Long-lost plot explanation to Grim Fandango - found, unscathed, hiding in the game files … for 13 years
In 1998, LucasArts released the epic Grim Fandango, widely regarded among old farts like me to be the last of the great adventure game genre. (We’ll ignore the twitch-inducing keyboard-interface for nostalgia’s sake.)
Now, in 2011, the plot to the game is finally revealed when benevolent hackers traipse around the insides of the game files and discover a host of unused dialogue files. In particular, one file stands out — because it explains the plot of the entire friggin’ game.
So, naturally, they dive in and learn that the file doesn’t play — and has never played since the game was released 13 years ago — because an ancient bug prevented it from appearing.
And you’re telling me no one caught this in testing? I mean, I know adventure games were on their ass in 1998, and I know LucasArts probably knew that and rushed the release a bit, and I know Grim Fandango is a monumentally huge game and an impressive feat in its own right …
But come on. The main plot explanation?! That’s beyond hilarious.
Maybe it wasn’t that important, considering the cult classic status Grim enjoys today. But now I’ll have to play that game all over again. Thank Jebus for the fine guys at Residual (an off-shoot of ScummVM).
