Game review: Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD (Nintendo Switch)
The first Luigi's Mansion came out in 2001 and was a launch title for the then-new Nintendo Gamecube console. I remember reading magazines at the time and people were confused as to why Luigi was getting his own game and wondering why a Mario game wasn't released as a launch title.
Nintendo's gamble with the Luigi character paid off because Luigi's Mansion became a hit title. Now the series has become a trilogy with games also being released for both the Nintendo 3DS and the Nintendo Switch.
Nintendo has now released a new remake for Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, which was a 3DS exclusive released back in 2013. The 2024 release is now called Luigi's Mansion 2 HD and it has been remade to better fit the Switch's superior graphics quality over the aging 3DS hardware.
Being a predominantly PlayStation and Xbox gamer my whole life, I've sadly never played a Luigi's Mansion video game until now. After finally playing Luigi's Mansion 2 HD, I'm glad to have played it because it's one of Nintendo's most enjoyable IPs.
Even though I have never played Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon on 3DS, I looked at several YouTube videos to compare it with the remake. Gameplay-wise, most of it is pretty identical apart from the Switch version needing to put the map on the upper left-hand screen since it doesn't have a second screen like the 3DS.
Graphically though, Luigi's Mansion 2 HD looks far better than the 3DS original of the game. The 3DS was pretty outdated already because the PS Vita had graphics that resembled that of a PS3. The 3DS Luigi's Mansion 2 is blurry and pixelated compared to the smoother look of the 2024 remake which looks divine.
Anyway, if you have never played Luigi's Mansion 2 before, the game has an interesting premise and storyline. In this game, the Dark Moon has been shattered and this causes all of the ghosts from Evershade Valley to become dangerous and very hostile.
Professor E. Gadd is forced to hide in his bunker and he calls the help of Luigi to collect the broken fragments of the Dark Moon in hopes of restoring peace in the valley again. At the same time, the professor arms Luigi with a special vacuum called the Poltergust 5000 to suck up and capture the ghosts roaming the mansions in Evershade Valley.
As you can expect, Luigi's Mansion 2 HD takes cues from both The Ghostbusters franchise as well as PlayStation's classic Ape Escape trilogy. Luigi's goal is to roam around the dark mansions and capture all of the ghosts that he can find. The job is easier said than done because the ghosts aren't losing without putting up a fight.
What I like most about Luigi's Mansion 2 HD is the fact that there are multiple different ghosts for you to encounter and capture. In order to capture ghosts, Luigi will have to first blind them with the flashlight that he carries. The first type of ghosts that he encounters are the generic green ones that are pretty easy to capture.
Later on in the game, Luigi will see skinny blue ghosts, and these guys are cunning and quick. They can move faster than the green ones, and they love to hide. Another type of ghost that
Luigi encounters pretty early on in the game are the big fat red ghosts. The red ghosts take longer to suck up, but their weakness is still the flashlight too.
Some other ghosts are smart because they can hold mirrors or shields to counter Luigi's flashlight. In order to get these cheekier buggers, Luigi will have to go from behind or flash the light in their eyes when they don't hold up the mirror or shield.
Aside from the ghosts, Luigi will have to face up against several bosses in this game too. I won't spoil who you will encounter later on in the game, but the first major boss you have to face is a huge spider and her spider babies. The cool way to beat her is by using fire to disintegrate her webs!
Another thing I liked about Luigi's Mansion 2 HD is that this isn't all about capturing ghosts either. The mansions are very unpredictable so Luigi will have to solve puzzles or seek keys in order to get through locked doors and secret rooms. You really have to use your brain and logic to get to some of the more secretive areas in the game.
Luigi also has a rainbow light he can use to expose invisible doors and other secrets. It features smart gameplay that makes the gameplay feel fun and innovative. None of the levels get too repetitive and boring because each mission feels different every time.
As much fun as I had playing Luigi's Mansion 2 HD, there is one glaring issue I have with the game that's really annoying. The thing that grinds my gears is that this game has no checkpoints whatsoever after you die. When you die, you have to restart the whole mission from the beginning again. This can get really annoying if you are stuck on a boss or something like that.
Despite having no checkpoints, I still had a lot of fun playing Luigi's Mansion 2 HD for the Nintendo Switch. The innovative gameplay and level design are diverse enough to keep you entertained for many hours on end.
Verdict: 8.5/10
