Maximo: Ghosts to Glory Ability FAQ Version 1.11 5/20/04 Written by Thunderbird *********************************************************************** Copyright Notice *********************************************************************** This FAQ is copyright (c) 2002 by Sean Taylor This FAQ is merely intended to assist you, the reader, with the abilities for Maximo: Ghosts to Glory for the Playstation 2 Computer Entertainment System. You may not post it elsewhere without first asking for permission. You may not modify this FAQ and then post it as your original work. You may not use this FAQ for money making purposes (this includes running ads on the same page as this FAQ). If this FAQ is posted on your site (with permission), it may not be placed in an area that requires a special membership (paid or otherwise) to access. If you would like to ask permission to post this FAQ on your site, please email me at sscthunderbird@yahoo.com and I'll probably allow you to do so, provided that the above conditions are met. *********************************************************************** Copyright Notice *********************************************************************** Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Version Information 3. The Ability System 4. Basic Abilities 5. Enchantment Abilities 5.1. Sword Attack Abilities 5.2. Shield Abilities 5.3. Magical Sword Abilities 5.4. Armor Abilities 6. Special Abilities 7. Conclusion 1. Introduction If you are wondering how the heck the abilities work in Maximo: Ghosts to Glory, you've come to the right place. In this FAQ I will try to explain all of Maximo's abilities and how the ability system works. 2. Version Information 1.0 Written 11/21/03 Initial version of the guide. 1.1 Written 11/25/03 Added some notes on some abilities, and organized them into their categories. Small changes made throughout. 1.11 Written 5/20/04 Changed the email in the Copyright Info. 3. The Ability System Maximo starts the game with just his Basic Abilites. Some enemies may drop ability enchantments, which grant Maximo more power. Some enchantment powerups are also free-floating in some levels. At the start of the game, Maximo has 3 lock spots in his ability bar. If he dies, any ability outside of these lockspots will be lost, and must be recollected (some can't be). However, each time Maximo frees a Sorceress, he will gain another lockspot with which he can lock another ability. 4. Basic Abilities These are what Maximo starts the game with, and don't require any enchantments to use. Most of these are also detailed in the manual for the game. Basic sword strike Press the square button to have Maximo swing his sword at enemies. Most enemies will be defeated this way. Overhead strike Press the triangle button to have Maximo do an overhead strike. If he is moving forward, he will stop to execute the strike. This strike does double the damage of a normal sword swipe, except against bosses. Double jump Maximo can jump twice by pressing the X button twice. His second jump can be executed at any time. This can be used to reach higher areas, or to cross large pits. Maximum Armor Maximo can have a maximum of 3 armor units, normally. If he picks up a 4th, his 3rd armor bar is refilled, and he becomes invincible for 20 seconds. After this time has expired, he will revert to his normal state. Note: The Increased Armor ability changes the maximum to 4. 5. Enchantment Abilities The Enchantment Abilities are split into 4 groups by the game, each having its own color. Also, each group has a standard drop icon which is surrounded by the symbol of the ability type, exceptions will be noted where they occur. If you cannot use a particular ability, its icon will be shown with a shade of grey on it. Doomstrike and Magic Bolt won't grey out until the current sword enchantment is completely used up (even if there's not enough power to use the ability) and Mask of Sorrow will not grey at all. If the usability status of an ability changes, Maximo's ability bar will pop up and the ability(ies) affected will flash. 5.1. Sword Attack Abilities (Green) These abilities have no requirement to use. The standard drop icon is a sword. Second Strike Symbol: Two arrows curving around each side Press the square button twice in rapid succession to make 2 strikes in a row. If the first strike hits, the second one cannot be blocked. If the first strike is blocked, the attack will fail. Mighty Blow Symbol: Explosion Press the triangle button while moving to have Maximo thrust his sword forward. This replaces the overhead strike while moving, and does the same amount of damage as the overhead strike. Furious Spin Attack Symbol: Two arrows going in the same direction around the circle Performing the normal spin attack will cause Maximo to spin around twice, striking all nearby enemies. 5.2. Shield-Based Abilities (Blue) All of these abilities require a shield. Some have additional requirements. The standard drop icon is a shield. Throw Shield Symbol: U-turn symbol Press the circle button to toss your shield out. Any shield abilities will activate immediately. If the shield causes damage to an enemy while thrown, one point of strength will be taken off of the shield. Mighty Throw Symbol: Arrows going forward Requires: Throw Shield ability The range of Maximo's thrown shield increases. Hovering Shield Symbol: Fan-like symbol on each side Requires: Throw Shield ability If the circle button is held down when a shield is thrown, it will hover in place once it reaches maximum distance. Release the circle button to recall the shield. Shield of Midas Symbol: Whirl A normal shield block (R2) will attract any treasures that are nearby. Throwing the shield will increase the range at which treasures can be collected. The shield will collect only monetary treasures and Spirits (Death Coins cannot be collected with the shield). Maximo must collect ability spheres, extra lives, armor powerups, and health items directly. If you have another shield type powerup (Shield of Thunder, Shield of Storms), this will replace it. Notes: Found in Level 4, Level 10 and Level 18. Randomly dropped in the Spirit Realm. Shield of Thunder Symbol: Lightning Bolt Powerup Symbol: Shield surrounded by a static field If an enemy attacks while Maximo is blocking, a thunder strike will hit them, causing damage. This has the power of a normal sword swipe. If thrown, a lighting bolt will appear both above and below the shield, causing damage to anyone hit by it (the shield will not take damage in this case), but it will disappear once the shield has reached its maximum distance (using Hovering Shield with this ability is useless). This will replace any shield type powerup you may have. Shield of Storms Symbol: Wind Powerup Symbol: Shield surrounded by a whirlwind Requires: Shield If an enemy attacks while Maximo is blocking, they will suffer blizzard damage. Throwing the shield will create a storm below it, causing damage to anything it hits. This replaces Shield of Midas and Shield of Thunder, if you have either of them. 5.3. Magical Sword Abilities (Red) Most of these abilities do not require anything. The standard drop icon is a sword. Long Sword Symbol: Sword with an arrow on top Maximo's sword increases slightly in length, allowing him to strike enemies farther away. Notes: Commonly dropped in Castle Maximo. Ring of Pain Symbol: Web A downward strike now causes damage to anyone hit by the shockwave. Notes: Acquiring Wider Shockwave will expand the radius of damage. Wider Shockwave Symbol: Bullseye The shockwave radius of a downward strike increases. Useful when combined with Ring of Pain. Gold Seeker Symbol: Explosion, different from that of Mighty Blow A green ring will expand outward from Maximo after performing a downward strike. If it hits any buried treasure, it will be unearthed. Good for getting Mastery on levels, but this is a pretty rare ability. Notes: Obtaining Wider Shockwave will expand the range of the seeker considerably. Rarely dropped in the Frozen Wastes. Magic Bolt Symbol: Fireball Powerup Symbol: Bolts circling around a sword Requires: Sword enhancement with at least 2 units of energy Press the triangle button twice to unleash a bolt that will usually hit an enemy if they are close enough and Maximo is facing them. Two sword units will be used in this attack, and it cannot be used with only one unit remaining. Notes: A relatively common drop in most stages. Doomstrike Symbol: Demon Powerup Icon: Demon symbol with several lights revolving around it (this can be confused for a sword enchantment) Requires: Sword enhancement with at least 4 units of energy Use the downstrike combination, but press the triangle button twice instead of once. Maximo will unleash a deadly attack (the actual attack varies depending on the type of sword enhancement he has). This will consume 4 sword units, and cannot be used if less than 4 remain. Notes: Dropped fairly often by enemies. Occasionally found just sitting around as well. 5.4. Armor Abilities (Yellow) No standard drop icon (there's only two of these). Increased Armor Symbol: Anvil with a hammer Maximo's armor capacity increases from 3 to 4. There is no change of appearance if he has 4 armor units. He must gain 5 units of armor to have the maximum armor ability go into effect. When this ability is picked up, Maximo will gain an armor level, even if he already had the ability. Notes: Commonly dropped in the Great Dank and Spirit Realm. Mask of Sorrow Icon: Yellow icon with an odd-looking mask Requires: Maximum Armor If Maximo gains maximum armor while carrying this ability, not only will he be completely invincible, he will destroy every enemy he comes in contact with. As usual, the 20 second time limit applies, and this powerup has no effect against a boss (if you can even reach a boss with this on). Notes: Occasionally dropped by enemies in the Spirit Realm. Also found in Level 10 as a stationary powerup. If Increased Armor is equipped, armor unit requirement is raised to 5. 6. Special Abilities Sorceresses' Kisses Each of the 4 Sorceresses has one of these. To acquire them, select their kiss when choosing a gift after you beat the boss guarding them for the first time. Alone, they are useless, but if you have all 4 of them, the Gallery is unlocked on the main screen (you do not need to finish the game to obtain the Gallery). You need only keep them on one of your 3 saves to access the Gallery. They take up one space in your ability bar, and will most likely be occupying a lock spot (if you are going for the Gallery unlock, you should keep these locked. If any are lost and the game is saved, the Gallery gravestone will disappear if no other save has all 4 kisses). Note: Each Kiss is a different color, and does not correspond to any specific group. Foot Cheese This odd ability can be found in Level 1 (Grave Danger). It might be awhile before you can get it, as it costs 500 koins. The Wheel of Prizes containing this ability is near the start of the level. Once acquired, Maximo will be able to walk over undead ground area (where undead would be reaching up to grab him) without a loss of speed. However, this ability will not appear on the ability bar, and if Maximo dies, this ability is gone for good. Maximo's feet will emit a greenish smoke while he has this. Extra Note: It is possible, though very rare, to get this ability from a Mystery Wheel (for 150 koins). Sword Enhancements There are 4 different types of enhancements, each with a varying effect. All magic bolts are the same (Armageddon is slightly different from the others), but the Doomstrike effects vary. Each enhancement has puts 20 units of energy into the sword circle. Use them up and the enhancement will expire. A Magic Bolt costs 2 units, and a Doomstrike costs 4. Find sword charge icons to replenish 5 units of energy. If you find another sword enhancement while one is in effect, the new one will replace the old and refill the meter (if it's the same type, the meter will just be completely filled). Flame Tongue This is probably the first one you'll pick up. Maximo's sword is charged with the power of fire. Most enemies will only take double the damage compared to an ordinary sword strike. However, enemies specific to the Ship Graveyard have a tendency to take 4 times as much damage. Doomstrike results in a whirlwind of fire. Frostbiter Commonly found in the Ship Graveyard, this has the tendency to freeze your opponents with a single swipe. An overhead strike or mighty blow will shatter the ice and cause your opponent to fall. This is the only enhancement that permits you to attack bombardier skeletons without ducking first and take no damage as a result of the strike (normal strikes will cause 3 units of damage to Maximo, due to hitting the bomb pack that the skeleton carries). Enemies of the cold are immune to the freezing effects. A Magic Bolt fires a blast of ice, which will freeze any enemies it comes into contact with. A Doomstrike will create a hail of ice bolts, which do not freeze the enemy. Useful if you're surrounded. Pure Blade Maximo's sword is charged with holy power and does heavy damage to undead things (which is what most creatures are). Not much else to this weapon. Doomstrike summons a hail of light, which will do heavy damage to enemies that are in its radius. Armageddon Now this is an excellent enhancement. Dealing quadruple damage to almost all enemies (I believe bosses are the only exception) is definitely nothing to sneeze at. The problem happens to be that this powerup is rarely found. A Magic Bolt fires an area-wide shockwave, which will disintegrate most enemies, and the Doomstrike, creates a hail of darkness, which lasts for some time, and follows Maximo around as he moves. It also has a much bigger radius. 7. 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