Luigi's Mansion

Luigi's Mansion is a third-person action game that was released as a launch title for the Nintendo Gamecube in 2001. As one of the first games featuring Luigi as a standalone hero, Luigi's Mansion has some exceptionally quirky and new ideas for the familiar brand. By borrowing elements from classic horror franchises, Luigi's Mansion offers players a family-friendly adventure packed with spooky themes. Armed with a specialized vacuum designed to eliminate feisty spirits, Luigi must clear out his new mansion and save his brother from certain doom. While it might not be everyone's cup of tea, Luigi's Mansion is a simple and satisfying treat for those who enjoy the creepier side of Nintendo games.

Main Game Features

• Fun mix of exploration and light horror
• Dozens of unique ghosts to capture
• Over 50 collectible Boos

Story

Like the rest of the games in the Super Mario universe, Luigi's Mansion has a simple yet interesting narrative. After winning a contest that he never remembers entering, Luigi goes to collect his reward: a brand new mansion.

When he arrives, the mansion looks abandoned and creepy, covered in shadows and looking particularly ominous. After a few moments inside, Luigi discovers that the mansion is severely haunted, full of dangerous ghosts. Luckily, Luigi is saved by Professor E Gadd, a mad scientist with an invention perfect for the job. The Professor provides Luigi with the Poltergust 3000, a high-tech vacuum capable of containing rogue spirits. With his new weapon on his back and a flashlight in hand, Luigi heads into the mansion and attempts to eliminate the spirits within.

Gameplay

Luigi's Mansion follows a simple and straightforward formula that's easy for even the newest of gamers to understand. Playing from a third-person perspective, you control Luigi as you explore the many themed rooms of the mansion. Most of the doors are locked at the start, limiting where you can explore. You can find room keys by clearing other unlocked rooms of ghosts, using your vacuum to suck them up. The structure of the game feels reminiscent of horror games like Resident Evil, while providing wacky antics more similar to a Ghostbusters game. There are over 45 rooms to explore, with some rooms containing unique “portrait ghosts”, each with a distinct personality and backstory. For example, you'll do spectral battle with the ghosts of a fortune-teller, a butler, and many more. There are also 50 Boo ghosts to catch, hidden in various items around the house. You'll rarely get lost in the three-story mansion, thanks to a handy map that you can pull up at any time.

As you work your way through the mansion, you'll find precious gems, cash, and gold coins to collect. You can also discover three runes, each one imbuing Luigi with the ability to control a different element, including fire, water, and ice. Towards the end of the game, you'll be given a rating depending on how many valuables you collect, so it's always good to check every nook and cranny. For those who can't get enough ghost-hunting, a bonus “hidden mansion” unlocks after you finish the game, offering more challenge but better rewards.

Conclusion

There's a lot of charm to Luigi's Mansion, even though it has its roots in the horror genre. The detailed map, the straightforward objectives, and the creepy atmosphere make it feel like a child's take on a scary game, but that's not really a bad thing. Hunting down ghosts with the Poltergust 3000 is fun and tactile, and each room in the mansion feels handcrafted and original. The only big downsides to Luigi's Mansion are its somewhat shallow progression and predictable story, along with the brief length of the overall game.

Pros:

• Unique ghost-catching gameplay
• Charming and spooky atmosphere
• Succinct and satisfying exploration

Cons:

• Bosses can be frustrating
• Lack of guidance at times
• Controls feel clunky at first