An amazing remaster of one of the less well-known first-party Nintendo 3DS games is Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD. Although the price is somewhat high for a remaster, the game is still worth playing because it’s inventive and pleasant for the most part.
Initial release date: June 27, 2024
Genre: Adventure game
Developer: Tantalus Media
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Publisher: Nintendo of America Inc.
When Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon was first announced back in high school, I was ecstatic. When the sequel was released, I immediately dove into it because I was such an addict and kept playing the first game endlessly when I was younger. I pounced at the chance to play this new HD rerelease, determined to test if my teenage impressions of the game have held true, after getting over the tremendous anxiety that struck me upon realizing the game is now just over 11 years old.
Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD approaches ghost-busting in a more segmented, arcade-style manner than the original game. The game is set in a number of expansive settings, including a freezing mine and a spooky manor. Even if the interior spaces tend to blur together from a couple of the many locations, the settings are appropriate places for ghost hunts. This is particularly true because Luigi’s Mansion 2’s mission-based layout prevents you from becoming as accustomed to each locale as you would in the previous game’s more solitary and exploration-based setting. In any case, there’s a lot of fun to be had dressing up as a hilariously spooky Luigi and visiting these strange locations.
The gameplay itself is really entertaining because it strikes a nice mix between ghost-sucking and solving riddles in the surrounding area. While dealing more damage to ghosts by pressing “A” after continuously keeping the stick away from their direction is a wonderful bonus reward for persistent skill, the main loop of blinding and capturing ghosts stays thrilling the entire time. While the more inventive boss fights can be a lot of fun to figure out on the fly, the more conventional ones are more hit or miss.
“The significant visual enhancement in Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD really makes the colorful ghosts pop.”
The multiplayer feature of this rerelease is called ScareScraper, and it involves you collaborating with multiple other multicolored Luigis to accomplish goals as you climb the building of the same name. Joining up with other players to hunt Polterpups or battle bosses can be entertaining for a short while, but after a few rounds, I noticed that I was growing a little bored.
The transition of Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD to the Nintendo Switch brought about an amazing visual makeover, with the models and environments becoming considerably more fluid. The game has been removed from the Nintendo 3DS, so there is no longer a 3D element, but the significant visual enhancement makes the vibrant ghosts stand out in this version. Though I’m not sure if that alone justifies charging full price for this remaster, I’m getting off topic.
The primary complaint I have with Luigi’s Mansion 2 is the same one I had with the first game when it was launched eleven years ago: there is a significant change in tone from the first game. Although there would never be too much of a similarity between the games given their 12-year interval, the original title featured a darker and stranger tone that is absent from the sequel. It’s a bit unfortunate that there aren’t any creepy or mildly frightening moments here, but I don’t dislike the more cartoony and colorful vibe all that much.
Review Overview
Gameplay – 88%
Story – 80%
Aesthetics – 90%
Content – 85%
Accessibility – 82%
Value – 88%
Overall Rating – 86%
Summary: The 3DS sequel Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is an excellent remaster overall. The visual improvements and basic gameplay make this a good rerelease of a somewhat forgotten Mario spin-off, even though the pricing point is a little high.