Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD Review — A Boo-rilliant Adventure

Nintendo, like many other seasoned developers, are in their remake era. Re-introducing classic games from their iconic library and introducing them to a brand new audience on today’s much more capable hardware. Earlier this year, Nintendo released a Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door remake, which brilliantly captured a classic Mario title with enhanced gameplay. Now, it’s Luigi’s turn, with Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD, a remake of the beloved 3DS title. Nintendo shares its appreciation for this game through a well-crafted visual overhaul but takes some missteps in terms of the dated game design.

As someone who had never played a game in the Luigi’s Mansion series prior to this review, I’d like to share that my opinion on this game is based off of a newcomer, and not a returning player. This review is based moreso on the game itself, rather than how well it’s been remade, but I will make a point of any pitfalls the game may have with my decent knowledge of the original title.

After the events of the first Luigi’s Mansion game, King Boo shatters the Dark Moon, a large crystal object that has kept the ghosts in Evershade Valley pacified. Luigi must search for the 5 Dark Moon pieces located across the mansions in the valley, which are now haunted by hostile ghosts. Having never played the first title, I didn’t find it difficult to jump straight into Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD. Events of the first game aren’t referenced much, if at all.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Luigi’s Mansion series, the game centers around the titular character as he travels through various locations exterminating ghosts using a vacuum cleaner known as the Poltergust 5000.  Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD features 5 maps to explore, each with 5 individual missions to complete. The delightfully quirky Professor E. Gradd sends Luigi out on missions which are typically hunts for ghosts. The game design in terms of the mission layout felt very dated and a little tiresome. Going back and forth from the lab to the same map for five missions felt a little unnecessary – everything could have been accomplished in one trip, but it was dragged out to 5 separate missions. I wish Nintendo had used the opportunity of this remake to update the game beyond the feel of a 3DS game because that’s exactly what the game embodies.

What does age well is the gameplay variation throughout the game. Different types of ghosts can be found throughout the locations, each varying in difficulty. Some may throw objects at you to prohibit you from vacuuming them, while others will wear sunglasses to protect themselves from the Strobulb gadget. This gadget emits a giant flash of light and makes ghosts susceptible to the vacuum power of the Poltergust 5000.

Boss fights are found in the final mission of each map and offer some pretty challenging gameplay which is often soothed by regular drops of health replenishment. The puzzles found in the boss fights, which are broken up into phases, were some of my favourites.

There are many items to collect throughout your adventures in the haunted mansions.  Coins are hidden throughout the levels which can be utilised to upgrade your gadgets. These upgrades can include upgrading your power gauge, dark-light device and the damage your Poltergust does to enemies. These upgrades don’t feel completely necessary, but they do provide a good enough incentive to collect as many coins as you can. Gems are cleverly hidden throughout each mansion, with 13 to find in each map. While it is extremely satisfying to find them all, there is little to no benefit as the only reward is an in-game statue.

An addition to the game that was never present in the OG title, is motion controls. The Nintendo Switch’s motion control capabilities are used to aim the Poltergust as well as balance on certain obstacles throughout the game. I found these to be completely unnecessary and either too sensitive, or at times completely unresponsive. It was much less of a hassle to just use the thumbsticks on the Joy-Cons.

One of the most anticipated facets of a remake is the visual overhaul. Nintendo has effortlessly polished Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD to the point where it may be one of the best-looking Nintendo Switch games on the market. It obviously doesn’t have the big budget behind it like Tears of the Kingdom or Super Mario Bros. Wonder, but definitely holds its own.