If you've ventured close to a big-box store over the last month and a half, it's probable you're all too conscious that the height of Grinch mania is in full swing. In every direction, festive trimmings, bargain-bin undergarments, and imitation drinkware adorned with the grinning visage of the Dr. Seuss yuletide-loathing character are ubiquitous. Although this may appear a contemporary phenomenon, the vast Grinch merchandise empire has operated for quite some time, and the year 2000 merchandise-tie-in title The Grinch is perhaps one of the most disturbing instances. Furthermore, its final sequence could nightmares.
A Holiday Launch That Few Remembered
Celebrating the late 2000 arrival of Jim Carrey's lead performance as the grumpy green creature, The Grinch game was launched for PS1, Dreamcast, and personal computers. The publisher was Konami, a video game giant not typically known for causing controversy. The basic plot centers on the Grinch having stolen the blueprints he needs to pull off his Christmas heist and embarking on a kid-friendly rampage across Whoville, pilfering and breaking gifts while attempting to locate his important papers. You know, typical Grinchery.
Poor Sales and Scathing Reviews
In any case, The Grinch failed to sell very well (to the tune of around 20,000 copies) and appeared to receive scant praise. Contemporary reviewers were not kind. One critic wrote, "While a scant few of The Grinch's missions provide enjoyment, the others are either tedious, frustrating, or both". Most review scores hovered around a middling five, a rating that was a death sentence even back then. As a result, similar to most people, you've probably not seen the ending of this little-played title which hardly any people actually played or found enjoyable. Thankfully, an intrepid internet user has taken it upon themselves to provide the missing pieces.
To his absolute horror, the Grinch is overcome by fond sentiments about Christmas. Amid an impression that hovers somewhere between tormented and drunk, he cries out, "I adore you! And everyone! Including the Whos!" Then he proceeds to take his sleigh from his mountaintop lair to return every present he took, tossing them in the village center, and asks for forgiveness from everyone gathered.
The Truly Unsettling Finale
This is when things take a sinister twist: "Come sing along!" exclaims an upbeat Cindy Lou Who, while her string-like limbs wave like tentacles, and her teeth clip through her low-poly nose. Then all the crudely rendered youngsters of Whoville chant a grating tune without moving their mouths. Curtain. or maybe not?
An Unlocked Ending
Thanks to online discovery, we now know that the developers had even greater content for this generic-brand Grinch: If you 100% the game, you gain a secret conclusion that includes a radical ride and a bonus racing challenge set in Whoville.
A Reward for the Few
Without a doubt, no sane person ought to fully complete The Grinch for PS1, but it is a neat bonus for its tiny fanbase. Nowadays, thanks to the miracle of online video, it's unnecessary to endure any of the tedious gameplay to get in on the weirdness. Season's greetings to all, and and sleep tight!
