Though Grim Fandango received critical acclaim, and several awards, following its original LucasArts release in 1998, the point and click adventure game has remained in a cult classic status over the last several years. Many people didn't know about it, or simply forgot about it over time. Its comedic style mixed with a Mexican noir overtone made it a highly unique production, one that still stands out strongly to this day. Given its humor and all around wacky characters, it's no surprise that Double Fine Productions are the company behind its 2015 remaster.
So before jumping into the game as a whole, I'm going to outline the differences with the Remastered version for those who've played the title previously. If you're familiar with the upgraded 3D models in either Final Fantasy VII or VIII, you'll know what to expect when it comes to the ones in Grim Fandago Remastered. Basically, the once heavily polygon ridden characters are now smoothed and rounded out; along with most of the objects that you can pick up or otherwise interact with. The backgrounds and cutscenes have been left in their original, unaltered state, so there's a little bit of a contrast, but the game as a whole has aged decently. The soundtrack and voices have been given a HD upgrade as well. You can now also pick between standard and oldschool tank controls. Accompanying your journey through the eighth underworld is one fantastic soundtrack, and in this version, you get the pleasure of hearing it re-recorded in its entirety with a live orchestra. From jazzy be-bops to melancholic noir stylings, to fast paced chaos when the moment is right, it's definitely not an audible experience that you'll be forgetting anytime soon.
The player assumes the role of Manuel (Manny) Calavera, who is a travel agent at the Department of Death in the afterlife city of El Marrow; he often dresses as a grim reaper to help his clients transition from this presumed land of limbo into the next plane of existence. The better living life that his clients lived, the more likely they are to be able to afford a ticket on one of the luxurious methods of transportation to said realm, but lately it seems that all of Manny's clientele are destined to set out on a 4 year journey by foot to the next life instead. Since he has been forced into the life of a travel agent to work off his debt to "the powers that be", and he only gets "commission" if they qualify for a ticket, Manny grows increasingly frustrated that none of his applicants seem to qualify for the deluxe rides and sets out to get to the bottom of what's going on. What follows is a tale of mystery, heartbreak, betrayal, and comedic gold.
Whether they be good, bad, or downright despicable, all of the characters in Grim Fandago are extraordinarily charismatic and each of them have a well crafted personality with accompanying backstory. The dialogue interactions between each one of them is usually in some way humorous, but not in such a manner that it sticks out bluntly; a large chunk of the hilarity that ensues is very casual, and that's one of the many aspects that makes this game such a success. Along with main main Manny, you will also encounter his lovable demon mechanic sidekick Glottis, his arch rival Domino, the woman named Menche that he's desperately trying to save, and many other lovable personalities. They're all fully voice acted also, amazingly well I might add, and most characters have a prevalent Mexican accent.
As per ususal with point and click adventure games, almost everything that you need to do in order to progress is some sort of puzzle. Most of them are pretty straightforward, or are easy to solve with a little bit of brain power. There are only a handful of really 'big', complex riddles to solve, and some individuals may find themselves getting frustrated and stuck on them even with the use of a text or visual aid. However, they're all very creative and unlike anything seen in any other games of the same genre, from the same time period. Nevertheless, overcoming these obstacles is well worth the effort in order to see the entire game to completion at the end of Year 4. That's another trait worth mentioning, that Grim Fandago is split up into 4 "Years" that work just like chapters, and the first two are the longest.
For a game that's over 15 years old, Grim Fandago Remastered really holds up well in the modern world; it's even better than most newer titles of the point and click genre. Overall, it's really the vibrant, well crafted characters and brilliant voice acting that puts this title so far ahead of the curve; along with the unique setting, and Mexican folklore mixed with a detective noir style. If you're a fan of the genre, or even if you're not, this is one event that you shouldn't be putting off experiencing for the story and characters alone. Given the amount of work that has been put in to the remaster, along with the minimum 5 hours of playtime, the asking price is absolutely justified.
Rating: 5.0/5.0 - An astonishing achievement, this game must be played.The Horror Network
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