Grim Fandango | SuperPod Game Club

For August 2024 the SuperPod Game Club played Grim Fandango as chosen by Thrak. Let's see those reviews!

Grim Fandango is a timeless classic, and the remastered version keeps the charm intact. The storytelling is nothing short of brilliant, blending noir-style mystery with a unique afterlife setting inspired by Mexican folklore. The protagonist, Manny Calavera, is as charismatic as ever, guiding players through a tale full of twists, intrigue, and memorable characters. The humour is sharp and clever, providing plenty of laughs, even during the most serious moments. This blend of narrative and wit elevates Grim Fandango to one of the finest examples of storytelling in the adventure genre.

The remastered graphics breathe new life into the game’s distinct art style. While the original had its charm, the updated visuals enhance the experience, making the Land of the Dead even more vibrant and immersive. The character models are smoother, and the environments are more detailed, giving a fresh coat of paint to this classic without losing its original appeal. The ability to switch between the original and remastered graphics is a neat feature, allowing players to appreciate how far the visuals have come.

Unfortunately, the PC version of Grim Fandango Remastered is marred by technical issues. Multiple crashes throughout the game can disrupt the experience, forcing players to frequently save to avoid losing progress. This problem becomes particularly frustrating during critical story moments, pulling you out of the otherwise immersive experience. Additionally, the tank controls, a relic of the original, proved problematic. By the time I reached the second year of the game, I had to turn them off entirely, as they made navigation a chore. This adjustment, while necessary for smoother gameplay, detracted from completing all the achievements, which was a disappointment.

Grim Fandango Remastered is a strong entry in the adventure genre, with its exceptional storytelling, humour, and improved visuals standing out as highlights. However, the game’s technical shortcomings, particularly on PC, along with its dated control scheme, might make it a tougher sell for modern gamers. Despite these issues, it remains a worthwhile experience for fans of narrative-driven games, though patience and persistence are required to fully enjoy this journey through the Land of the Dead.

~ Adam

Grim Fandango, released in 1998, was the end of an era. The last major adventure game from LucasArts before Tim Schafer left to form Double Fine Productions. This game stars Manny Calavera as he is a travel agent in the Eighth Underworld, selling travel packages for recently deceased people to the Ninth Underworld, which is the Land of Eternal Rest. Based on their actions when they were alive, they must either travel by foot, car, boat, or the Number Nine, which is an express train that cuts the journey down from 4 years to 4 minutes.

The lore in this game is so fascinating to me and that’s part of what makes this game so good. The story is great, with Manny trying to save a lady, Meche, from losing her Number Nine ticket which unfolds this crazy conspiracy surrounding the Department of Death. Along the way, Manny meets a lot of interesting characters and takes on numerous roles over the 4 years of this game.

The gameplay is a point and click adventure game, but the remaster gives you more direct control over Manny. I played using tank controls (Tim Schafer demanded it) and yes, they were annoying. But I was able to beat it no problem. There are a few action type set pieces, but most of the game is your standard adventure puzzles that can be contrived and confusing. I totally used a guide, but I have zero regrets.

This game is a classic and I can’t recommend it enough. Considered by many to be the peak of the whole genre itself, I would say this is a must play and easily the best game we’ve played for the Game Club this year. So thank you…me for suggesting it!

~ Thrak

Grim Fandango Remastered is a modern update of the classic point and click adventure game by LucasFilmsArts that was released during the golden age of the genre. The story follows Manuel “Manny” Calavera, a kind of death auditor that guides the recently deceased to their final destination afterlife. In the tradition of the point and click adventure genre, the main game revolves on solving puzzles in order to advance the story, usually ranging from something simple like combining items to jam up a delivery system, to more obtuse tasks that you’ll likely only figure out through trial and error if not completely by accident. I didn’t have too much of a problem getting through Year 1 on my own. But I’m not too ashamed to admit that I did eventually start using a walkthrough throughout the rest of the game because some of the solutions were way too out there for me to ever be able to figure out on my own.

The main attraction to these games has always been clever storytelling and witty dialogue, both of which Grim Fandango is not at all lacking. Simply put, this game is hilarious and there were more than just a few moments where I couldn't help myself from laughing out loud. Throughout the adventure you will also encounter a wide variety of memorable characters, with my personal favorite character being Glottis, the kind hearted and somewhat naive mechanic that accompanies Manny for most of his adventure. He was the Ying to Manny’s Yang and watching their relationship develop throughout the story was one of the many highlights of the game.

Overall Grim Fandango is a must play and while you will likely need a guide to see the game to the end, its unique visual style and fantastic storytelling make it well worth checking out even if you aren’t normally a fan of the Adventure genre.

~ Tony