Heroes of Time: Meet Cristian Grillo

Hello guys, and thank you for this opportunity.

My story as an enthusiast began nearly half a century ago, when I climbed onto the stools of the arcade room in my parents' bar. 

I grew up surrounded by arcade cabinets and was fortunate enough to try dozens, perhaps hundreds, often even before their release: the local operator, in fact, would take me with him to his warehouse, where I spent entire afternoons testing the ones that, according to my instincts, would become the most fun and, of course, also the most profitable titles to install in the area’s bars.

I also owe a lot to my older brother: the day he brought home the VIC-20, soon followed by the Commodore 64 and a long succession of computers and consoles, my passion found fertile ground. 

Since then, in practice, I have never stopped playing; collecting, however, would come only many years later.

In 2015, realizing that I no longer knew where to put all the things I had accumulated over the years, I opened the Valhalla Pub Steakhouse on Lake Maggiore. 

It was there that I decided to gather and display almost all of my collection (although a substantial “backlog” of pieces is still stored elsewhere): today the venue is considered by many visitors to be a true temple of pop culture. 

The objects and memories that had remained confined to a private collection for years have finally found a new life, becoming a shared heritage for anyone who wants to be carried away by nostalgia and passion.

Collecting means maintaining a deep connection with our past and the games we have loved. What are your favorite titles of all time? In your own words, allow us to “see” your shelves and the collection, or collections, that represent you. 

If I had to tell who I am through video games, I would start without any hesitation with the Final Fantasy saga. 

I loved them all, practically, some more and some less, but Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VIII represent, in my opinion, the peak of that epic saga. 

At the time, they seemed to come from the future: a narrative, an emotional depth, and a level of immersion that until then had simply been unthinkable.

Another pillar of my gaming life is Skyrim; I explored those lands for thousands of hours, accompanied by Jeremy Soule’s extraordinary soundtrack: even today I have the feeling that, without that experience, I would not be exactly the person I am.

Finally, there are the Souls: for me, the connection is almost inevitable. 

Berserk, the masterpiece of the late Kentarō Miura, is the manga I consider superior to any other, and Hidetaka Miyazaki, with his extraordinary sensitivity, managed to transpose that aesthetic, those atmospheres, and that way of telling the world into video game form… without ever explicitly mentioning its origin, and that is also what makes his work so fascinating.

⁠By grading your title, you have made an important choice and from now on it has become something more, not only in terms of collectible value. How did you get to know the world of grading? Have you already had similar experiences with other collections of yours, even ones different from video games?

I discovered the world of grading thanks to some friends passionate about collectible card games, who had already been having their cards գնահատed for some time. 

Subsequently, Jessica, a dear friend and your collaborator, introduced me to the existence of a completely Italian grading service.

At that point I had little doubt: I contacted you and decided to entrust you with my most precious pieces.

What were the main reasons why you wanted to grade the title you brought us? Beyond the nostalgic aspects linked to the game, are there other motivations behind your choice to entrust yourself to TGM's grading procedure?

In my case, grading is above all a form of preservation.

I had both historical titles and more recent games certified because I like the idea that, through this process, they become something more than just collectible items.

It is as if they were transformed into authentic keepsakes, almost into small artifacts of our time, preserved so that their history, their value, and their magic can pass through the years without being lost.

⁠Every game has its own story, just like its owner; the bond that is formed goes far beyond the simple owner-object relationship. When the title was finally returned to you graded, how did you feel?

When I received the first already graded coin, the thought was immediate, simple, and sincere: “I did the right thing". 

In conclusion, we can only ask you the classic ritual question: which aspects of our service did you like the most? Thank you not only for giving us your time, but also for choosing to place your trust in us!

The aspect I appreciated most was, first and foremost, the human rapport. 

Knowing that objects so important to me had been entrusted to people capable of understanding their sentimental value and treating them with the respect they deserve gave me great peace of mind.

To this are added an extremely fast service and display cases of truly excellent quality, which further enhance every piece. 

I thank you for involving me in this interview and for giving me the opportunity to take a beautiful journey through my memories. 

I am certain that we shall meet again very soon… with a few new titles to entrust to your care.