Grim Fandango Remastered Reviews
Some might wish for more visual enhancements or fixes for the original game's biggest flaws, but this HD restoration of Grim Fandango only underlines what a fantastic, beautifully written and gorgeously designed game it is. It's clearly a product of its time, yet like its movie inspirations it hasn't faded with time. It was one of the best graphic adventure games then, and it's still one of the finest now.
I've been hammering away on the keyboard without writing anything positive for quite a few paragraphs, so I feel that it's necessary to emphasise that I do genuinely love Grim Fandango, and I think you should play it. Again, if you already have. It's loaded with some of the best adventure game one liners; a gripping, winding plot that only slips up three quarters of the way through the game, and then improves drastically afterward; and a vibrant, bizarre world that, for all its weirdness, is extremely easy to get attached to. It's just not a very impressive remaster.
The fact you've been able to play Grim Fandango Remastered on your TV and in handheld form elsewhere for years doesn't matter one bit, because this gem of a game is still as enchanting and evocative as it was the first time you popped open that oversized cardboard box back in PC in 1998. Here and now on Nintendo Switch, this port looks and runs noticeably smoother than its fellow portable versions thanks to Double Fine's deft adjustments, so if whether you've already joined Manny on his afterlife odyssey or this is your first time among the dead, Switch is 100 percent better for its inclusion.
Even with its lack of that graphical "wow" factor, Grim Fandango Remastered is able to become a classic yet again, this time for a whole new generation of gamers. Whether you're a returning fan, or someone new to the adventure genre, Grim Fandango is a must-play experience.
The Remastered version brings this masterpiece to a new generation, and does nothing to compromise the genius of the original.
A little rough around the edges, but a game not to be missed if you're a point-and-click fan.
Grim Fandango has a style of gameplay that isn't for everyone, but if you're into that sort of thing, or if you're simply riding along for the story, you're in for a great and well-written adventure that is certainly worth the price of admission.
What matters most is not the story, but the telling—and that much, Grim Fandango has mastered. Thank goodness it's no longer unplayable.
The entire adventure genre owes a debt to Grim Fandango. It pioneered the immersive, cinematic gameplay that would later be used by the likes of Telltale and Quantic Dream, and its quality writing and puzzle design set a high bar that almost every adventure to follow would strive to meet.
Though not the most visually comprehensive or newbie-friendly remaster, Grim Fandango is still one of the greatest adventure games ever made.
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.
Grim Fandango is back, and, unlike The Longest Journey, it's gotten a bit of modern spit and polish for its console/PC debut, and it goes without saying that for fans of adventure games, this is a must own title.
A welcome return to purgatory
Nearly impossible to purchase for over a decade, you can now play Grim Fandango and understand why it's one of the best adventure games ever made.
If Double Fine had taken the effort to make Grim Fandango playable without changing the atmosphere of the game: made navigation faster, fixed the inventory, added autosaves and stopped it crashing, then it may have been a worthwhile effort. Instead it is only possible to recommend this to those truly looking for that nostalgia hit.
I should be glad that Grim Fandango hasn't had the same crushing change to its main character that the Monkey Island remasters had, but a part of me wishes a little more had been updated. It's still a bit rough around the edges, the graphics are only slightly improved, and the animation just as broken as the original. But it's funny, the writing is fantastic, the voice acting simply superb, and it's a joy to play from start to finish.
Whether or not it is your first time playing or the tenth time, Grim Fandango Remastered still seems enjoyable and holds up over all these years. Although there are a few complaints here and there they are minor and shouldn't be held too much against the title. The overall story is a rewarding experience that should not be missed.
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
Grim Fandango Remastered is a remake done right - it respects the source material, brings it up to date for modern hardware and adds a little extra as well. Hopefully, more gamers will buy it this time around, because otherwise we could in for another 20 years of first person shooters in varying shades of brown.
Strangely poignant and profound, Grim Fandango Remastered is a well-deserved return to an adventure that fans of this genre cannot miss. Far from the easy tears and technical expertise of The Walking Dead,this title is a distinguished example of a time when updating a flawed release was much more complicated. Original, fun and indispensable if you like well-written scripts in video games, we are happy to remember Grim Fandango. If you've never played it, take it,this is your chance to enjoy it.
Review in Spanish | Read full review