2008 Woodie Awards
Classic Review: Grim Fandango
Kristen Bussanich
Issue date: 2/9/05 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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A graphic adventure game plays much more linearly than most genres. Manny travels from one part of the underworld to the next, each with a set number of goals and puzzles that need to be finished before moving on. The puzzles are challenging, creative, and fun. The solutions are not so unlikely that playing becomes frustrating; this is a common problem the developers successfully avoided. The puzzles are also very well integrated into the plot. For a video game, and as a matter of fact, for any work of art, Grim Fandango is actually very well written. None of the dialogue or plot twists feel forced, which is another common problem with these types of games. In order to fit in the appropriate puzzles, many developers make obvious changes to the story, upsetting the pace. This could not be further from the case here, and a big part of the reason why Grim Fandango is such an amazing game.
Yet another outstanding feature is the voice acting. Tony Plana is the voice of Manny. The name may not sound familiar, but he is actually a fairly recognizable actor, having been in over 70 movies and making dozens of television guest appearances in everything from The West Wing to Seinfeld. The other actors are equally as qualified, all of them providing realistic voices to the surreal skeletal characters in the game.
The one very minor flaw in the game is the interface. While not necessarily a hindrance during play, it was not the perfect system. In order to figure out what objects in the world are interactive, the player must notice where Manny turns his head if he passes by something interesting. This usually works, but the chances of missing something key in the many detailed environments increases. The inventory system is also awkward and cumbersome. In looking at the whole picture, these problems are minute. The overall gaming experience achieved by the developers far outweighs these very insignificant flaws.
Grim Fandango is part of the virtually extinct genre that is adventure games. As a whole, gamers desire immediate gratification that comes with other simpler kinds of fun. If Halo is the big summer sci-fi blockbuster, then Grim Fandango is that amazing indie film that a friend of a friend is raving about. Not many have heard of it, but those who have seen it were amazed and want to spread the word.
Like the film industry, the video game industry seems to have become ever more concerned with making money and less worried about the quality of what they are putting on shelves. Of course, there are plenty of well-made games, but it takes much more sifting through the broad range of titles as a whole to find the few true gems. Grim Fandango is one of those rare finds.
Grim Fandango is available at lucasarts.com for $14.95.
Yet another outstanding feature is the voice acting. Tony Plana is the voice of Manny. The name may not sound familiar, but he is actually a fairly recognizable actor, having been in over 70 movies and making dozens of television guest appearances in everything from The West Wing to Seinfeld. The other actors are equally as qualified, all of them providing realistic voices to the surreal skeletal characters in the game.
The one very minor flaw in the game is the interface. While not necessarily a hindrance during play, it was not the perfect system. In order to figure out what objects in the world are interactive, the player must notice where Manny turns his head if he passes by something interesting. This usually works, but the chances of missing something key in the many detailed environments increases. The inventory system is also awkward and cumbersome. In looking at the whole picture, these problems are minute. The overall gaming experience achieved by the developers far outweighs these very insignificant flaws.
Grim Fandango is part of the virtually extinct genre that is adventure games. As a whole, gamers desire immediate gratification that comes with other simpler kinds of fun. If Halo is the big summer sci-fi blockbuster, then Grim Fandango is that amazing indie film that a friend of a friend is raving about. Not many have heard of it, but those who have seen it were amazed and want to spread the word.
Like the film industry, the video game industry seems to have become ever more concerned with making money and less worried about the quality of what they are putting on shelves. Of course, there are plenty of well-made games, but it takes much more sifting through the broad range of titles as a whole to find the few true gems. Grim Fandango is one of those rare finds.
Grim Fandango is available at lucasarts.com for $14.95.