Should you have stepped foot in the vicinity of a major retailer during the recent several weeks, you are likely all too conscious that the height of Grinch mania is here. All around, festive trimmings, cheaply made underpants, and knock-off tumblers sporting the leering image of the Dr. Seuss holiday-despising figure are present. While this might seem a recent craze, the commercial Grinch machine has been around for many years, and the year 2000 merchandise-tie-in title The Grinch stands as among the most unnerving examples. Furthermore, its final sequence is the stuff of nightmares.
A Holiday Launch That Few Remembered
To coincide with the late 2000 release of Jim Carrey's iconic turn as the grumpy green creature, The Grinch game hit shelves for the PlayStation, Sega Dreamcast, and Windows PC. It was published by Konami, a renowned game publisher not typically known for upsetting fans. In essence, the story involves the Grinch having stolen the schematics he needs to execute his festive crime and embarking on a kid-friendly rampage around the Who village, pilfering and breaking gifts while trying to find his precious plans. You know, the usual festive villainy.
A Commercial and Critical Flop
In any case, The Grinch failed to sell especially well (reportedly selling around 20,000 copies) and got not much love. Critics at the time were not kind. One publication stated, "Although a handful of The Grinch's missions provide enjoyment, the rest are either boring, irritating, or a mix of both". Typical scores hovered around 5/10, which was considered a death sentence in that era too. As a result, like many, you've probably not seen the conclusion of this little-played title that very few people actually played or liked. Thankfully, a dedicated Twitter user is here to fill the gaps.
Much to his dismay, the Grinch begins to experience warm feelings regarding Yuletide. Through a line reading that fluctuates between tormented and drunk, he exclaims, "I adore you! And everyone! Even the Whos!" He then fly his sleigh from his mountaintop lair in order to give back all the gifts he stole, dropping them across Whoville's central plaza, and pleads for pardon from everyone gathered.
The Truly Unsettling Finale
It's at this point events take a dark turn: "Come sing along!" exclaims a cheerful Cindy Lou Who, as her ribbon-like arms undulate strangely, and her dentition intersects with her blocky, polygonal nose. Then all the unattractive, low-detail kids of Whoville sing an annoying song without moving their mouths. Fin. or so it seems?
The Bonus for Completionists
Due to online discovery, we now know that there was more content for this generic-brand Grinch: Should you complete the game, you gain a bonus ending that includes a slick bike and a bonus racing challenge located in Whoville.
Merry Christmas, Without the Grind
Clearly, nobody with sense ought to 100% The Grinch for PS1, however, it's a neat bonus for the game's four dedicated players. And now, because of digital archives, you can avoid having to play a minute of the frustrating levels to see the weirdness. Season's greetings to all, and to all a good night!
