I recently came to a startling (and possibly controversial) realization. Luigi’s Mansion is, hands down, my favorite Super Mario Bros. spin-off. Yes, including Smash. Yes, including Mario Kart. Yes, including the Mario RPG/Paper Mario/Mario & Luigi saga.
There’s just something about the series’ trademark blend of horror and humor, action and puzzle-solving, that has appealed to me ever since the original’s 2001 debut on the Nintendo GameCube. This week sees the arrival of Luigi’s Mansion‘s fifth installment, which also happens to be the franchise’s second remake, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD.
Based on the 2013 Nintendo 3DS release known as Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon here in the States, LM2HD does an admirable job beefing up that previous offering with higher fidelity graphics and more immersive sound. While it doesn’t exactly have the same level of visual polish as the Switch-exclusive Luigi’s Mansion 3—with some of the more intricate textures looking just the slightest bit flatter, to my eye, at least—it still manages to make the gameplay experience just as enjoyable, even without the dual displays and glasses-free 3D that so typified gaming in Nintendo’s previous generation.
Story-wise, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD finds Luigi tasked with reclaiming the shattered pieces of the jewel-like celestial body known as the Dark Moon. Where once the Dark Moon calmed the spirits of Evershade Valley—making them the perfect research subjects for returning fan-favorite character Professor E. Gadd—its removal has agitated these once-docile haunts.
Armed with an upgraded Poltergust 5000, a stunningly bright Strobulb flashlight, and a new Dark-Light Device used for uncovering hidden objects, Luigi must make his way through multiple structures, sucking up ghosts, discovering invisible Boos, and collecting treasure all while skillfully avoiding clever traps, bats, and multiple big bads.
From rundown manors to abandoned mines, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD represents a dazzling array of creepy environs, each jam-packed with haunted mystery. Backing you up from the safe confines of his bunker, E. Gadd provides leads and other support via your Dual Scream handheld, transports you to and from mission locations using “pixelation” technology, provides helpful upgrades to your gear, and safely stores captured ghosts and recovered items.
But Gadd isn’t your only ally in this endeavor. Polterpup, that lovable canine scamp, initially appears as a nuisance, stealing Luigi’s much-needed keys, but, in no time, he proves himself to be more playful than malicious. Best of all, hidden alongside LM2HD‘s ample supplies of hidden cash and collectible jewels you’ll occasionally find rare Golden Bones. If you have one on your person when Luigi’s HP is reduced to zero, Polterpup can revive you on the spot, allowing the adventure to continue without any loss of progression.
While death—well, fainting, in game terms—likely won’t often visit seasoned players, having this little bit of added life insurance is a blessing for younger fans and emboldens the rest of us to get creative, even as LM2HD‘s parade of ghastly boss battles throws enemy after enemy at our timid hero.
Even early in the game, Luigi’s stun-vacuum-repeat approach to ghostbusting will often prove inadequate when dealing with heftier foes. Some spirits wear sunglasses that must be removed before you can daze them with the Strobulb, while others hide behind shovels to protect themselves. Others still are supernaturally fortified, requiring multiple Poltergust cycles and some clever footwork to dispatch them.
This is where the control scheme in Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD really shines. Move and Look controls are mapped to the left and right sticks respectively, with ZR and ZL controlling Suck and Blow functions for the Poltergust (and you’ll definitely use both for the game’s various environmental puzzle elements). These core controls can be tweaked a bit with regard to sensitivity and axis inversion to help the individual find their niche. The motion sensor—used in things like Luigi’s tightrope walking between elevated platforms—can be enabled or disabled, and the right stick can further be set to omnidirectional or horizontal only as the player sees fit. All this taken together makes for seamless dual-stick control that’s perfectly intuitive.
The X and B buttons are used to look up/interact and look down/run/dodge, which pairs well with controls for the Dark-Light (mapped to both Y and the L-trigger) and Strobulb (mapped to A and the R-trigger). In a game where fluidity of motion is key, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD nails the assignment. It has just the right amount of granularity without getting too into the weeds with needless fine-tuning.
While I tend to spend the bulk of my gaming in single-player mode or doing some couch co-op with the kids, Nintendo Treehouse did set up some special sessions so that those of us with early access to Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD could experience its online multiplayer offering, the Scarescraper, where up to four Luigis can work together to root out roving spooks.
The Scarescraper offers a trio of game types and difficulties in 5-, 10-, or 25-floor challenges. Hunter Mode plays much like the core campaign, with multiple Luigis checking furniture, opening light-sensitive locks, and using their Poltergusts to vacuum up the ghosts on each floor as quickly as possible. Polterpup Mode has players employ their Dark-Light Devices to track, reveal, and capture floor after floor of ghost puppies, while the timed Rush Mode is a madcap dash to discover the exit with defeated ghosts extending the meager time limit.
Admittedly, Scarescraper isn’t as enticing to me as Luigi’s solo antics, but I was still impressed with how each mode takes the basic building blocks of Luigi’s Mansion and uses them to create something entirely different. (And let me tell you, there’s nothing like the addition of timed elements to ramp up my anxiety!)
Picking a favorite Luigi’s Manion title is a bit like picking your favorite child; I love them all differently… but, admittedly, I probably love Luigi’s Mansion 3 the most. Still, Dark Moon was a joy to play a decade ago, and this new HD remake doesn’t miss a single step.
It’s spooky (though never outright frightening) when it needs to be, challenging only when warranted, and it’s tons of fun throughout. Sure, the Year of Luigi may have long since passed, but Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD still stands as a testament to both the enduring charm of its title character and the unlikely success of one of Nintendo’s most surprising spin-offs.
Review and promotional materials were provided by Nintendo of America. This post contains affiliate links. Who you gonna call?
