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If you've ventured in the vicinity of a department store over the last six weeks, you are likely painfully aware that maximum Grinch saturation is in full swing. Everywhere you look, festive trimmings, low-quality underwear, and generic mugs sporting the grinning visage of that Seussian holiday-despising figure can be found. While this might seem a recent craze, the Grinch industrial complex has been around for a long time, and the 2000-era cash-grab video game The Grinch is perhaps a supremely unnerving examples. Plus, it has an ending is the stuff of sleepless nights.

A Holiday Launch That Few Remembered

To coincide with the turn-of-the-millennium release of Jim Carrey's starring role as the green-faced menace, The Grinch game hit shelves for the PlayStation, Sega Dreamcast, and Windows PC. Konami, the company behind it, is Konami, a video game giant that hasn't exactly made a habit of causing controversy. Fundamentally, the gameplay revolves around the Grinch having stolen the plans he needs to pull off his Christmas heist and undertaking a kid-friendly rampage across Whoville, pilfering and breaking packages while attempting to locate his precious plans. Y'know, typical Grinchery.

Poor Sales and Scathing Reviews

Regardless, The Grinch did not sell very well (moving only approximately 20,000 units) and seemed to garner scant praise. Critics at the time offered poor assessments. A review famously said, "While a scant few of The Grinch's tasks are fun, the rest are tedious, frustrating, or a mix of both". The average critical rating were in the region of a middling five, which constituted the kiss of death even 25 years ago. Consequently, just as I had, you likely never witnessed the finale of this largely forgotten release which hardly any people experienced or appreciated. Thankfully, an intrepid internet user is here to bridge the knowledge gap.

To his absolute horror, the Grinch begins to experience warm feelings regarding Yuletide. While delivering a voice performance that hovers somewhere between anguished and inebriated, he cries out, "I love you! And all of you! The Whos as well!" Then he proceeds to take his sleigh down from his mountain peak in order to give back the stolen items he stole, dropping them around the Whoville town square, and asks for forgiveness from all present.

The Disturbing Climax

It is then events take a creepy detour: "Join us in song!" chirps a cheerful Cindy Lou Who, with her pencil-thin arms flap like a jellyfish, and her teeth phase through her blocky, polygonal nose. Then all the ugly, ugly children of Whoville sing an annoying song with no lip movement. The end… or is it?

An Unlocked Ending

Due to online discovery, we now know that there was more plans for this generic-brand Grinch: If you 100% the game, you gain a bonus ending that features a slick bike and a bonus racing challenge that takes place in the village.

The Digital Christmas Miracle

Clearly, no sane person should attempt to 100% The Grinch for PS1, however, it's a fun little reward for this title's four dedicated players. Nowadays, thanks to the miracle of video sharing, you don't have to endure any of the actual gameplay to see the fun. Season's greetings to all, and to all a good night!