whatsnew |access-date=July 10, 2024 |website=[[Eurogamer]] |archive-date=May 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521190327/https://www.eurogamer.net/news130204whatsnew |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=''Maximo vs Army of Zin'' |url=http://www.gpstore.co.nz:80/Games/1461718.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040303212531/http://www.gpstore.co.nz:80/Games/1461718.html |archive-date=March 3, 2004 |access-date=July 10, 2024 |website=[[Gameplanet]] |quote=Release date: 13th February, 2004}}</ref>}}
|genre = [[Action-adventure game|Action-adventure]]
|modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]
}}

{{Nihongo foot|'''''Maximo vs. Army of Zin'''''|魔界英雄記 マキシモ ～マシンモンスターの野望|Makai Eiyūki Makishimo: Mashin Monsutā no Yabō|lit. Records of the Demon World Hero Maximo: Ambition of the Machine Monsters|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is an [[action-adventure game]] developed and published by [[Capcom]] and developed by their US-based Production Studio 8 in 2003 for the [[PlayStation 2]] video game console. It is a sequel to ''[[Maximo: Ghosts to Glory]]'' and part of the ''[[Ghosts 'n Goblins]]'' franchise. It was re-released on the [[PlayStation Network]] for the [[PlayStation 3]] in Europe on February 15, 2012.

==Plot==
The story of the game follows on from ''Maximo: Ghosts to Glory'', with Maximo still searching for his lost love, Sophia. He is again accompanied by Grim (a [[Personifications of death|Grim Reaper]]). However, their search is interrupted as a series of mechanical creatures start to attack villages and slaughter the village folk. These creatures are the Army of Zin, an ancient army powered by lost souls, who were supposedly locked in the vault of Castle Hawkmoor after the last battle with them 500 years ago. However, they are now free, due to the actions of the mysterious warlord, Lord Bane.

==Gameplay==
''Maximo'''s gameplay is characterized by [[hack and slash]] combat and [[Platform game|platforming]], as well as an armour system where damage is reflected by loss of armour. Maximo begins the game with two levels of armour (full armour sans helmet), and can upgrade to three and four (with helmet and golden armour, respectively). Level one has Maximo reduced to [[boxer shorts]].

Another element of gameplay is the Grim transformation, allowing the player to turn into a Grim Reaper for short periods of time, with the souls gathered from the Army of Zin. Grim is invulnerable, powerful, and a touch faster than Maximo. However, the time spent in this form is limited but can be extended through upgrades.

Maximo also receives bonuses from villagers that he saves from enemies in the game, and these rewards are anything from new armour to a word of advice.

{{clear}}

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 83/100<ref name=MC>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/maximo-vs-army-of-zin/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 |title=Maximo vs Army of Zin for PlayStation 2 Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=April 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505010459/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-2/maximo-vs-army-of-zin |archive-date=May 5, 2016 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
| Edge = 8/10<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Edge staff |title=Maximo vs Army of Zin |magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] |issue=130 |date=December 2003 |page=96}}</ref>
| EGM = 6.33/10<ref>{{cite magazine|author=EGM staff |url=http://www.egmmag.com/article2/0,2053,1489051,00.asp |title=Maximo Vs. Army of Zin |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |issue=175 |date=February 2004 |page=112 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040326080406/http://www.egmmag.com/article2/0%2C2053%2C1489051%2C00.asp |archive-date=March 26, 2004 |url-status=dead |access-date=April 16, 2016 }}</ref>
| EuroG = 8/10<ref>{{cite web |last=Bramwell |first=Tom |date=January 14, 2004 |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_maximo2_ps2 |title=Maximo Vs. Army of Zin |website=[[Eurogamer]] |access-date=April 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424204915/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_maximo2_ps2 |archive-date=April 24, 2016 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
| GI = 8.25/10<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Mason |first=Lisa |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200402/R04.0213.0845.35502.htm |title=Maximo vs Army of Zin |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |issue=130 |date=February 2004 |page=96 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050208110157/http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200402/R04.0213.0845.35502.htm |archive-date=February 8, 2005 |url-status=dead |access-date=April 16, 2016}}</ref>
| GamePro = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Tokyo Drifter |date=January 20, 2004 |url=http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/31874.shtml |title=Maximo vs. Army of Zin Review for PS2 on GamePro.com |magazine=[[GamePro]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050209084010/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/31874.shtml |archive-date=February 9, 2005 |url-status=dead |access-date=April 16, 2016}}</ref>
| GameRev = B<ref>{{cite web |author=G-Wok |date=January 2004 |url=http://www.game-revolution.com/games/ps2/action/maximo_army_of_zin.htm |title=Maximo [vs.] Army of Zin |publisher=[[Game Revolution]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040429203134/http://www.game-revolution.com/games/ps2/action/maximo_army_of_zin.htm |archive-date=April 29, 2004 |url-status=dead |access-date=April 16, 2016}}</ref>
| GSpot = 8.4/10<ref>{{cite web |last=Shoemaker |first=Brad |date=January 19, 2004 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/maximo-vs-army-of-zin-review/1900-6086639/ |title=Maximo vs. Army of Zin Review |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=April 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160713162742/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/maximo-vs-army-of-zin-review/1900-6086639/ |archive-date=July 13, 2016 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
| GSpy = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web |last=Williams |first=Bryn |date=January 19, 2004 |url=http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/maximo-vs-army-of-zin/491309p1.html |title=GameSpy: Maximo vs. Army of Zin |publisher=[[GameSpy]] |access-date=April 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506075651/http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/maximo-vs-army-of-zin/491309p1.html |archive-date=May 6, 2016 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
| GameZone = 8.7/10<ref>{{cite web |last=Bedigian |first=Louis |date=January 25, 2004 |url=http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/maximo_vs_army_of_zin_ps2_review |title=Maximo vs. Army of Zin - PS2 - Review |publisher=GameZone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081230214443/http://ps2.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r22125.htm |archive-date=December 30, 2008 |url-status=live |access-date=April 16, 2016}}</ref>
| IGN = 8.8/10<ref>{{cite web |last=Perry |first=Douglass C. |date=January 18, 2004 |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/01/18/maximo-vs-the-army-of-zin |title=Maximo Vs. The Army of Zin [sic] |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=April 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419055001/http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/01/18/maximo-vs-the-army-of-zin |archive-date=April 19, 2016 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
| OPM = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Maximo Vs. Army of Zin |magazine=[[Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine]] |date=February 2004 |page=100}}</ref>
| rev1 = ''[[The Times]]''
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name=TheTimes>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/maximo-v-the-army-of-zin-q0gjvmkzwfg |title=Maximo v The Army of Zin [sic] |newspaper=[[The Times]] |date=March 13, 2004 |access-date=April 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150603043437/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/technology/article1861372.ece |archive-date=June 3, 2015 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}{{subscription required}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[The Village Voice]]''
| rev2Score = 8/10<ref name="Village">{{cite news |last=Catucci |first=Nick |date=February 3, 2004 |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/news/boyish-gladiator-grim-reaper-fight-ghosts-in-the-machine-6408458 |title=Boyish gladiator, Grim Reaper fight ghosts in the machine |newspaper=[[The Village Voice]] |access-date=April 16, 2016}}</ref>
}}

The game received "favorable" reviews according to video game [[review aggregator]] [[Metacritic]].<ref name=MC/> ''GameSpot'' named ''Maximo'' the best PlayStation 2 game of January 2004.<ref name=gotm>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040901070114/http://www.gamespot.com/features/6087195/index.html | url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/6087195/index.html | title=''GameSpot''{{'}}s Month in Review for January 2004 | author=Staff | work=[[GameSpot]] | date=February 1, 2004 | archive-date=September 1, 2004 | url-status=dead }}</ref> 

''[[The Times]]'' gave it a score of four stars out of five, saying that it "has pace, style and replayability; and if it is not quite as inventive as ''Ratchet & Clank'', what is?"<ref name=TheTimes/>  ''[[The Village Voice]]'' similarly gave it a score of eight out of ten, saying, "It always helps to have a sense of humor when collapsing paradoxes, and this ''Maximo'' does not miss."<ref name="Village"/> Likewise, ''[[Maxim (magazine)|Maxim]]'' gave it eight out of ten, saying, "It ain't groundbreaking, but who cares? Drop trou and have some fun!"<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Porter |first=Alex |date=January 21, 2004 |url=http://www.maximonline.com/entertainment/reviews/review_games_6903.html |title=Maximo vs. Army of Zin |magazine=[[Maxim (magazine)|Maxim]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040419095605/http://www.maximonline.com/entertainment/reviews/review_games_6903.html |archive-date=April 19, 2004 |url-status=dead |access-date=April 16, 2016}}</ref>

{{clear}}
==Notes==
{{notelist}}
==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051225141741/http://www.capcom.co.jp/maximo_zin/ Official Japanese website] {{in lang|ja}} 
*{{moby game|id=/maximo-vs-army-of-zin}}

{{Ghosts'n Goblins}}

[[Category:2003 video games]]
[[Category:3D platformers]]
[[Category:Action-adventure games]]
[[Category:Dark fantasy video games]]
[[Category:Ghosts 'n Goblins]]
[[Category:Hack and slash games]]
[[Category:PlayStation 2 games]]
[[Category:PlayStation 3 games]]
[[Category:PlayStation Network games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Video game sequels]]
[[Category:Video game spinoffs]]
[[Category:Video games about personifications of death]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Tommy Tallarico]]