Grim Fandango Remastered

 PC
Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 38 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 38
  3. Negative: 0 out of 38
  1. Ars Technica
    Dec 9, 2015
    If you can survive the rough edges, it’s a great chance to finally see what all the fuss is about or relive an adventure classic.

Awards & Rankings

30
#30 Best PC Game of 2015
54
#54 Most Discussed PC Game of 2015

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 373 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 285 out of 373
  2. Mixed: 53 out of 373
  3. Negative: 35 out of 373
  1. Midnitelouie
    Jan 28, 2015
    10
    Nostalgia aside, this is still one of the best adventure games ever created. However, I've noticed two differing styles of understandingNostalgia aside, this is still one of the best adventure games ever created. However, I've noticed two differing styles of understanding this...

    1.) Those who expect a very logical, concise set of puzzles, with a nice wrapping of a story around it.
    2.) Those who want to explore the nuances of the game. The style. The ambiance. The way that the game is structured. The "reading between the lines" of the morals, and themes of the story itself...

    If you're in category #1? Avoid this game at all costs. The game is about the sum of the parts being greater than an equal to the whole. (Much in the same way that Animal Farm is much more than just a story about talking animals running amok...) Some of the puzzles are just...odd. They don't seem to make 100% logical sense, and the game certainly isn't going to highlight the puzzle piece with a glowing exclamation point, or halo to let you know what you've missed.

    But...if you're in the second category, and you haven't played this yet? Then why, oh why, in the name of all things holy or not, are you even bothering to read this review? Get on your favorite platform, and get this ASAP. You'll be rewarded with the texture, style, and nuance of a finely crafted masterpiece.

    Playing Grim Fandango isn't about the jaw dropping graphics, or the smooth textures, or the latest in whiz-bang technology. (Which is what a lot of people who aren't steeped in the adventure genre don't quite get...) This game is about the Land of the Dead. It's about Manny Calavera. It's about the questions that plague everyone regarding life...death...and beyond.    … Full Review »
  2. kwrona
    Jan 28, 2015
    7
    The original game was a masterpiece! The plot, the themes, and overall feeling of it was superb. But that was in 1998!
    The remaster hardly    The original game was a masterpiece! The plot, the themes, and overall feeling of it was superb. But that was in 1998!
    The remaster hardly remastered anything at all. The backgrounds are still prerendered, propably in higher resolution. So are the cutscenes. It looks even morse now with the crisp colourful 3d models standing out of the scenery. Textures are still with minimalistic details. I expected more, and am disappointed.
    But overall - the game is brilliant, but remaster is more of a re-packaging of the same thing.    … Full Review »
  3. Rex_richards
    Jan 28, 2015
    4
    This game is lauded through history, but therein lies its problem. It is from an age when, hard, convoluted, often illogical puzzles were seenThis game is lauded through history, but therein lies its problem. It is from an age when, hard, convoluted, often illogical puzzles were seen as good. It is very easy to get lost, you might even need a notepad.
    So, like so many games it has a hype machine cranking up already, and reviews all banging on about the originality of the original not lost etc etc etc. Funny story etc etc. That's all fine, of course, but for someone like me who can't be bothered to think of all the weird possible connections between objects on the screen etc, and how things connect across scenes, who feels somehow cheated if I need to google an answer and look at a walkthrough... well, I know I am not really ever going to finish it and well, I have far too many games I got bored of and didn't finish. Most of those are because they got insanely hardor I had a break and forgot the myriad of controls. This time it is because I just won't have the patience to figure out every possible weird answer to every puzzle. In truth, I think because it wasn't published for so many years, that makes this game much more of a 'classic' and more easy to hype up. The stylised design has stood the test of time very well indeed, but... well... I'll stick with 'adventure' games like ethan carter and Brothers or more logical and simple puzzle games like Talos or Portal.    … Full Review »
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