Metacritic Games

Grim Fandango (PC Games)

Something's rotten in the Land of Dead and you're being played for a sucker. Meet Manny Calavera, travel agent at the Department of Death. He sells luxury packages to souls on their four-year journey to eternal rest. But there's trouble in paradise. Help Manny untangle himself from a conspiracy that threatens his very salvation. [LucasArts]

LucasArts
Adventure
Players: 1
T (Teen)
Developer: LucasArts
Released September 30, 1998

Overall Metascore

This is a weighted, normalized average of all individual scores given by critics, on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

94 / 100

Critic Reviews

100 Computer Games Magazine
The large cast of characters is unforgettable. Although for the most part they are skeletons in 40s garb, with mask-like faces that can be attributed to Day of the Dead festivities, their personalities render them as distinct and memorable as members of an extremely diverse cast from any fine film.
100 Just Adventure
Quite possibly one of the top five adventures of all time, and certainly in the Top Ten. The style, atmosphere, wit, creativity and inventiveness are what makes Grim Fandango remarkable.
100 Yahoo! Games
Everything in the game reeks of excellence. The characters are good, the story is intriguing and the Land of the Dead is a wonderful place.
100 Four Fat Chicks
This is what other adventure games only aspire to be. It is extremely well-written, well-executed, and above all, fun to play.
100 Cincinnati Enquirer
If the Academy Awards opened themselves to video games, Grim Fandango would be looking at a sweep. Best acting: Grim Fandango. Best script: Grim Fandango. Best cinematography: Grim Fandango. The game’s creators wouldn't have to leave the podium.
94 Game Over Online
With this title Lucasarts has completely revolutionized the adventure game genre much like Sierra did when it invented the clickable mouse interface.
94 IGN
Hands down the best adventure game we've ever seen...You'll love Grim Fandango's incredible art, storyline and character development.
93 Gamezilla!
I particularly liked the consistent film noir theme (especially a bit of homage paid to "Casablanca" in Year Two).
93 GameSpot
In addition to being a very good adventure game, it features great writing and beautiful art direction.
91 PC Gamer
A sure bet for the adventure crowd and anyone who appreciates a great story. [Jan 1999, p.186]
91 Game Revolution
One of the best, most thematic (Swing-Era Bebop and Jazz, Mexican folk, and others), and most memorable soundtracks ever to grace the inside of a cranial cavity where an ear drum used to be.
90 Happy Puppy
Looks so good that it took me a minute to figure out that the opening computer-generated cut scene was over and the gameplay had begun. The transition between cut scenes and gameplay is swift and seamless.
90 All Game Guide
An extraordinary adventure game. With its great story, beautiful artwork and fabulous voice acting, you'll be missing out by not giving this game a whirl.
90 Adventure Gamers
If you have been looking for a great game that combines humour, a great story, appealing graphics, and long game play with a reasonable price, then Grim Fandango is what you seek. Quality has never been so much fun.
87 TotalGames.net
GF doesn't really go anywhere new so don't expect too many surprises in that field, where it does excel is in keeping to the tried and tested Lucasarts formula of comedy and logic combined to give you the most senseless fun you can imagine.

CLOSE THIS WINDOW

©2006 CNET Networks Inc. All rights reserved.