Grim Fandango Remastered Reviews

“Grim Fandango invites you to find meaning in just one life. It just so happens that you’re already dead when it starts.”

According to Miriam Webster Online, the word Fandango has two meanings. The first, and more formal definition is that it: “is a lively Spanish or Spanish-American dance done in triple time that is usually performed by a man and a woman to the accompaniment of guitars and castanets.” The second, more informal usage is that of tomfoolery as in silliness, antics, pranks, horseplay… you get the idea.

An incredible game that stands up to the test of time, but a disappointing Vita port and quirky logic spoil what could be near perfection

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After seventeen long years, Grim Fandango finally makes its console debut on the PlayStation 4 and PS Vita. This is a remastered port of one of the best point & click adventures of all time, and the Tim Schafer classic hasn't missed a beat. It's overflowing with fascinating characters and a story full of twists and turns. No matter if you're new to the Land of the Dead or a returning visitor, Grim Fandango Remastered is a must-play.

In the end, it's the characters, the environments, the music, the writing, and even the unpredictable puzzles blocking progress that give Grim Fandango its winning identity. New audiences may struggle to turn back the clock and enjoy all its challenges, but if the choice was between preserving a relic and modifying it into a hit, then Double Fine made the right call.

Grim Fandango really is a masterpiece, although it’s not a completely perfect one. The story, world, voice acting, music, script and style are some of the best gaming has to offer, rivalling the best animated movies. The puzzles are 80% superb, best the adventure genre can do, and 20% frustrating as all hell. Nevertheless that’s an absolutely minor thing in the grand scheme of things, and the world and writing are so incredible you’ll let any trial-and-error moments slide. The Remastere...

Grim Fandango is a game that should be experienced, plain and simple. The combination of story, presentation, and atmosphere come together in perfect harmony to offer arguably one of the best point-and-click adventure games ever created. With that said, I was a bit disappointed to see the Grim Fandango not get the full remastered treatment I feel it should have received. I’ve seen other LucasArts titles like The Secret of Monkey Island and Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge show more impressive remastering. After seeing what’s possible with those particular games, you could see why I’d be a little heartbroken at the rough edges and bugs.

Every bit as charming as the original, Grim Fandango Remastered offers a refresher for this classic adventure game, which is bound to captivate a new generation of point and click fans.

The passage of time has done little to diminish Grim Fandango’s reputation as one of the finest adventure games ever made, and the fact that so little needed to be done to modernize it only reinforces its place as a classic of the genre. While it may seem punishing at times to modern gamers, remember that failure is impossible. I wish this new version had incorporated a hint system to make it more accessible to the new generation, but whether you’ve never played Grim Fandango before or you replay it every year and just want to dive into Remastered for the insightful developer commentary track, this is a reverent re-release whose few bygone era warts are minimized by its timeless story.

Grim Fandango, in other words, still seems like a game from another universe, albeit now one which seems closer to ours than it did at the time. The Remastered edition might not be quite as modernised as we'd hoped, and it's sorely in need of a little more PC-specific TLC, but it is such a pleasure to have it back, so much happier on a modern monitor and good speakers than the original edition, and with non-crazy controls too.

Grim Fandango is considered a great game almost 17 years after its release due to various reasons, though the main one has to be the humour within. It’s a game that makes you laugh out loud, and Manny is a great lead character.  I do enjoy noire-esque stories, and Grim Fandango is something like that. If you like adventure games then it is definitely worth playing Grim Fandango Remastered, be it a replay or for the first time. However there are a few technical issues that need to be addressed including the voice and lip syncs being way out in some cases, as well as the frame rate drops within a couple of the game’s locations. Having said that, whilst Grim Fandango Remastered isn’t perfect it is certainly an enjoyable and memorable experience.

There is a reason why Grim Fandango shows up near the top of everyone’s best adventure games of all time list. Grim Fandango Remastered builds it up for a new audience, offering it’s genuinely-hilarious story for a whole new generation of gamers. While it isn’t the cleanest port ever, it’s a welcome addition to any library -- especially at the $14.99 price point. Welcome back, Manny -- we missed you.