Mr Durand Pierre
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GRIM FANDANGO
You show me better writing in a videogame and I'll show you a picture of a hot girl...
Grim Fandango is quite simply the greatest writing ever in a videogame. Head and shoulders above the competition. It was created by a man named Tim Schafer, and the only games that come close in terms of writing are Schafer's own Full Throttle and Day of the Tentacle, and other non Schafer Lucasarts graphic adventures like the Monkey Island series (the first 3 at least), and Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis. But outside of Lucasarts nothing comes close. In fact, I can't think of any other videogame writing that I would even classify as being good. I review videogame writing like I do movies, and by that standard every game I've played that isn't in the aforementioned list would get a thumbs down. A lot of critics praised Beyond Good & Evil for it's writing. I love that game, but its writing still sucks. Shitty characters who think they have depth because they're new age hippies who do yoga, or stereotypical gay latinos. And I started playing the Longest Journey once, but couldn't finish it due to its horrible writing. Just because a character is "Spunky" doesn't make them good. In fact, it makes them just the opposite.
But enough of my caveat about why every other videogame is poorly written, I shall tell you why Grim Fandango is so brilliantly written...
The game takes place in the land of the dead. On the day of the dead in fact. And you play as Manny Calavera, a grim reaper. But really you're more of a travel agent. Let me explain: when people die their souls must take a 4 year journey through the land of the dead before reaching the ninth underworld, the land of eternal rest. This is part based on Mexican lore, and part made up for the game. Can't tell you which is which. You reap souls and try to sell them travel packages based on how wealthy they are, which in turn is based on how good their lives were. And you keep getting bad clients. If this sounds unfair it's because it is, but salesmen put up with that kind of shit all the time. Anyone seen Glengerry Glen Ross? But before you know it you're wrapped up in an espionage thriller. The game touts itself as being "A tale of crime and corruption in the land of the dead." I can't think of a better way of putting it.
But it's not about the plot. Plot doesn't mean shit if its got bad characters. And Grim Fandango is the only game I have ever played that has characters I actually care about. But more than that it's just plain funny. The dialogue is among the most genius I've ever heard, not only in a videogame, but in a movie, comic, or novel. The game manages to be a parody of film noir, and at the same time being noir. The closest thing I can think to compare it to is The Nightmare Before Christmas, or a Pixar movie like Toy Story, or Finding Nemo. While the script does have a lot of depth to it, it never takes itself seriously (which is my problem with most videogames that think they're "deep.") The game is appropriate for all ages (though it got a T rating for it's alcohol), but really only the most knowledgeable film buffs will get most of the references ("who is that fat man, I wonder...") The references to Casablanca and Chinatown are pretty obvious, but some of them are downright obscure. The satire is all brilliant too. The scathing portrayal of beatniks and beat poetry is absolutely hilarious.
Since Grim Fandango is still a game it can’t have the same kind of writing as a movie, simply because every character it except for you has a small part. Even the female lead still only has a few handfuls of dialogue. And while most NPCs in the game only have one conversation with you their dialogue so great that you don’t mind. And like I said, it doesn’t presume to be too serious and expect you to care THAT much about anything. But some of the characters are surprisingly memorable. Like the coroner who believe was the ninth underworld is just a myth and that the land of the dead is all there is. (Plus his “coroner’s joke” reference is so obscure that I cannot remember what movie it’s from). I’ve played many a game where even the lead characters have a much less lasting impression than this guy did from his few minutes of screen time.
The script also takes great advantage of 1940s lingo. I was greatly reminded of The Coen brother’s Miller’s Crossing and it’s over the top portrayal of prohibition era outlaws.
But a good script can easily be ruined by poor voice acting, and voice acting is quite possibly my biggest problem with modern videogames. Thankfully Grim Fandango also has quite possibly the greatest voice acting in a video game (with The Curse of Monkey Island and Full Throttle tying for second). Manny has quite possibly the slickest Mexican accent I’ve ever heard. And Domino Hurley sounds just the right amount like Jack Nicholson to sound cool, but not to the point that he sounds like he’s trying to sound like Jack Nicholson.
The game has more going for it than it’s writing though. It’s one of the prettiest games I’ve ever played, holding up just fine after 6 years. 2D prerendered backgrounds are highly underrated. In fact, I generally prefer fully 2D graphic adventure games, but Grim Fandango’s blocky 3D look was sort of a happy accident since it really just enhances the art deco look. When I first played through the game I was only in high school, but looking back at it now it’s aged beautifully. In fact, Escape From Monkey Island was Lucasarts only adventure game to come out since Grim Fandango (and even that was 5 years ago) and while I like that game a lot it was a step back for them.
A great portion of Grim Fandango takes place in the port town of Rubacava which is one of the greatest set designs I’ve ever seen. It’s a sleazy night club part of town where you own a casino, and it is the highlight of any of Lucasart’s games. And kudos to the set designer for the place. I only wish we could have gotten to see more of it.
I should also mention how much the music to the game just plain rules. It’s all Mexican mariachi music, but it merges with the visuals real well. Truly a classic.
And as far as the gameplay goes Grim Fandango is one of Lucasarts best, but I do have a few minor nitpicks with it. My biggest problem with the game is that the second half is noticeably easier and more straightforward than the first. Once you complete part 2 it’s pretty smooth sailing from there (but still equally well written). And there are a few minor puzzles that are a little obscure or have bad controls (like the forklift in the elevator. you’ll probably need a patch for that on newer machines). The puzzles aren’t bad, in fact some of them are brilliant, but it is the usual inventory based puzzles we’d expect form this kind of game. So if you’re really patient and out of ideas you can sometimes stumble upon a solution through mindless experimentation with your inventory, but that’s just not fun. But overall, the puzzles are worthy of a Lucasarts title.
Another minor problem is the controls. It’s all keyboard based, which was a first for Lucasarts in this genre. And I’m not quite sure I like that. The controls are tolerable, but I still would have preferred having the choice of using the mouse. Still, it is an adventure game and since there’s no fighting the controls rarely get in the way of your enjoyment of the game.
Grim Fandango truly is a masterpiece. I might even be so bold as to call it my favorite game of all-time. Though it doesn’t have much replay value (unless you wait a few years and get to enjoy the script again), and I can’t really compare it to action, or strategy games, but for what it is it’s the best of the best. Though I would still say I would not want a sequel too it. It ends just where it should and any kind of sequel, spin-off, or movie would be an injustice to it. I’d rather see what other crazy ideas Tim Schafer is up to next (his full Throttle sequel was cancelled at the last minute, and he’s now making a game called Psychonauts for the Xbox, which makes me want to get one of those). It’s a shame this type of game has gone the way of the dinosaur. For shame Lucasarts… for shame…
9.5/10 (my highest rating yet)
(Note: I realize this game is 6 years old, but no game has come close to topping it in all that time, and for the maybe 1% of you out there with any brain cells you might want to check this out if you thought videogames couldn't be well written).
You show me better writing in a videogame and I'll show you a picture of a hot girl...
Grim Fandango is quite simply the greatest writing ever in a videogame. Head and shoulders above the competition. It was created by a man named Tim Schafer, and the only games that come close in terms of writing are Schafer's own Full Throttle and Day of the Tentacle, and other non Schafer Lucasarts graphic adventures like the Monkey Island series (the first 3 at least), and Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis. But outside of Lucasarts nothing comes close. In fact, I can't think of any other videogame writing that I would even classify as being good. I review videogame writing like I do movies, and by that standard every game I've played that isn't in the aforementioned list would get a thumbs down. A lot of critics praised Beyond Good & Evil for it's writing. I love that game, but its writing still sucks. Shitty characters who think they have depth because they're new age hippies who do yoga, or stereotypical gay latinos. And I started playing the Longest Journey once, but couldn't finish it due to its horrible writing. Just because a character is "Spunky" doesn't make them good. In fact, it makes them just the opposite.
But enough of my caveat about why every other videogame is poorly written, I shall tell you why Grim Fandango is so brilliantly written...
The game takes place in the land of the dead. On the day of the dead in fact. And you play as Manny Calavera, a grim reaper. But really you're more of a travel agent. Let me explain: when people die their souls must take a 4 year journey through the land of the dead before reaching the ninth underworld, the land of eternal rest. This is part based on Mexican lore, and part made up for the game. Can't tell you which is which. You reap souls and try to sell them travel packages based on how wealthy they are, which in turn is based on how good their lives were. And you keep getting bad clients. If this sounds unfair it's because it is, but salesmen put up with that kind of shit all the time. Anyone seen Glengerry Glen Ross? But before you know it you're wrapped up in an espionage thriller. The game touts itself as being "A tale of crime and corruption in the land of the dead." I can't think of a better way of putting it.
But it's not about the plot. Plot doesn't mean shit if its got bad characters. And Grim Fandango is the only game I have ever played that has characters I actually care about. But more than that it's just plain funny. The dialogue is among the most genius I've ever heard, not only in a videogame, but in a movie, comic, or novel. The game manages to be a parody of film noir, and at the same time being noir. The closest thing I can think to compare it to is The Nightmare Before Christmas, or a Pixar movie like Toy Story, or Finding Nemo. While the script does have a lot of depth to it, it never takes itself seriously (which is my problem with most videogames that think they're "deep.") The game is appropriate for all ages (though it got a T rating for it's alcohol), but really only the most knowledgeable film buffs will get most of the references ("who is that fat man, I wonder...") The references to Casablanca and Chinatown are pretty obvious, but some of them are downright obscure. The satire is all brilliant too. The scathing portrayal of beatniks and beat poetry is absolutely hilarious.
Since Grim Fandango is still a game it can’t have the same kind of writing as a movie, simply because every character it except for you has a small part. Even the female lead still only has a few handfuls of dialogue. And while most NPCs in the game only have one conversation with you their dialogue so great that you don’t mind. And like I said, it doesn’t presume to be too serious and expect you to care THAT much about anything. But some of the characters are surprisingly memorable. Like the coroner who believe was the ninth underworld is just a myth and that the land of the dead is all there is. (Plus his “coroner’s joke” reference is so obscure that I cannot remember what movie it’s from). I’ve played many a game where even the lead characters have a much less lasting impression than this guy did from his few minutes of screen time.
The script also takes great advantage of 1940s lingo. I was greatly reminded of The Coen brother’s Miller’s Crossing and it’s over the top portrayal of prohibition era outlaws.
But a good script can easily be ruined by poor voice acting, and voice acting is quite possibly my biggest problem with modern videogames. Thankfully Grim Fandango also has quite possibly the greatest voice acting in a video game (with The Curse of Monkey Island and Full Throttle tying for second). Manny has quite possibly the slickest Mexican accent I’ve ever heard. And Domino Hurley sounds just the right amount like Jack Nicholson to sound cool, but not to the point that he sounds like he’s trying to sound like Jack Nicholson.
The game has more going for it than it’s writing though. It’s one of the prettiest games I’ve ever played, holding up just fine after 6 years. 2D prerendered backgrounds are highly underrated. In fact, I generally prefer fully 2D graphic adventure games, but Grim Fandango’s blocky 3D look was sort of a happy accident since it really just enhances the art deco look. When I first played through the game I was only in high school, but looking back at it now it’s aged beautifully. In fact, Escape From Monkey Island was Lucasarts only adventure game to come out since Grim Fandango (and even that was 5 years ago) and while I like that game a lot it was a step back for them.
A great portion of Grim Fandango takes place in the port town of Rubacava which is one of the greatest set designs I’ve ever seen. It’s a sleazy night club part of town where you own a casino, and it is the highlight of any of Lucasart’s games. And kudos to the set designer for the place. I only wish we could have gotten to see more of it.
I should also mention how much the music to the game just plain rules. It’s all Mexican mariachi music, but it merges with the visuals real well. Truly a classic.
And as far as the gameplay goes Grim Fandango is one of Lucasarts best, but I do have a few minor nitpicks with it. My biggest problem with the game is that the second half is noticeably easier and more straightforward than the first. Once you complete part 2 it’s pretty smooth sailing from there (but still equally well written). And there are a few minor puzzles that are a little obscure or have bad controls (like the forklift in the elevator. you’ll probably need a patch for that on newer machines). The puzzles aren’t bad, in fact some of them are brilliant, but it is the usual inventory based puzzles we’d expect form this kind of game. So if you’re really patient and out of ideas you can sometimes stumble upon a solution through mindless experimentation with your inventory, but that’s just not fun. But overall, the puzzles are worthy of a Lucasarts title.
Another minor problem is the controls. It’s all keyboard based, which was a first for Lucasarts in this genre. And I’m not quite sure I like that. The controls are tolerable, but I still would have preferred having the choice of using the mouse. Still, it is an adventure game and since there’s no fighting the controls rarely get in the way of your enjoyment of the game.
Grim Fandango truly is a masterpiece. I might even be so bold as to call it my favorite game of all-time. Though it doesn’t have much replay value (unless you wait a few years and get to enjoy the script again), and I can’t really compare it to action, or strategy games, but for what it is it’s the best of the best. Though I would still say I would not want a sequel too it. It ends just where it should and any kind of sequel, spin-off, or movie would be an injustice to it. I’d rather see what other crazy ideas Tim Schafer is up to next (his full Throttle sequel was cancelled at the last minute, and he’s now making a game called Psychonauts for the Xbox, which makes me want to get one of those). It’s a shame this type of game has gone the way of the dinosaur. For shame Lucasarts… for shame…
9.5/10 (my highest rating yet)
(Note: I realize this game is 6 years old, but no game has come close to topping it in all that time, and for the maybe 1% of you out there with any brain cells you might want to check this out if you thought videogames couldn't be well written).