Maximo: Ghosts to Glory
The game is set in the Ghosts'n Goblins universe and features original character designs by Japanese illustrator Susumu Matsushita. The character is controlled by the player and can move freely in the areas by running, jumping, ducking and performing various other movements. The game is about defeating a large number of enemies, which can be achieved by attacking with sword and shield, as well as combos and special moves. Maximo fights in a suit of armor. When he gets hit, he loses the corresponding armor pieces and ends up wearing only his boxers, and if he gets hit again, he loses a life. When Maximo loses all his lives, he can continue fighting by giving Death Coins to the Grim Reaper. However, each time he loses all his lives, the cost of continuing increases.
Story
Maximo, a brave king, returns to his castle from a distant war to find that his kingdom is in decline and sorceresses are being held captive everywhere. Worst of all, his once trusted advisor Achille has forced Queen Sophia to marry him. He tries to free her from his clutches, for he has awakened the power of the underworld. But Achille proves to be too powerful and strikes Maximo down with a blow of his dark magic, killing him. Floating in the underworld, Maximo is approached by Grim, who reveals to him that Achille is collecting souls in the underworld to feed his undead army. Believing that he will lose his job if there are no more dead, Grim makes a deal with Maximo: He wants to bring him back to life in return for thwarting Achille's evil plans - and sends him back to Earth, where his journey begins.