Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is a ghostly reminder that Nintendo are absolute masters at understanding what their player base wants, even when it’s just a fresh coat of paint and few minor tweaks on an old favourite.

When you’ve been chased out of your own mansion by pesky ghosts, Luigi is likely the last hero that would spring to your mind for help. We all know Mario is the real hero. With Luigi, you’ll find a character who is unsure about his abilities and isn’t quite adept at dealing with scares. Plus, King Boo is up to his sneaky little tricks again and has scattered the Dark Moon pieces that, in the past, have kept all the hostile ghosts in check. Thankfully, Professor E. Gadd, has had a history with Luigi and begrudgingly jumps to his aid. And so despite the odds, it is Luigi who is tasked with finding the Dark Moon pieces that have now been corrupted with evil energy and bringing the Evershade Valley back to normality. Gulp!

Same, same, but different… but still same.

It feels like an eternity ago that Nintendo fans were disappointed with the initial reveal of Luigi’s Mansion on the GameCube. Where is Mario? Who cares about catching ghosts? Yet, here we are over two decades later with the second instalment in the series seeing an HD update due to the third game’s massive success. Yes, Luigi now stars in his own mainline series and the sequel has been ported from its ‘portable 3D only’ medium to Nintendo’s wunderkind console. And the upgrades are evident as soon as you power up the game…

The big visual upgrades are evident as soon as you power up the game…

Compared to the 3DS version, it’s much sharper on your HD telly, and way more colourful on an OLED Switch display when playing portable. The big selling point on the 3DS, though, was the ability to take advantage of the unique console’s various features. Of course, in this HD edition, the most obvious absence is that the Switch can’t do 3D. This is a shame, but there is simply no comparison when the upside is the crystal clear OLED display. It looks gorgeous on the Switch. The 3DS’ touchscreen is also missing, which played an integral part in having the map always available at a simple glance. Don’t fret though, because pressing the minus button to bring up the map is nowhere near as disruptive as you might think, and there’s now a non-obtrusive mini-map on the top right corner which works well. Another positive with this newer version is the fact that the Switch now comes with an additional analogue stick. It’s used to help you manoeuvre Luigi with greater ease and is a massive improvement over the 3DS version.

It’s not just a simple upscaled remaster either. The developers have taken advantage of the Switch’s graphical prowess by detailing every nook and cranny of every room you’ll get to investigate. Curtains and carpets are now more textured and seem to animate more smoothly. You can now also see more details on Luigi, down to the stitching on his overhauls. It’s just an overall better experience for the eyes.

Who you gonna call? Mario’s brother!

Luigi’s Mansion 2 was originally developed for a handheld market and so the adventure is broken down into mini-chapters. This makes it perfect for on-the-go gaming on the Switch. Each chapter will see Luigi systematically discovering new sections in one of the five areas you’ll get to visit, which brings great variety. You’ll start off in the Gloomy Manor then move on to Haunted Towers and more. Each area will introduce a new feature or puzzle element in typical Nintendo fashion. To catch the various ghosts Luigi is introduced to the Poltergust 5000. Think of it as Nintendo’s take on the Ghostbusters’ Proton Pack contraption. This vacuum-like device can capture ghosts by sucking them in, but can also blow wind out to perhaps reveal a ‘curtain posing as a wall’ and often some hidden goodies too. Luigi also has a very handy torch that comes with a strobulb that can blind ghosts, which activates the ability to capture them or at least shows you their whereabouts when hiding in nearby furniture or appliances. The last of his contraptions is the dark light that will help you discover hidden goodies that are hidden from the naked eye.

The ghost-searching formula and variety of items worked in the original and thankfully still works now.

What starts off as a search for basic green ghosts, later turns into a hunt for red, yellow, pink and blue powerful ghosts… and some cheeky green ghosts that come up with clever plans to dodge your attempts at catching them. For example, you’ll spot some of them with shades on. With their shades on they’re immune to the flash of your strobulb. Suck their shades off with your Poltergust 5000 and then flash their eyes to smithereens. Once you capture a ghost it’ll drop hearts to replenish your health or alternatively come with coins, money notes or gold bars. Hunting for money and other treasures is important as it’s your pathway to improved sucking ability for the Poltergust 5000 or longer scanning for your dark light to highlight harder-to-find items hidden from sight. You’ll also find a golden bone in each level, which is in essence an extra life, should a ghost get the best of you. All this is very much the same as the 3DS version (which is a pity for returning players). However, the ghost-searching formula and variety of items worked in the original and thankfully still works now and finding the hidden Boos is always a treat.

Should you have some friends who are keen to play the game once the story is done, you’ll be glad to hear that there is a multiplayer mode called ScareScraper. You and up to three other friends can tackle the procedurally generated levels in local or online multiplayer. The aim is to collectively hunt down and catch the ghosts as four different-coloured Luigi’s, before moving on to the next floor. A time limit keeps you on your toes and the stress levels high in your attempt to find each ghost. I’m not sure if it’ll have the legs of other online experiences, but it’s a blast to play.

An HD remaster to Boo-lieve in

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is a ghostly reminder that Nintendo are absolute masters at understanding what their player base wants. Seeing Luigi accessing his Dual Scream (a play of the Dual Screen handheld) never ceases to bring a smile to your face. Is it as good as Luigi’s Mansion 3? No, but it’s the perfect game to see you over until the next sequel appears out of thin air.

REVIEW CODE PROVIDED BY: NINTENDO

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