Grim Fandango is a gem from the past that still manages to keep its charm two decades later. Filled with unique characters and a deep story. Sure the graphics feel a little dated but the intrigue soon has you captivated and forgetting its age.
Follow Manny, one of many grim reapers whose duty is to it is to usher souls to the afterlife. Soon our titular hero is wrapped up in a conspiracy as he tries to help a damsel in distress. His adventure will take him to many parts of the dead realm.
Grim Fandango is a puzzle-solving game hidden under the veil of an adventure game. The puzzles range from easy peezy to throw controller and scream. (Cat stubs we looking at you ). While the difficulty may be based on an individual’s ability, the rest is pure genius.
I shall not dwell on the graphics as the game is that old but having said that, it still didn’t feel too bad. Like I said earlier it hasn’t lost its charm. However, the controls felt really frustrating and all over the place. Getting from point A to B takes forever as there is no run option. Let’s not even go I think loading times. These can be really challenging for the modern gamer, who are used to crisp controls.
With older games, there will always come a bag full of cons, as to whether we will admit it or not we always compare them to current titles. Grim Fandango is certainly nothing like today’s games and that’s why it’s actually great. It never relied solely on graphics but rather on a compelling story and challenging gameplay. That’s why it’s a survivor. It’s ironic really, a game about death and the grim reaper that just won’t die.
