Have a 100% mastery ranking at the end of the game for all levels except those in the Hub.
To master a level, you must kill every enemy and find every hidden chest.
If you truly want to master the "Mastery Level", find the items that regenerate even if you die. This will allow you to get more Koins so you can buy everything in the level, including the "Foot Cheese". Make sure you can master the Evil Wizard that pops up like a jack in the box. He will always regenerate, giving you an extra life. This allows you to go back and collect more Koins. Do not end the level by slashing the energy stone at the end. Intentionally die after killing all of the enemies and collecting all of the Koins, items, and your extra life courtesy of the Evil Wizard. Then, repeat until you have enough, You will not lose any Koins when you die -- only if you run out of extra lives and the Grim Reaper appears to collect your soul. You will never collect enough spirits to save you. Use the ledges to your advantage on the "Mastery Level" before you slash the energy stone to end it. Remember, you cannot save on the "Mastery Level".
Hint: Item power-ups:
The following is a list of power-ups for Maximo's sword, shield, and other items.
|
|
| Koin | --- |
Increase Koin inventory by one |
| Koin Bag | ---
| Increase Koin inventory by five |
| Diamond | ---
| Increase Koin inventory by ten |
| Spirit | ---
| After collecting 50 you get a Death coin |
| Death coin | ---
| Allows you to continue after you lose all lives
|
| Heart | 150
| Increase lives by one |
| Key | --- |
Allows you to open iron locks and chests |
| Gold Key | ---
| Allows you to open gold locks |
| Green Bottle | ---
| Partially restores life bar |
| Red Bottle | 50
| Fully restores life bar |
| Shield Charge | ---
| Restores five units of shield meter |
| Sword Charge | 150
| Restores five units of any sword enchantment
|
| Armor | 100
| Adds additional life bar, up to three max; after three you get gold armor for 20 seconds
|
| Foot Cheese | 500
| Allows you to walk freely on ground that may have skeleton hands
|
| Monogram boxers | 300
| Boxers with an "M" on the front
|
| Pow Boxers | 300
| Boxers with the word "POW" on the front
|
| Cow Boxers | 300
| Boxers with a cow pattern |
| Mystery | 150
| Random chosen item |
| Iron Shield | ----
| Default shield that game starts with |
| Silver Shield | 160
| Shield with 15 strength units |
| Gold Shield | 300
| Shield with 20 strength units |
Hint: Abilities:
Note: The "World" indicates the first world this is found in.
|
|
| Mighty Blow | 1
| Essential for fighting |
| Second Strike | 1
| Not needed if you use the Mighty Blow for most of your attacks
|
| Furious Spin Attack | 3
| Good for attacking multiple enemies |
Hint: Sword abilities:
Note: The "World" indicates the first world this is found in.
|
|
| Magic Bolt | 1
| Requires sword enchantment; fire different projectiles; 2 power units per use
|
| Doomstrike | 1
| Powerful, also requires sword enchantment; 4 sword power units per use
|
| Gold Seeker | 2
| Shockwave from your downward strike allows you to uncover secret chests
|
| Long Sword | 2
| Sword becomes longer |
| Wider Shockwave | 3
| Increases the size of shockwave from downward strike
|
| Ring Of Pain | 5
| Shockwave from a downward strike causes damage
|
Hint: Shield abilities:
Note: The "World" indicates the first world this is found in.
|
|
|
|
| Throw Shield | 1
| Allows you to throw your shield |
| Mighty Throw | 3
| Must have the throw shield; allows you to throw shield a great distance
|
| Hover Shield | 3
| Must have throw shield |
| Shield Of Midas | 1
| Essential for collecting |
| Shield Of Storms | 3
| Excellent for fighting enemies; best shield power up you can have
|
| Shield Of Thunder | 4
| Hurts enemies when they attack you |
Hint: Other abilities:
Note: The "World" indicates the first world this is found in.
|
|
| Increased Armor | 2
| Allows you to have 4 life bars |
| Mask Of Sorrow | 2
| Can run through enemies when you have gold armor
|
| Lenore's Kiss | ---
| Defeat the first Boss to obtain this |
| Mamba Maries Kiss | ---
| Defeat the second Boss to obtain this |
| Aurora Lee's Kiss | ---
| Defeat the third Boss to obtain this |
| Sephonie's Kiss | ---
| Defeat the fourth Boss to obtain this |
Hint: Sword enchantments:
Note: The "World" indicates the first world this is found in.
|
|
| Flame Tongue | 1
| Powers up your blade strength |
| Pure Blade | 2
| Kill skeletons in one slash |
| Frostbiter | 3
| Freezes enemies |
| Armageddon | 4
| Strongest enchantment in the game; kills any enemy (except Bosses) in one hit
|
Hint: Bone Yard: Easy coins and lives:
Repeat the level you will get 200 coins and 2 lives. Then, go back and repeat the process as many times as needed.
Hint: Grave Danger: More Grim Reaper coins:
Collect the fairies and continue to do this until you have about 50. Hit the next grave, and you will have a Grim Reaper coin.
Hint: Grave Danger: Extra lives and items:
Go through the level until you find a "jail cell"-type room. Go up the side, do your crushing death blow, then go through the secret room. You can collect an extra life, and coins below.
If you find yourself low on lives, armor, or keys, go to the first level (The Boneyard) using a warp pool. Play the level until you have all the coins, lives, and keys that you need. Then, return to the stage you need to complete fully powered.
Hint: Grave Danger: Hidden chest locations:
Chest 1: Directly to the left of the starting point.
Chest 2: Face the gate where you need a gold key to get to the next part of the level. It is directly behind you. Walk up to the tree behind you and press X(2) to do a double jump.
Chest 3: Located atop the platform behind the spot where the three skeletons jump up and where there are two coins in a grave. You must jump on a tombstone that is closest to the platform. It is an iron chest that holds the Flame Tongue sword enchantment.
Chest 4: After you run around the pit of lava, there is a chest on the right side of the tree, if you face it. It is on the opposite side of the chest that holds a red potion.
Chest 5: Located on the left of the two platforms that you must jump across.
Chest 6: Located to the left of the gate with the broken right side. The chest contains an extra life.
Chest 7: Located in the part where there is a ax throwing skeleton. It is in the ground, next to a lone rock.
Hint: Extra fairies:
Use this trick to get five fairies instead of the normal two. When you get to any of the fairy stones, do a jumping sword attack (X, X, Triangle) and five fairies will be released. This allows you to get at least one continue per level.
Hint: Defeating Achille and Demon Queen:
This is the hardest fight in the game. It is essential to have the Gold Shield . When you start the fight, run as close as possible to Achille. When he looks like he is going to attack, put up your shield and block him. When you can attack. do a thrust attack. After you hit him he will say "Back off" and a sphere of purple energy will fly out. Do not worry, as this does not hurt you. When you get up, immediately do a double jump then run in for the attack. Once you do another thrust attack on Achille, he will have a big replica that cannot be hit. Do not try to hit this thing -- only repeat what it says on the forcefield guarding Achille . After this, four energy ray guns will appear from the floor. Achille then starts to regain his life. Attack these guns as fast as possible. Try using your shield because it can be used to hit things from a distance. Once this happens three times, Achille's power will run out of his staff and turn it into a brutal weapon. All you have to do at this part is to use thrust attack after thrust attack. Once Achille is gone you will have to fight the Demon Queen. She is very easy. When you fight her, the whole room will be pitch black and all you will be able to see is her eyes. She will approach you. Jump and strike the stone in her forehead to defeat her.
Hint: Defeating Captain Cadaver:
This is a very easy battle. To defeat him, knock him onto the grates on the floor until he starts to try to get out. Then, kneel (L2) and press Square. This will knock him out of the grate, causing damage. This Boss is not very difficult and only has a few attacks. For most of his attacks, just use your shield to block them. For others, such as when he shoots at you, use timed jumps.
Hint: Defeating the Demon Queen:
Have the Flame Tongue and some power-ups. Hit the demon three to five times. Press Triangle to do the Overhead Slash on the jewel on the demon's forehead.
Hint: Defeating Ghastly Gus:
Do a downward strike (X, X, Triangle) until he falls, then do a thrust strike (hold any direction and press Triangle).
Stay out of the hole in the middle of the stage. It is "dead ground" and will slow you down and cause damage. Since Gus is so large, he is rather slow. You can use this to your advantage. When the battle begins, run away from him so that he does not chase and attack you. When he flings boulders, simply run in a curve and they will not hit you. After that, he will smash the ground with his shovel. Perform a double-jump over the shockwave that is created. While he is yelling, perform a downward strike (X, X, Triangle) on his foot. Perform another while he is yelling (this time in pain) to knock him over. Perform a thrust attack. Repeat this to defeat him.
When fighting Ghastly Gus, he will throw rocks, Allow him to do so, then jump the shockwave. Note: You have to have a shield. Run towards him when he is laughing. Throw your shield at his foot and he will jump, grabbing his foot. Wait for five seconds and throw it again. He will trip and fall. Run up to him and do an overhead strike. Keep doing this until he is defeated. Note: Throw your shield carefully, as they do not last forever.
Buy Foot Cheese and go to the castle. When you start, jump into the hole in the middle of the arena. Shoot your shield at his foot, then you can jump up and do a double jump-death blow on his foot. When he falls, hit him in the head.
Hint: Defeating Lakor Bas:
When he shrinks, keep jumping away from him (X, X). After that, he will send out some little voodoo dolls. Hit as many as you can until he starts shooting at you. The best way to destroy these little guys is a spin attack (Square, then rotate the Analog-stick counterclockwise). After that, he will split up and start running around. Hit all of them until there is one remaining. Then, do a thrust strike (hold any direction and press Triangle). Repeat this and you will be victorious.
Hint: Defeating Lord Gutterscum:
This is the easiest Boss in the game, Make sure you go into the battle with Armageddon (the purple sword power-up). When he stops moving, run around him and hit him in his fanny with a thrust attack. Repeat this and he will be defeated. This fight is easy because he just stays in one location -- it just requires timed jumps.
Hint: Defeating enemies:
Use the following tactics to defeat the corresponding enemy. Note: For all enemies lying on the ground, do a jumping sword slam to kill them instantly, except for the Scimitar Pirates as you will take damage unless they are lying on their front.
Blue Skeletons: Overhead slash works best.
Red Skeletons: Thrust with sword.
Pike-Wielding guards: Throw a shield from afar to remove their armor, then attack up close.
Scimitar Wielding Pirates: Jump over them to momentarily confuse them, then attack from behind.
Yetis: Run in very close and slash. They will not touch you.
Ghosts: Stand still, then hit them as if they were a baseball.
Hint: Shield Of Midas:
The most important shield enhancement and item that you can have in the game (other than the Ring Of Pain and Increased Shockwave) is the Shield of Midas. Not only does it save you important steps (e.g. playing the very first level in about eight minutes), it also sucks up the spirits from their hiding places as if you were a magnet. This is crucial in the Spirit Realm level where one step can send you into the abyss. Also, when Mr. White Ghost happens to touch you and you miss killing him, immediately activate your shield and spin around as you go. Most likely you will get all the spirits back, therefore giving you more death coins. Make sure that you save your game with this enhancement so you can reload if you die.
