"A near perfect adventure game that is a joy to revisit time and time again."
Graphics 9.5/10: Simply Stunning. Whilst the actual graphics themselves are not jaw dropping (though still excellent), what continues to amaze me is the impressive attention to detail, and the wonderfully original mix of aztec and mexican locations, juxtaposed with art deco-inspired cities dripping with a dark film-noir atmosphere.
Sound 10/10: Probably the best and most entertaining voice acting ever in a game. The voice actors all really get into their characters and they aren't lazy with their reading, which can really come across in games such as these. their accents all sound authentic and just adds to the wonderful atmosphere of the game. the writing is just a joy to listen to as well, and the sharply humorous dialogue keeps the game entertaining when you aren't solving puzzles or admiring the wonderful graphics.
And the music, oh the music. such a wonderful mix of music that really gels with the atmosphere of the game. youll hear mexican inspired horns, cool noir inspired jazz, and many other tunes that never get dull or monotonous.
Gameplay 9/10: The puzzles themselves (which is what you will trying to solve for the majority of the game) are excellent. of course some are silly, and require a lot of trial and error, which can get slightly frustrating, but the vast majority are not the usual "tear your hair out" puzzles. with logic, common sense and a bit of creative thinking, you can solve nearly all the puzzles in this game. very rarely will you get so stumped you will have to consult the walkthru, and the difficulty level feels almost perfect. The only blemish on this game's outstanding record is the movement controls. i know it was a brave step by lucasarts to move away from the standard point and click gameplay, but it isnt as frustrating and as time consuming as walking manny around every area and seeing where he tilts his head towards. still, a minor quibble, and the rest of the games outstanding features make this almost negligible.
Story 9.5/10: I really dont want to say too much about the wonderful story in Grim Fandango, as it will have such a greater impact if the reader experiences it fresh, without pre-conceptions. in short, our hero Manny Calavera is stuck in the land of the dead, a kind of limbo or purgatory, where he must work in order to earn his way into 'heaven'. his job is a sort of travel agent, selling packages for the newly dead to travel to heaven; the good people get a ticket on the number 9, a luxurious and speedy trip. the bad people get a walking cane. Manny's (after)life is turned upside down the day he meets the lovely Mercedes Colomar, who is as saintly as they come.
The story is terrific, wonderfully creative and original. It could only have come from a guy like Tim Schafer and his team, responsible for other amazing lucasarts adventures such as Monkey Island and Full Throttle. a darkly humorous noir adventure, it is entertaing from start to finish.
Overall 9.5/10: Probably my favourite adventure game of all time, a near flawless masterpiece that im so proud to have in my collection. Like a fine-wine, this game reputation will only grow finer with age, and will be enjoyed by gamers for years to come. HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!!!