Grim Fandango Review: Culture wrapped in a heartwarming narrative

Released back in 1998 for the PC only, but featuring a remastered version with support across basically every existing platform there is in 2015, Grim Fandango has managed to secure its name within the history of videogames for its sheer unique style and excellent writing.

Being a point and click game, but mostly known for its infamous use of 'tank controls' -- which are rather self-explanatory, the controls are slow and movement is tank-like -- Grim Fandango focuses on its narrative and dialogue over its gameplay. For the most part, it's an adventure game meant to be taken slowly, with its writing and lovable characters keeping you engaged between the little puzzles you must complete to progress.

Grim Fandango takes on a unique narrative, placing the player in the role of a salesman, Manuel "Manny" Calavera, in the Land of the Dead in which recently deceased are given travel options into their final destination. In order to qualify, these options are dependent on the person's kindness and overall behaviour in life. Those who weren't particularly great are made to stay in the Land of the Dead, where they must repay their debts to society over the years before they too can pass on.

As with most simplistic adventure games, puzzles are relatively simple and require a fair amount of interaction and exploration within the world in order to solve them. The game encourages you to cycle through dialogue options with every character, picking up every item that stands out, because it definitely solves a purpose, that purpose just isn't apparent until the situation calls for it. Even then, chances are you will fail to realise a strange combination of those items in order to solve the puzzles, so there is some satisfaction in completing them; they're not easy to the point where you don't feel remotely challenged by the game.

While the job of Manny is relatively simple, he's frustrated by the ways in which his colleagues treat him; he's seen as a goofball, not to be taken seriously and incapable of dealing with the higher quality clients that find their ways into their offices. Manny goes out of his way to steal one of the higher quality clients through various lawbreaking methods, but it results in him completely ruining the woman's travel plan and sending her off into the Land of the Dead alone, despite being a heartfelt person in her life. Set on fixing things, Manny travels across the land, spending years searching for her to find her, bring her back, and give her the sending that she deserves. After all, Manny always has good intentions, and he hopes on reversing his wrongdoings.

For a game of its age, besides the somewhat annoying tank controls, Grim Fandango is wonderful. Its story is engaging, its characters so memorable and lovable; it's a game that truly deserves more recognition for its excellence. There are so few like it, so few that can capture such admirable narrative based on culture.