2008 Woodie Awards
Classic Review: Grim Fandango
Kristen Bussanich
Issue date: 2/9/05 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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One of the last graphic adventure games created by LucasArts was Grim Fandango (LucasArts/PC/$14.95). Regarded by many to be the best of its genre, this game was amazingly creative, emotionally evocative, funny, and had a perfect difficulty balance when it came to solving the game's puzzles. In 1998, this was the company's first attempt at a three-dimensional game in this genre. To put it simply, they managed to pull off one of the best games of all time, while creating a magnificent piece of interactive artwork.
The story and visuals are a combination of Mayan and Aztec artwork, Mexican Day of the Dead folklore, and film noir from the 1930's, 40's, and 50's. If you think this is an odd, eclectic mix of ideas, you are right. They all, however, blend together perfectly. For its time, and even by today's standards, the art direction is exceptionally well done.
Almost the entire story takes place in the Land of the Dead. Our hero, Manny Calavera, is a travel agent for the deceased. Basically, he is a Grim Reaper, though this is only part of his job description. And it is the only part performed in the Land of the Living, which by the way looks appropriately surreal and very cool in this game. After he comforts and brings the newly deceased into the next world, he offers them different kinds of travel packages. It is a four-year journey to the Ninth Underworld, the final resting place, and those fortunate souls who lived good and virtuous lives are able to get premium transportation to their final destination.
Manny is unable to travel to the end of the line just yet. He has this job because he needs to pay off a "debt" resulting from the way he lived his life. Unfortunately, there just do not seem to be any virtuous customers coming his way, and even the ones who did lead good lives are not qualifying for travel accommodations that should be rightfully theirs. Instead, they must make the treacherous journey by foot, which many an unfortunate soul does not survive. This mystery plays into the film noir aspect of the game, and is much more complicated than anyone realizes. Driven by his love for the virtuous yet feisty Meche, a victim of the corrupt system, Manny goes on the four-year journey himself, unraveling a twisted plot of intrigue, deception, and redemption.
The story and visuals are a combination of Mayan and Aztec artwork, Mexican Day of the Dead folklore, and film noir from the 1930's, 40's, and 50's. If you think this is an odd, eclectic mix of ideas, you are right. They all, however, blend together perfectly. For its time, and even by today's standards, the art direction is exceptionally well done.
Almost the entire story takes place in the Land of the Dead. Our hero, Manny Calavera, is a travel agent for the deceased. Basically, he is a Grim Reaper, though this is only part of his job description. And it is the only part performed in the Land of the Living, which by the way looks appropriately surreal and very cool in this game. After he comforts and brings the newly deceased into the next world, he offers them different kinds of travel packages. It is a four-year journey to the Ninth Underworld, the final resting place, and those fortunate souls who lived good and virtuous lives are able to get premium transportation to their final destination.
Manny is unable to travel to the end of the line just yet. He has this job because he needs to pay off a "debt" resulting from the way he lived his life. Unfortunately, there just do not seem to be any virtuous customers coming his way, and even the ones who did lead good lives are not qualifying for travel accommodations that should be rightfully theirs. Instead, they must make the treacherous journey by foot, which many an unfortunate soul does not survive. This mystery plays into the film noir aspect of the game, and is much more complicated than anyone realizes. Driven by his love for the virtuous yet feisty Meche, a victim of the corrupt system, Manny goes on the four-year journey himself, unraveling a twisted plot of intrigue, deception, and redemption.