Grim Fandango?

[ABlackEyedPea]

One: Who remembers this game? It was the first LucasArts adventure game I ever played, and the second adventure game ever for me (the first being Starship Titanic). I recently got my old copy of it to work again on my Vista computer, and boy did I miss it! One of the best games I ever played, and my favorite Tim Schafer game ever. Including Psychonauts, although the Milkman Conspiracy kept me laughing like a hyena ("look at that woman. Her breasts are large").

Two: Who thinks Telltale should make not necessarily a sequel, but something set in the same world? I think it'd be perfect for their episodic set-up, assuming they go with the four-year-journey thing. Four years, four episodes. It'd be a different flavor from Sam & Max, and even if it's not nearly as good as the original, it'll definitely boost the commercial flop's popularity.

I've also noticed that GF's lip-syncing method has never been topped since, except maybe by Half-Life.

[tredlow]

This game, and suggestions of a sequel/spin-off of it by Telltale has been posted several times on the forums, you know. With most of the people here being LucasArts fans, it's kind of inevitable to not mention.

Also, in my opinion, Full Throttle is the Tim Schafer classic that needs a Telltale series the most. That world had so much potential, it'd be a waste to not create more.

[jeeno0142]

I think YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!

Just so everyone knows where I stand with this.

[Yohmi]

Grim Fandango is a wonderful game. If TTG wants to make tales of ninth heaven, it must have a very strong quality story (a LOT better writing than ToMI, for example), and must have incredible set design and music.

Grim Fandango seems to match with episodic format (the original game is already episodic), but it must have a very good overall plot. Grim Fandango needs a very strong background, I'm not sure Telltale have the shoulders for that…

And I'm not sure they can redo such a good lipsyncing, yeah. :P

For sure, I'd love to see GF back, but on the other hand, I prefer the license to rest in peace than to pop out with an average come back.

[ABlackEyedPea]

Sequel or not, it definitely needs some more recognition, beyond what it has now.

Honestly, I didn't like Full Throttle as much as I did Grim Fandango. The motorcycle segments were extremely sub-par and broke the flow of the game.

I think Telltale's up to the task of great writing, they just haven't exactly had a requirement for it as of yet, or they just don't want to waste. Monkey Island and Sam & Max are both more ridiculous series that use more slapstick than anything else. Grim Fandango has a drier sense of humor as is overall more down-to-earth. It'd be a great challenge for their team, and I'm sure at least one of their developers would be willing to try it.

[tredlow]

Well actually, in my opinion, Grim Fandango is like Nightmare Before Christmas; the story's so pure, you really don't need a sequel. A spin-off might work, but I prefer it be made by Tim Schafer personally. Maybe he can work with Telltale or something, like what they do with pretty much all their games, but I'm worried that it'd end up being average.

Anyway, after seeing what Telltale can do with Sam and Max season 3, I actually want to see them make Full Throttle more. The thing about Full Throttle is that it was too short, and the world looked really interesting and beautiful. Yeah, the biking parts weren't that great, but that was years ago, and now with the technology available, they could do countless more ideas with the biking scenes.

I do agree with you, though, that Grim Fandango deserves more recognition. But inside the Adventure Gaming community, I think everyone knows it already.

[JedExodus]

First and foremost, Grim Fandango needs a fully Vista/XP/Win 7 rerelease on Steam.

I'd love to see a sequel episodic or not, but id be very very frightened of it tarnishing the GF legacy (there was no such problems with ToMI as Monkey 4 (and 3 for some even) had soured the series for quite a few)

[SHODANFreeman]

http://www.wolfire.com/humble

The 10th highest donator has an interesting name.

[Friar]

I unfortunately have yet to play it, however i would love to see a sequel! It would get the original to be re-released on steam!

[Avistew]

Sounds like as good a time as any to mention that I've never finished that game.
It always bugged in the water level. I've played up to that point 3 or 4 times, but then it bugged. I bought the game twice, played on different computers, same bug at the same point.

At this point, I think I'd be much too frustrated to replay it all even if I had a working copy. It's a shame because I enjoyed the game.

[ABlackEyedPea]

If you said the Dig needed a sequel, I'd answer with a resounding "no." A special edition, maybe. But in most regards, the game was fine by itself, as even though it opened up a whole 'nother world, it was linear as far the characters went. It wasn't meant to be continuous, as it was a story with a message in mind. You don't make a sequel to the Tortoise and the Hare for the same reason.

Grim Fandango and Full Throttle were more comedic at heart (FT much less so), but the characters were part of a bigger world with thousands MORE possibilities. The world was alive in both games, and there was definite room for expansion beyond the primary plot.

[Alcoremortis]

Sounds like as good a time as any to mention that I've never finished that game.
It always bugged in the water level. I've played up to that point 3 or 4 times, but then it bugged. I bought the game twice, played on different computers, same bug at the same point.

At this point, I think I'd be much too frustrated to replay it all even if I had a working copy. It's a shame because I enjoyed the game.

Is it the point when you need to get on the chain and ride it out of the water? And it looks like Manny has decided to do a spaztastic dance for no apparent reason?

Cause I had very similar issues with that part. Actually, my computer had issues with the entire game...it took me nearly three months to get it working at all. I did get past that part (after a long time), and if you want, I think I have a saved game that I always use get past that bit.
:D

[tredlow]

Is it the point when you need to get on the chain and ride it out of the water? And it looks like Manny has decided to do a spaztastic dance for no apparent reason?

Cause I had very similar issues with that part. Actually, my computer had issues with the entire game...it took me nearly three months to get it working at all. I did get past that part (after a long time), and if you want, I think I have a saved game that I always use get past that bit.
:D

If that's the case, pause, save the game, then load the game, and he'll stop. That's how I fix mine.

[Alcoremortis]

If that's the case, pause, save the game, then load the game, and he'll stop. That's how I fix mine.

Yeah, that's how I got through it the first time, but I find it easier to just use the saved game. That bit's not really a puzzle, so I don't feel guilty about skipping it.:D

[tredlow]

Yeah, that's how I got through it the first time, but I find it easier to just use the saved game. That bit's not really a puzzle, so I don't feel guilty about skipping it.:D

Well, in mine, he keeps doing that even though I already saved. So, I had to save again, quit the program, enter the program, then load the game.

[Alcoremortis]

Well, in mine, he keeps doing that even though I already saved. So, I had to save again, quit the program, enter the program, then load the game.

Ah, Grim Fandango! The trials and tribulations that we go through just to make it through the game!

I am now inspired once more to attempt fix the sound issues that I have for the cutscenes. The ones that go: "S-s-sorry f-f-for t-t-the w-wait M-mister F-f-flores."

[tredlow]

Another problem I had is that Glottis' head keeps shaking rapidly when we talk to him the first time, though that just made it funnier.

[Alcoremortis]

Before I fixed (sorta) my game, I would always hit a glitch when looking at the the bread rolls. Manny would do this funny little dance while saying "The Bread of the Dead" over and over again until I quit the game. Entertaining and annoying at the same time.:D

[JedExodus]

I remember back in the day reading that you had to artificially slow down your CPU to get past the chain bit but I could never get it to work. I replayed the game on an even faster CPU a few years later and it gave me no issues at all, tis a strange one

[Avistew]

It doesn't ring a bell as being the point where I was stuck. Although it's been years, so maybe?
Maybe I'll read a walkthrough one day an pinpoint where it is that it would bug.

[ABlackEyedPea]

It may be that puzzle in the big vault in Year 3

[Ezny]

Grim Fandango is just about the only hugely famous adventure game [as far as AG's go] I haven't played before... I really should, apparently.

Oh and LOOM haven't played that either.. Should I be ashamed?

[Alcoremortis]

Yes.

[Ezny]

Hmmm is this fixable? Or are these games lost forever to the dimension of left footed socks? [LOOM & GF]

errr in other words where can I buy them, if at all? Same goes for HtR btw if anyone knows.

[Alcoremortis]

You can get LOOM on Steam, I believe and Grim Fandango can be found on Amazon and eBay. That's where I picked them up anyway.

[tredlow]

I have LOOM, and haven't even finished it yet.

[Ezny]

Hmmm, thanks for info!

I need to get Hit the Road first and foremost though... I'll get on that soon.

[VeronicanPlay]

I watched my brother play this, years ago. But I can't remember anything from it, only that he stopped playing it because it crashed at a certain point.

But I was always glued to the monitor when he was playing back in the days :)

[taumel]

Great adventure with fantastic music, dense atmosphere, interesting characters, wonderful voices, soso riddles and the most awful steering experience ever. Manuel, i was looking at that!

Always worth watching the playthrough: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXzyB0nMCQ0&feature=related

[Cay Reet]

I simply loved the game, too, when I played it years ago. The whole atmosphere is great, the music and the voices are, too. The story kept me playing and playing and playing until I had finally made it through the underworld. I really would like to see a new version of the game (or at least a good sequel).

[Alcoremortis]

I don't understand why everyone hates the interface on Grim Fandango so much. I mastered it in about thirty seconds and never gave it a second thought. Maybe its because I'd only played WASD controlled games before, but I really liked not having to use the mouse and having the ability to run everywhere (though I would have preferred maps like the Monkey Island games had). I guess I'm a console gamer at heart even though I don't own a console of any sort...

[doodo!]

I just bought my copy, have a box, really cool sleeve that it came in. Is fun so far but haven't played it through.

[Jenny]

I just played Loom a few days ago. It took me a few hours to complete. It went a lot faster than I thought it would. I didn't even look at any hints. I just wrote down the musical notes on a piece of paper. The end was really pretty. I kind of want it as my wallpaper now. :p

I should find Grim Fandango on amazon. I feel awful for not playing it yet, especially since I've talked to that guy in the Scumm bar about it every time I've replayed SMI for the last 20 years.

[thedavehooker]

I love this. I want to find a copy so I can play it again. If only it was available on Steam. :/

[guitarsareboring]

I finally finished it the other day. Had to resort to the walkthrough a couple of times, mainly because there were things I hadn't noticed like the fact that you can walk over to the lighthouse and the secret room in the lift of the kitchen in the VIP lounge. Fantastic game with a wonderfully engaging story.

[doodo!]

I just played Loom a few days ago. It took me a few hours to complete. It went a lot faster than I thought it would. I didn't even look at any hints. I just wrote down the musical notes on a piece of paper. The end was really pretty. I kind of want it as my wallpaper now. :p

I should find Grim Fandango on amazon. I feel awful for not playing it yet, especially since I've talked to that guy in the Scumm bar about it every time I've replayed SMI for the last 20 years.

SMI? Grim Fandango, or Loom? I think you mean Loom, right? Grim Fandango is in CMI, Blonde Beard's restaurant.

[Jenny]

SMI? Grim Fandango, or Loom? I think you mean Loom, right? Grim Fandango is in CMI, Blonde Beard's restaurant.

Oh yeah, you're right. Loom was in the Scumm Bar, and the reference to GF was in Blonde Beard's.

[doodo!]

Oh yeah, you're right. Loom was in the Scumm Bar, and the reference to GF was in Blonde Beard's.

I think you already knew that, you just mis-spoke.

[Jenny]

I think you already knew that, you just mis-spoke.

Yep, let's go with that. I had Loom on the mind. ;)

[adventureaddict]

Don't hate me but..
I didn't like GF that much at all. :(
Sat down with a walkthrough to finish the game, otherwise I wouldn't have bothered finishing it at all.

[jeeno0142]

Don't hate me but..
I didn't like GF that much at all. :(
Sat down with a walkthrough to finish the game, otherwise I wouldn't have bothered finishing it at all.

I cry at such news.:(

[Didero]

I think playing an adventure game with a walkthrough sucks all the fun right out. Most of the fun comes from finding out how to solve the puzzles by yourself.
So maybe you would've enjoyed it better if you hadn't used a walkthrough :)

That's just a general opinion though, I haven't played Grim Fandango myself.

[tredlow]

Yeah, I mostly played Grim Fandango using walkthroughs as well. I think I started using it after leaving Rubacava.

[guitarsareboring]

I think sometimes a walkthrough is necessary though because wandering around for hours with no clue as to what you need to do is no fun at all.

[Vainamoinen]

Well actually, in my opinion, Grim Fandango is like Nightmare Before Christmas; the story's so pure, you really don't need a sequel.

I really enjoyed Grim Fandango; since XP, however, I have been unable to get it to run without all-too frequent crashes. ScummVM, buying a new release in 2006, starting it with a fan-modified .exe, nothing worked. So I'm stuck with my memories about the game.

Sequel or spin-off, fine; but what about that third option: a REMAKE in Telltale-Style? Possibly with a few added riddles and dialogue to expand the experience? What do you think of that?

[Alcoremortis]

I got Grim Fandango to run on my XP by emulating a Windows 95. Works fine except for sound glitches. I think there's a more permanent and less buggy solution available on this (http://www.lucasforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=236) support forum, but I can't remember which thread.

[guitarsareboring]

I had trouble getting it to work but found if I installed it using the fanmade installer it worked just fine. This is on Windows 7.

[Vainamoinen]

I had trouble getting it to work but found if I installed it using the fanmade installer it worked just fine. This is on Windows 7.

I tried exactly the same thing, and the game started with massive graphic problems. Also, it crashed 30 seconds later, so I gave up the attempt...

[soulfood2go]

OMG!! It's one of my all time favorite games!! XD

<3<3<3<3<3 PLEASE PICK UP GRIM FANDANGO, TELLTALE!!! <3<3<3<3<3