3/28/2023 0 Comments Grim fandango remastered review![]() The original source files have been dusted off and presented at their highest possible quality. So, what exactly has been improved? In truth, the Remastered version is more about honouring the original game than outright replacing it – not that that’s a bad thing at all. María Canals as Meche and Alan Blumenfeld as Glottis are likewise fantastic, but practically everyone involved gives a standout performance. It helps that the voice acting and delivery is nigh on perfect, with Tony Plana in particular giving a beautifully affable performance as the ever-resourceful Manny. It’s a classic noir tale with a twist and the writing honestly couldn’t be better – game designer Tim Schafer has always been a funny guy, but he’s arguably never topped the razor-sharp, self-aware comedic brilliance of the dialogue and storytelling in Grim Fandango. Riddled with guilt, he sets out after her to make things right and in the process begins to uncover a conspiracy fuelled by greed, crime and corruption. When Manny still can’t get her a better deal than walking via the department computer, he returns to his office deflated to find her gone. Frustrated with his recent streak of bad luck, he teams up with speed demon Glottis (a large, scene-stealing, instantly loveable orange petrolhead who literally lives to tinker with vehicles – seriously, if he doesn’t he could die!) to steal one of Domino’s clients – Mercedes “Meche” Colomar, a saint who should be a guaranteed shoe-in for a Double N ticket. Something is rotten in the Land of the Dead, and Manuel Calavera is in the thick of it. “I am an elemental spirit summoned from the Land of the Dead itself, given one purpose, one skill, one desire… to DRIVE!” Yet even if they make it through the Petrified Forest alive (relatively speaking) and reach the small port town of Rubacava, many lost souls become disillusioned, get jobs and settle down. Instead, Manny’s clients must often make the standard four-year journey of the soul on foot. His co-worker and arch nemesis Domino Hurley seems to be getting all the solid leads: the recently departed who lead good enough lives to be eligible for a Double N ticket on the Number Nine, a luxury express train that takes only four minutes to reach the gate to the Ninth Underworld. In short, once the stilts have been kicked into the locker – Manny needs a lead on a rich, dead saint. Working off his debt for mortal sins never revealed (much like how we never find out why Rick in Casablanca fled America – it certainly wasn’t for the desert waters…), the game begins with the relative – relatable? – mundanity of a lost soul trapped in an office job where progress has ground to a severe halt. Set in the land of the dead, players take control of Grim Reaper/travel agent Manual Calavera. If you love a good story, you’ll be well served here. “Sorry for the wait Mr Flores, I am ready to take you now.”įor those of you who haven’t played the original game, I truly think it’s worth stopping right now and simply taking a punt – Grim Fandango has reached classic status for a reason. Regardless, it’s a forgone conclusion that I think the original game is a masterpiece despite any minor annoyances – this review will therefore ultimately address the Remastered version, with all its new bells and whistles. The tank controls were a necessary evil I merely tolerated (although, it turns out there were camera relative controls in the original!), the Petrified Forest always felt like a mixed bag and that betting ticket puzzle… don’t even get me started. Yet, I’ve never claimed it be the perfect game. ![]() The game had a profound effect on 10-year-old me that has only grown in strength over the intervening years – I’ve completed the game more times than I can remember and it still utterly delights and enthrals me with every single revisit. ![]() How much of a fan? Well… I have a Manual Calavera skull tattoo on my right arm, I have a Department of Death wallet and mug, several t-shirts, my Gravatar is Manny, he features prominently in Alternative Magazine Online’s header… the list goes on. ![]() “We may have years, we may have hours, but sooner or later, we push up flowers…”īefore I begin this review, I must confess – I’m a massive fan of Grim Fandango. Skeleton-in-a-suit noir hero Manuel Calavera has returned after 17 years looking sharper than ever – but has this cult classic stood the test of time successfully enough to resonate with a modern audience? Who would have ever thought that a game about the four-year journey of a travel agent in the land of the dead would enjoy such a long and fruitful life? Grim Fandango Remastered is a lovingly restored and updated version of the classic critically acclaimed 1998 LucasArts adventure game Grim Fandango. ![]()
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