In a past editorial, I riled against the fact that most video game developers seem to consider ‘story’ to be one of the least important factors of a game. However, back in the 90s when adventure games were riding high, games were valued on the strength of their narratives, and few have been as acclaimed as Grim Fandango, which was recently remastered and released on PS4, PS Vita and Steam.

So this is the point where I reveal that I’d never played Grim Fandango before, due to the fact that I was four when the game was first released in 1998, and was only interested in video games that had charismatic cartoons on the case. If you’re looking for a review that’s going to discuss the improvements featured in the remaster, you’re going to be bitterly disappointed.

However, even the most ignorant of gamer can see where the efforts went on this remaster. Double Fine included the always welcome ‘switch between original and remastered’ graphics button, but the difference between the two is minimal. The biggest overhaul seems to have been in the control scheme, which vastly improves on the original’s god-awful tank controls (which are included for the masochists out there). There’s also developer commentary, which offers an interesting insight into the game’s development. 

Set in a colourfully comic version of the Aztec afterlife, Grim Fandango tells the story of wily salesman Manny Calavera. When someone passes into the afterlife, they have to embark on a journey to the Ninth Underworld (which is basically heaven). Depending on their deeds in life, they are entitled to various different things to aid their journeys, ranging from a cane with a compass embedded in the hilt to a first-class ticket on a train which reduces the usual four-year journey to a mere four minutes.

Due to his presumably wicked life, Manny is forced to work as a salesman, with the goal of eventually earning his own ticket to the ninth underworld by selling the deceased the aforementioned implements to aid their journeys. Unfortunately, he is plagued with a string of sinful customers, meaning he doesn’t receive much commission, whilst his rival Domino sweeps up all the saintly souls.

In a bid to drum himself up a good customer, Manny accidentally condemns an angelic woman named Meche to undertake the journey to the ninth underworld on foot. Haunted by the thought of her being lost forever in the petrified forest, Manny and his demon sidekick Glottis embark on their own four year journey, hoping to earn redemption for Manny’s sins in life by saving Meche.

In the tradition of adventure games, Grim Fandango’s greatest strength is its story and characters. The world Manny and Glottis roam around in is immersive and imaginative, and crammed with fantastic inhabitants. 

It’s a truly funny game, which is always a treat. Tim Schafer has built a career around his memorable characters and hilarious dialogue, and Grim Fandango is a true showcase of his talent. There was more than one occasion where I was laughing so much it hurt, such as when Manny visits ‘The Blue Casket’, a smooth-jazz club full of faux-revolutionaries, who hiss at Manny’s attempts at beat-poetry.

As well as an engaging story, Grim Fandango is littered with complex puzzles. Controlled via third-person, the puzzles consist of a number of intricate inventory-based conundrums involving using a range of outlandish items to affect the world.

The game is separated into four sections, each marking a year of Manny’s four year journey. The puzzles during the first year were simple enough, but once the game got going, I found it literally impossible. I’m not ashamed to say that for the last three-quarters of the game, I was glued to a walkthrough.

Maybe it’s just that my millennial brain is so underdeveloped from years of first-person shooter puzzles that involve finding a key-card illuminated by a giant glowing arrow, but I found it incredibly difficult. Often, the problem wasn’t solving the puzzle itself, but in figuring out what the puzzle was and where I was meant to be. There were several times where I’d read the walkthrough and think ‘why the hell would I do that?’ 

As outstanding as it is, Grim Fandango suffers from an issue that is common to many video games. The first year is strong, as it introduces the player to the core characters and sets up the exhilarating adventure ahead. The second year is the peak, as Manny finds himself running a casino in the corrupt town of Rubacava and has to manipulate his way onto a boat heading for the edge of the world.

Unfortunately, the game loses momentum during the third and fourth year, which are much shorter and far less funny. They’re still highly enjoyable, but I couldn’t help being a little disappointed by the slight drop in quality.

Grim Fandango Remastered is an excellent opportunity for all those gamers who, like me, were too young to enjoy the game when it was first released. It’s not just worthy for its brilliance, but also for what it represents.

Firstly, it’s focus on telling an exciting adventure story is the key to its success, and perhaps it’s a lesson developers should heed. Love for the game still persists after seventeen years, and that isn’t because of its graphics, which are still boxy and rudimentary in the remaster.

Secondly, its an example of the creator of a video game, i.e. Tim Schafer, retaining control over his creation. Double Fine managed to procure the rights for Grim Fandango from the now defunct Lucas Arts, which is what led to this release. I think we can all agree that that’s a good thing. I think we can also all agree that drunk Glottis will never stop being funny.

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