The writing of Grim Fandango is smart, the writing for the Star Wars franchise in general is dull. The writing in Grim Fandango is tight, literate, well-researched, and funny. The scope of the story is vast and exotic yet timeless; it's a romance without being sappy, it's dark without being nihilistic, it's a comedy without being too goofy. The balance struck between light humor and the macabre is an amazing feat in itself. There is violence in Grim Fandango but it isn't gratuitous, it advances the story. The characters are charming and memorable. The emotion is real. The puzzles are brilliant. The design is elegant, the inventory in particular. The music is catchy and fitting for the noir setting. The visuals are sumptuous, colorful. My only gripe is that I'd prefer if it had been hand-drawn, but the 3-D is symptomatic of the problem with video games in general-- the lowest common denominator "gamers" are more interested in polygons than real quality.
I'm not interested in "gamers," never have been. So I freely admit that my opinions on games are not going to get much traction with the gamers playing halo on their xbox between bong rips. I like to challenge my mind with puzzles, and enjoy a humor and art in my games. It's a cerebral pleasure.