"LucasArts WILL NOT let adventure games die"

You know, it's sad. Adventure gaming used to be one of the most popular genres in computer gaming. Games like the Space and King's Quest Series by Sierra On-line. But sadly, Sierra gave up on adventure, the latest King's Quest was more of a action game than a adventure. LucasArts, however, still care very deeply about adventures. As a matter of fact, when their not busy with a Star Wars game, you can bet your Wookie there making another one. Not only that, but each one seems better than the last. If it's one thing LucasArts have taught me, is it knows nothing of death...or do they? Meet Manny Calaveria, Travel Agent for the Land of the Dead.

GRAPHICS 9/10

This is LucasArts first 3d adventure, but it doesn't show. All the characters look and move in a realistic manner. All backgrounds are pre-rendered, meaning you can't control the camera. (Because it's a picture.) Most characters in the game are skeletons. No skin, no eyeballs, no lips....just a skeleton with clothes. Yet, they all have excellent facial features, especially Manny. It's so good in fact, the female characters even look pretty.

The game supports 3D Acceleration, and makes good use of it. If your computer is powerful enough to handle it, use it. Without it, characters look a little blocky. But, you would realize it unless you played in Hi-Res mode.

GAMEPLAY and DESIGN 8/10

Like all LucasArt adventures before it, Manny must collect items and solve puzzles. But, unlike the others, you don't use the mouse. You use the keyboard or a Joystick. Needless to say, it will take you awhile to get used to. There are two modes, Camera and First Person. In Camera Mode, left and right turns, and up moves forward, regardless what direction your facing. Reminds me of Resident Evil. First Person is much better, hold left, go left.

Wait, with no mouse, how to you interacts with stuff? That's easy, with Manny. Unlike all other LucasArts games, you must walk around a room to find what you need. If Manny passes by something noteworthy, he'll turn his head. There are several things you can do there: Look at, pick up, use, or inventory. It seems easy, and most of the time it is, but sometimes it messes up. (Example: In the first release of the game, when you USE a elevator, you would walk in the opposite direction. I think they fixed that, however.) It's sometimes hard to pick up the right item if they are side by side.

The best thing about this game, is it really pulls you into it's world.

SOUND 10/10

LucasArts never disappoints when it comes to sound and music. (Save for ''The DIG''....shudder) Character voices are excellent. The actor who does Manny's voice really fits the mood, and that goes for everyone else in the game. Music is also up there. One major theme in the game is ''Film Noir'', you know, gangsters and all. Music sound like 40's/50's era. (I guess, I wasn't alive then...)

Let me say right now, Glottis the Demon is one of the best supporting characters in a long time.

STORY 10/10

Without a story, sometimes a adventure game just doesn't seem worth playing. Grim Fandango is NOT one of those games. The story is one big mystery, and it's up to you to solve it.

Your Manny, a Grim Reaper working for the Department of Death, It's you job to go to the Land of the Living and collect departed souls, and give them travel packages for their Four Year Journey of the Soul. Packages range from a walking stick to a ticket on the Number Nine Train, depending on how well they lived their life.

Lately, Manny's been getting some pretty crappie clients, while his competitor, Domino, has been getting great ones. What's going on? Then things go haywire when Manny meets a woman named Meche, and the pieces begin to fit together. Somethings not right in the Land of the Dead, and your in the middle of it.

Great story, filled with mystery, romance, comedy, and demon beavers.

REPLAY VALUE 7/10

Once you beat it, you'll probably won't play it for awhile. But come back in a after that while, and you'll have a blast.

GRIPES

Can't think of much, besides some little things. I had the game lock up a few times, but just once or twice. There are not many in-jokes in this game. Sigh, no ''I'm selling these fine, leather jackets.'' or a cameo by Max the Rabbit....it would have been cool to see him as a skeleton. On the up side, the Corley Motors logo from Full Throttle is in the game! (It's near the end, look for it!)

OVERALL 10./10

Grim Fandango is LucasArts best adventure since Curse of Monkey Island, an that was the last one they released before this one. That says something. It's sad, though. Grim Fandango, and most other adventure games, won't sell like hot cakes anymore. They are special gems that, when found, are the best things in the world. LucasArts have proved to me time and again, that they will not let the genre die. And Grim Fandango is living proof of this fact.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 04/17/00, Updated 11/09/02