Grim Fandango
grim fandango adventure game directed tim schafer developed published lucasarts microsoft window first adventure game lucasarts use computer graphic overlaid prerendered static background lucasarts adventure game player must converse character examine collect use object solve puzzle grim fandango set land dead retrofuturistic version recently departed soul represented calacalike figure travel reach final destination story follows travel agent manuel manny calavera attempt save new arrival mercedes meche colomar virtuous soul journey game combine element aztec afterlife film noir style influence including maltese falcon waterfront casablanca grim fandango received praise art design direction selected several award often listed one greatest video game time however commercial failure contributed towards lucasarts decision end adventure game development decline adventure game genre help sony schafers studio double fine production acquired grim fandango license following disney acquisition closure lucasarts video game developer previous year double fine produced remastered version game featuring improved character graphic control including point click orchestrated score director commentary released linux o x playstation playstation vita window january android io may nintendo switch november xbox one october grim fandango adventure game player control manuel manny calavera calavera spanish skull follows mercedes meche colomar underworld game us grime engine prerendering static background model main object character animated additionally cutscenes game also prerendered player control mannys movement action keyboard joystick gamepad remastered edition allows control via mouse well manny must collect object used either collectible object part scenery people land dead order solve puzzle progress game game lack type hud unlike earlier lucasarts game player informed object person interest text floating screen player pass cursor instead fact manny turn head toward object person walk player review inventory item manny collected watching pull item coat jacket manny engage dialogue character conversation tree gain hint need done solve puzzle progress plot lucasarts adventure game player never die otherwise get nowin situation prevents completion game grim fandango take place land dead eighth underworld recently departed soul aim make way land eternal rest ninth underworld four year journey soul good deed life rewarded access better travel package provided department death assist making journey sport car luxury ocean cruise best number nine express train take four minute reach gate ninth underworld however soul lead kind life left travel land dead foot would take around four year soul often lose faith existence ninth underworld instead find job stay land dead travel agent department death act grim reaper escort soul land living land dead determine mode transport soul merited year day dead soul allowed visit family land living soul land dead appear skeletal calaca figure alongside demon summoned help mundane task daytoday life vehicle maintenance even drink service soul suffer deathwithindeath sprouted result shot sproutellafilled dart cause flower grow bone rapidly feeding calcium soul skeleton one sprouted reincarnated many character mexican occasional spanish word interspersed english dialogue resulting spanglish many character smoke following film noir tradition manual asks player consider every smoker game dead game divided four act taking place november day dead four consecutive year manuel manny calavera travel agent department death city el marrow forced job work debt power manny frustrated assigned client must take fouryear journey due poor living choice threatened fired bos copal come better client manny steal client mercedes meche colomar successful coworker domino hurley department computer assign meche fouryear journey even though manny belief guaranteed spot number nine luxury express train due pureness heart life manny went bos asking meche wait fixing issue meche start journey foot copal us reason arrest manny manny freed arrest sprouting salvador sal limones leader small underground organization lost soul alliance lsa warns domino rigging system deny many client double n ticket hoarding bos criminal underworld hector lemans lemans sell ticket exorbitant price afford sal recruit manny help lsa setting system pigeon mail providing group biometrics manny order access computer system department manny recognizes cannot stop hector present instead help driver speed demon glottis try find meche journey nearby petrified forest manny arrives small port city rubacava find beaten meche wait arrive year pass city rubacava grown manny run nightclub converted automat near edge forest manny see meche leaving port domino try stop stopped meche manny learns olivia ofrenda owner beatnik blue casket nightclub sprouted letting scandal known manny give chase manages get board leaving ship janitor year later promoted captain track coral mining plant edge world domino holding meche trap lure manny domino client ticket stolen also held used slave labor make profit coral mining way keep hector scandal quiet domino try convince manny take position plant seeing alternative spend rest eternity meche refuse rescuing meche manny defeat domino causing fall rock crusher manny along meche glottis soul held plant escape edge world three travel another year reach terminus number nine train ninth underworld gate keeper ninth underworld wont let soul progress without ticket mistakenly believing sold revealed wicked soul either paid debt tried cheat gate keeper fake stolen double n ticket gain entrance ninth underworld cause express train transform hell train sends soul board hell meanwhile glottis fallen deathly ill manny learns demon stationed terminus way revive glottis travel high speed restore glottis purpose summoned manny others devise makeshift fuel source create rocket train cart quickly taking manny meche back rubacava saving glottis life three return el marrow found fully hector control renamed nuevo marrow manny regroups sal expanded lsa help olivia volunteered join gang earlier rubacava able learn hector current activity investigation reveals hector hoarding number nine ticket created counterfeit version sold others keeping real ticket desperate attempt balance sinful life get land dead manny try confront hector lured another trap olivia revealed hector girlfriend also captured sal taken hector greenhouse sprouted manny able defeat hector sal sacrifice prevent olivia interfering manny meche able find real double n ticket including one meche received manny make sure rest ticket given rightful owner turn granted ticket good deed together manny meche board number nine happy journey ninth underworld glottis wave tearfully goodbye grim fandango development led project leader tim schafer codesigner day tentacle creator full throttle recent psychonauts brütal legend schafer conceived day deadthemed adventure production full throttle began submitted concept lucasarts approval time full throttle accepted instead greater mainstream appeal became hit opened way schafer create grim fandango rogue leader story lucasarts noted pitching process grim fandango breeze schafers earlier success despite new project unusual theme development began soon completion full throttle june grim fandango attempt lucasarts rejuvenate graphic adventure genre decline response complaint full throttle short schafer set goal twice many puzzle full throttle demanded lengthy ambitious story accommodate according schafer game developed million budget first lucasarts adventure since labyrinth use scumm engine instead using sith engine pioneered jedi knight dark force ii basis new grime engine grime engine built using scripting language lua design decision due lucasarts programmer bret mogilefskys interest language considered one first us lua gaming application game success led language use many game application including escape monkey island baldurs gate grim fandango mixed static prerendered background image character object part decision based calaca figure would appear three dimension set character game created rendered mannys character alone comprised polygon development team found utilizing threedimensional model prerender background could alter camera shot achieve effective dramatic angle certain scene simply rerendering background instead artist redraw background traditional adventure game team adapted engine allow mannys head move separately body make player aware important object nearby engine also aided choreography spoken dialog body arm movement character additionally full motion video cutscenes incorporated advance plot using ingame style character background make nearly indistinguishable actual game game combine several aztec belief afterlife underworld art deco design motif dark plot reminiscent film noir genre aztec motif game influenced schafers decadelong fascination folklore stemming anthropology class took university california berkeley talk folklorist alan dundes schafer recognizing fouryear journey soul afterlife would set stage adventure game schafer stated set afterlife setting thought role would person want play day dead scenario youd want grim reaper thats manny got job imagined picking people land living bringing land dead like he really glorified limo taxi driver idea came manny really mundane job look glamorous robe scythe really he punching clock schafer recounted mexican folklore dead buried two bag gold used afterlife one chest one hidden coffin spirit afterlife stole one chest would still hidden bag gold idea criminal element afterlife led idea crimeridden film noir style world division game four year way breaking game overall puzzle four discrete section year divided several nonlinear branch puzzle solved player could progress next year schafer opted give conversationheavy game flavor film noir set stating there something feel really honest way people talked thats different modern movie partially inspired novel written raymond chandler dashiell hammett several film noir movie also inspiration much game plot character tim schafer stated true inspiration drawn film like double indemnity weak undistinguished insurance salesman find entangled murder plot design early plot fashioned film chinatown glengarry glen ross several scene grim fandango directly inspired genre film maltese falcon third man key largo notably casablanca two character game second act directly modeled role played peter lorre claude rain film main villain hector lemans designed resemble sydney greenstreets character signor ferrari casablanca voice also modeled greenstreet complete trademark chuckle visually game drew inspiration various source skeletal character design based largely calaca figure used mexican day dead festivity architecture ranged art deco skyscraper aztec temple team turned lucasarts artist peter chan create calaca figure art ed big daddy roth used inspiration design hot rod demon character like glottis originally schafer come name deed dead game title originally planned manny real estate agent land dead potential title included long siesta dirt nap came title grim fandango game featured large cast voice acting game dialog cutscenes employing many latino actor help spanish slang voice actor included tony plana manny maria canalsbarrera meche alan blumenfeld glottis jim ward hector schafer credit plana helping deepen character manny voice actor native spanish speaker suggested alternate dialog game natural casual spanish conversation schafer planned beginning voice cast consist entirely latino performer originally game shipped first half delayed result game shipped october release october friday november actual date day dead celebration even delay team drop several puzzle character game including climactic fivestep puzzle hector lemans conclusion game schafer later noted would needed one two year implement original design acquisition right announcement remastered version grim fandango released linux o x playstation playstation vita window platform january playstation playstation vita version feature crossbuy crosssave later released android io may remastered version released playstation plus title month january remastered version predicated transition lucasarts developer publisher licensor publisher shortly acquisition disney new management lucasarts licensed several intellectual property ip including grim fandango outside developer schafer able acquire right game financial assistance sony started process building remaster within double fine production schafer said sale lucasarts disney reminded past effort former lucasarts president darrell rodriguez release older lucasarts title legacy property rerelease secret monkey island schafer also noted tried acquire property lucasarts year prior frequent change management stalled progress began inquire right disney lucasarts following acquisition found sony vice president publisher developer relation adam boyes also looking acquire right boyes stated sony interested working wide array developer playstation also inspired seek grim fandango seeing developer like capcom midway game revive older property boyes determination supported john vignocchi vp production disney interactive also shared memory game able bring contact track game asset discovering vying property schafer boyes agreed work together acquire ip subsequent funding planning make rerelease remastered version sony ask ip right game instead asking double fine give playstation platform console exclusivity exchange funding support similar pub fund scheme use support independent developer challenge major complication remastering original work many critical game file go missing archaic format large number backup file made digital linear tape dlt disneylucasarts able recover double fine company drive read tape former lucasarts sound engineer jory prum managed save dlt drive able extract game audio development data tape schafer noted time grim fandango original development retention code rigorous presentday standard case schafer belief copy file unintentionally taken employee left lucasarts schafer team going back past employee record try trace ask file may saved case difficulty identifying element lowresolution artwork original game emblem one character hat go looking original concept art figure design original asset identified used present classic look game remastered edition double fine worked improve overall look modern computer texture lighting model character improved particular manny schafer likened remastering approach criterion collection film release providing highfidelity version game without changing story character addition developer schafer reached player created unofficial patch graphical improvement original game modification needed keep running residualvm gained help improve game asset remastered version one feature modified control scheme converted game movement control tank control point clickstyle interface schafer said team used tank control popular game like resident evil time recognized work well within adventure game genre schafer contacted tobias pfaff created pointandclick modification obtain access code incorporate remastered version later development new feature double fine demonstrated inprogress version remastered game indiecade event october new feature included higherresolution texture improved resolution character model well realtime lighting model ability switch back forth presentation original graphic touch control remastered game run aspect ratio option stretch ratio rather render native ratio remaster includes improvement control scheme developed pfaffs patch alternate control scheme addition original tank like control including analogue control console version pointandclick control computer version game soundtrack fully orchestrated performance melbourne symphony orchestra also performed soundtrack double fine broken age remastered version also includes developer commentary activated via option menu listened various point game playstation version also feature cloud saving p vita version nintendo switch port released november double fine acquired xbox game studio grim fandango xbox one arrived grim fandango original soundtrack combine orchestral score south american folk music jazz bebop swing big band music inspired like duke ellington benny goodman well film composer max steiner adolph deutsch also various influence traditional russian celtic mexican spanish indian string culture composed produced peter mcconnell lucasarts others credited jeff kliment engineer mixed mastered han christian reumschüssel additional music production score featured live musician mcconnell knew made contact san franciscos mission district including mariachi band soundtrack released cd soundtrack well received ign called beautiful soundtrack youll find listening even youre done game semo said composition performance good listening album standalone basis make people feel like theyre bar back rpgfan said piece beautifully composed wonderfully played stellar soundtrack music easily stand alone outside context game cd absolute pleasure listen come highly recommended game revolution game review praised one memorable soundtrack ever grace inside cranial cavity eardrum used pc gamer list top game acclaimed grim fandango including one best soundtrack pc gaming history fact magazine also listed one best video game soundtrack time academy interactive art science interactive achievement award soundtrack nominated category outstanding achievement sound music also lauded gamespot awarded best pc music award included ten best pc game soundtrack list original pro tool sound file recovered peter mcconnell found sample used originally sound good team opted reorchestrate score game soundtrack fully orchestrated performance melbourne symphony orchestra remastered version game remade soundtrack produced nile rodgers label sumthing else standard release track well director cut extra track latter sold exclusively sumthing else included original score lucasarts archive new composition peter mcconnell new orchestral arrangement well new extended version jazz piece remixed sony computer entertainment america celebrating th anniversary original release game soundtrack released first time vinyl format grim fandango gained critical acclaim upon release aggregating review website metacritic gave game score critic lauded art direction particular gamespot rating visual design consistently great pc zone emphasized production whole calling direction costume character music atmosphere expertly done also commented game would make superb film san francisco chronicle stated grim fandango feel like wild dance cartoonish filmnoir adventure wacky character seductive puzzlefilled plot nearly invisible interface allow player lose game cinemagoers might get lost movie houston chronicle naming grim fandango best game along halflife complimented graphic calling jawdropping commented game full dark light humor ign summed review saying game best adventure game ever seen next generation reviewed pc version game rating five star five stated grim fandango smart beautiful enjoyable adventure game leave holding breath waiting grim fandango game also received criticism medium several reviewer noted difficulty experienced interface requiring certain learning curve get used selected camera angle puzzle poorly chosen use elevator game particularly noted troublesome review adventure gamers expressed dislike soundtrack time found heavy well suited game theme computer video game review also noted game continuous long data loading cdrom interrupted game spoil fluidity sequence cause niggling delay next generation listed grim fandango number top game time commenting grim offered adventure fan funny touching infuriating moment following character magnificently beautiful game grim fandango several award release pc gamer selected game adventure game year game igns best adventure game year gamespot awarded best e pc adventure game year pc game year best pc graphic artistic design best pc music award gamespot named grim fandango game year following year included game ten best pc game soundtrack selected th best pc ending readership grim fandango pc adventure game year aias nd annual interactive achievement award known dice award also nominated game year computer entertainment title year outstanding achievement artgraphics outstanding achievement character story development outstanding achievement sound music grim fandango included several publisher top game list well release gamespot inducted game greatest game time citing ask anyone played grim fandango agree one greatest game time gamespy also added game hall fame describing seventh underrated game time adventure gamers listed grim fandango seventh top adventure game time list top alltime adventure listed ign included game top pc game th top game time th citing lucasarts secondtolast stab classic adventure genre may well original brilliant one ever made grim fandango remained th top pc game igns list list award ranking initial estimate suggested grim fandango sold well holiday season debuted first week november pc data computer game sale chart average retail price absent second week united kingdom grim fandango claimed first place charttracks weekly sale chart december falling ninth place secured th four week th week mark game sold copy earned million united state end rose sale march according pc data grim fandango sold another unit region first six month jewel case sku reached sale according tim schafer game achieved sale approximately unit around fewer full throttle achieved commonly considered commercial failure even though lucasarts stated grim fandango met domestic expectation exceeded worldwide game become profitable although dave grossman said pretty ambitious expensive dont think made much money back writer edge summarized reputation flop isnt entirely accurate grims sale either indication people preferred motorbike gitanessmoking corps sign time adventure game simply way lucasarts proceeded produce escape monkey island canceled development sequel sam max hit road full throttle stating careful evaluation current market place reality underlying economic consideration weve decided appropriate time launch graphic adventure pc subsequently studio dismissed many people involved adventure game went set telltale game creating episodic series sam max game event along change video game market towards actionbased game seen primary cause decline adventure game genre grim fandango underperformance seen sign genre commercially dead rival sierra well lucasarts stated plan returning adventure game next decade ultimately studio stopped developing video game walt disney company acquisition lucasfilm dissolved shortly thereafter tim schafer left lucasarts shortly grim fandango release created company double fine production along many involved development grim fandango company found similar critical success first title psychonauts schafer stated strong interest fan would love go back spend time character game he worked sequel grim fandango previous game unlikely always want make something new help developer double fine telltale game adventure game saw resurgence financially successful title broken age walking dead wolf among u grim fandango remastered received similar positive reception original release many critic continuing praise game story character soundtrack also found developer commentary insightful history game reviewer disappointed lack autosave system well game receiving full highdefinition upgrade leaving higherresolution character somewhat place original background many reviewer also noted puzzle though staple day grim fandango first released remain somewhat obtuse solution clear even player solves hint system added monkey island remake would helpful game pacing also unchanged original version also found harder grasp pacing within game four act time taken move around room review eurogamer richard cobbett warned player careful rosetinted memory remastered version faithful original show aspect original game become outdated video game development wireds laura hudson considered remastered version highlighted original game artifact time exceptional piece interactive art wrapped inextricably around technology convention time way reveals limitation brilliance capable producing guardian characterized game last genuine classic come lucasarts company helped define adventure game tim schafers noirpastiche follows skullfaced manny calavera bureaucratic parody land dead look take mexican mythology art deco grim fandango unique artistic statement mainstream gaming managed offer loved devotee limited sale prompted lucasarts back away original adventure simply exploit franchise eurogamers jeffrey matulef retrospective look believed grim fandango combination film noir adventure game genre first kind natural fit due scriptheavy nature would later help influence game similar theme like ace attorney series la noire grim fandango considered representative title demonstrating video game art form game selected candidate public voting inclusion within smithsonian institution art video game exhibit museum modern art seek install game exhibit part permanent collection within department architecture design game included game master exhibition organized australian centre moving image acmi event devoted explore face history behind computer game tim schafer featured creative force behind grim fandango within exhibition section called game changer crediting along visionary game designer pushed boundary game design storytelling introducing new genre creating bestloved character revolutionising way understand play game grim fandango centerpiece large fan community game continued active year game release fan community include grim fandango network department death include fan art fiction addition original content interview kotaku announcement remaster schafer stated long considered idea grim fandango sequel expand setting game felt story would difficult component either would figure mean bring manny back final reward otherwise build story around new character one option considered alleviate issue creating adventure game using openworld mechanic similar grand theft auto series