History VideoGame / GrimFandango

* CrapsackWorld: Because of the way the Eighth Underworld works, it's kind of inevitable that it ended up this way: all the best people skipped it completely and went straight into heaven ([[spoiler:or, once Hector's conspiracy begins, were sent to the End of the World to harvest glowing coral]]), so as a result, its almost entirely populated with dishonest, corrupted low-lifes at best and dangerous, deadly criminals at worst. That said, the little of the land we do see seemed at least tolerable until [[BigBad Hector]] showed his ugly mug.

For the longest time, ''Grim Fandango'' was not given a digital rerelease, meaning that in order for the game to play on Windows 7, [[http://www.pcworld.com/article/239339/how_to_play_grim_fandango_on_your_windows_7_pc.html some creativity was required.]] This was rectified when a remastered edition for UsefulNotes/{{PS4}}, UsefulNotes/PSVita, PC, Mac, and Linux was released on January 27th, 2015. The PC version is available from [[http://store.steampowered.com/app/316790/ Steam]] and [[http://www.gog.com/game/grim_fandango_remastered GOG]]. The remaster was eventually released for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch on November 1, 2018 and the UsefulNotes/XboxOne on October 29, 2020.

** SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan: Apparently, Lola has a history of bad men because she thinks that's all she deserves, and it was her affection for one of Olivia's boyfriends, Maximino, that led to her [[spoiler:getting sprouted]]. However, she admits she was interested in Manny, but felt he was too good for her.

* BearHug: Glottis gives one to Manny [[spoiler:before [[TearJerker he leaves forever to the Ninth Underworld]].]]

* AnachronismStew: A completely {{Justified}} example: the game takes place in the afterlife, so people from many different time periods live there.

* WorldOfSnark: Possibly the most {{Justified}} example in history: Everybody's dead, and the game takes place in what's basically Purgatory.

* BaldWoman: With the unexplained exception of Eva (a wig, perhaps?), all skeletal characters in the story are bald. The women usually make up for it by wearing a CoolHat or just have "hair marks" as males have "facial hair marks".

** The entire concept of sprouting. When you're sprouted, you're pushing up daises (or marigolds or tulips.) Lampshaded by Hector, expecting lilies when he shoots Don (lilies being funeral flowers), and Membrillo ("We may have years, we may have hours, in the end, we push up flowers.")

** The entire concept of sprouting. When you're sprouted, you're pushing up daises (or marigolds or tulips.) Lampshaded by Hector, expecting lilies when he shoots Don (lilies being funeral flowers), and Membrio ("We may have years, we may have hours, in the end, we push up flowers.")

** The entire concept of sprouting. When you're sprouted, you're pushing up daises (or marigolds or tulips.) Lampshaded by Hector, expecting lilies when he shoots Don (lilies being funereal flowers), and Membrio ("We may have years, we may have flowers, in the end, we push up flowers.")

** The entire concept of sprouting. When you're sprouted, you're pushing up daises (or marigolds or tulips.)

* JustBetweenYouAndMe: This is what Manny anticipates when he confronts Hector in his greenhouse. [[spoiler: [[WrongGenreSavvy He]] [[SubvertedTrope was]] [[WhyDontYouJustShootHim wrong]].]]

* UnwinnableByMistake: The elevator puzzle in Year 2 is unsolvable on modern computers without patching the game or slowing down the processor speed. Through excessive experimentation, it is also possible to end up in Year 3 without the scythe, which, being Manny's main tool, is used in quite a few puzzles there.

* TwoDVisualsThreeDEffects: All backgrounds in the game are painted in a 3D-looking style, but all the character models are actually 3D. It was and still is a little distracting.

** The entirety of Year 2 is one TO ''Film/{{Casablanca}}'' largely due to Manny's beautiful white dinner jacket. So good it made it on to the box art.

** The entirety of Year 2 is one ''to Film/Casablanca'' right down to Manny's beautiful white dinner jacket. So good it made it on to the box art.

* FamousLastWords: In full keeping with [[spoiler: Domino's]] KarmicDeath:
-->'''[[spoiler: Domino]]:''' I don't believe you, Calevera! You're losing a fight, so you pick on one of my ''pets''?! Why aren't you more like ''me'', Manny? I've been trying to show you how but you don't listen! [[AnalogyBackfire If you'd just adopt the proper attitude,]] [[TemptingFate just look what could happen to you!]]

---->'''Glottis''': Hey! ''That's not funny''!

* NobodyPoops: Weirdly averted, in that there's a men's room in the casino in Year 4 that Manny can use. Somehow.

* NobodyPoops: Weirdly averted- there's a men's room in the casino in Year 4 that Manny can use. Somehow.

* NonAnswer: When a dying Lola asks if she and Manny had a chance, Manny cannot bring himself to say "yes" to let her GoOutWithASmile, and instead of being honest, just looks away. Lola takes it for a "no", and says "Never mind".

* NonMammalMammaries: Female souls have bulges on their chests despite technically being skeletons. Then again, they're based more on ''calaca'' figurines than on actual skeletons, and several characters also manage to be [[FatBastard noticeably fat]], so... InvisibleAnatomy?

* TwoDVisualsThreeDEffects: All backgrounds in the game are painted in a 3D-looking style, but all the character models are actually 3D. It's a little distracting, especially now that it's over fifteen years old.

** A peculiar, naturally enforced variant. Demons like Glottis are created to maintain various machines vital to the infrastructure of the Land of the Dead that human souls can't fulfil (since their stays are supposed to be temporary). They each have one specific function and desire. Any spirit of the land that is no longer able to do the job which it was created for will slowly weaken and then die. The Maintenance Demon is able to avoid this by basically making a vague connection between maintenance and his new job as a bodyguard. Glottis himself was created "'''''TO DRIVE!'''''," but since he wasn't allowed to drive anything, being an auto-mechanic was close enough. [[spoiler:He comes close when he's barred from even that for an entire year.]]

%%* MadScientist: The Florist.

%%* MissingFloor: In Maximino's club.

* MundaneUtility: Manny's scythe is used for a vast number of puzzles, but he only uses it properly (i.e. reaping) twice; freeing Bruno, and [[spoiler:cutting the flowers hiding Salvador's body.]]

-->'''Manny:''' (''calling'') [[RefugeInAudacity Hey, Dom, what's your password?]]
-->'''Domino:''' (''offscreen'') Get away from my computer, Manny.

* HyperspaceArsenal: Manny keeps everything he needs in the pockets of his suit, including things like a fire extinguisher and his folded-up scyhthe. One explanation could be that he's tucking them into his ribs. Averted once: you can't put a mug of hot coffee into your inventory, and even when you're done using it, you still have to put it down in order to climb a long ladder.

* AlasPoorYorick: In the end, with [[spoiler:Salvador's head]].

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Mostly averted - the game has a well-exercised T rating, so most of the mature content is expected and acceptable. That said, one comment by [[FemmeFatale Olivia]] does raise eyebrows even by those standards. (Keep in mind, Olivia is having an affair):
-->'''Manny:''' Do you think Nick would hurt [Lola]?
-->'''Olivia:''' Only if he finds her, and, take it from me, Manny: he's not good at finding things.

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: Manny finally reaches the Ninth Underworld, yet has to leave behind his best friend Glottis as he goes into the unknown.]]

* CulturalTranslation: The Robert Frost balloon is changed to [[{{Franchise/TinTin}} Captain Haddock]] in France.

** Sherlock Holmes in Brazil

** [[spoiler: According to WordOfGod in the [[DVDCommentary Director's Commentary]], they're reincarnated.]]

* DoubleMeaning: When Manny [[spoiler:saves himself from being sprouted]] with liquid nitrogen, he breathes, "Gracias, Toto Santos!" Toto Santos is the name of the scrimshaw artist he got it from, and "Gracias, Todos Santos" basically means "Amen". ("Thank you, all saints.")

* TheDragon: Domino Hurley.

** In Year 3, Domino briefly mentions his distaste for "hotrods" and references coming across the Bone Wagon during a visit to Rubacava. [[spoiler: [[PostMortemComeback Turns out he set some booby traps while he was there]].]]

* DoubleMeaning: When Manny [[spoiler:saves himself from being sprouted]] with liquid nitrogen, he breathes, "Gracias, Toto Santos!" Toto Santos is the name of the scrimshaw he got it from, and "Gracias, Toto Santos" basically means "Amen". ("Thank you, all saints.")