Review: Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD

We are well into the golden years of the Switch, and I can’t help but feel Nintendo completed most of the main campaign and are busy with side quests in that they’re playing it a little safe before the next gen machine is released.

Makes sense as they shift focus and allocate resources to the heir/successor. Several recent and upcoming releases are remasters of older games, as opposed to pure sequels or new titles.

Sure, it’s a great opportunity for players to enjoy games they may have missed the first time (Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door was such a blast to play and I loved my 60 hours in that world. Click here for my full review) or play a second time if you are like me and can’t wait for Donkey Kong Country Returns HD but I would love a few more new games to get excited for (shout-out to the new Mario and Luigi game as well as Legend of Zelda).

Originally released on the Nintendo 3DS in 2013, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD has been given a facelift for the Nintendo Switch. This isn’t a radical overhaul, or something rebuilt from the ground up like Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door but feels more like a next-gen patch.

It retains the charm of the original while sprucing up the visuals. I played the original, grabbed it on sale at Rage a few years ago, so it felt very familiar this time around. I played Luigi’s Mansion 3 when that released a few years ago on the Switch so the franchise feels fresh, like the stinging and delicious scent of vinegar in a hot chips parcel.

For those not familiar, you take on the role of Mario’s lesser-celebrated brother, Luigi. Unlike his heroic sibling, Luigi is a bit of a scaredy-cat, which makes his ghost-busting escapades even more entertaining.

Armed with the Poltergust 5000, a vacuum cleaner designed to suck up spirits, think Ghostbusters sponsored by Hirsch, Luigi navigates through spooky mansions, listening for ghostly whispers and scanning for paranormal activity.

The Poltergust 5000 is equipped with a flash bulb to stun ghosts and an infrared lamp to reveal hidden objects. When a ghost appears, Luigi has to freeze it with a burst of light and then engage in a tug-of-war to capture it. This process is amusing but does get a bit repetitive after a few hours.

Wish the developers updated the game mechanics or incorporated more of the additions from the third game. The recent Grand Theft Auto Trilogy remaster as bad as it was did introduce mechanics from later games which helped the experience. I understand there is an argument for maintaining purity of the original but unlike other media like film, videogames are often better when an anachronistic approach is taken.

The game is structured in short, bite-sized levels. On the one hand, it makes the game perfect for quick gaming sessions. On the other, just as you’re getting into the swing of things, you’re often pulled back to base by your eccentric mentor, Professor E. Gadd, for a bit of advice and a pat on the back.

I would have appreciated if the developers’ introduced checkpoints or save blocks like Paper Mario (I recognise I’m comparing this a lot to Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door but I can’t help it. Both are remakes of older games and one feels a lot more thoughtful, while the other feels like missed potential at times).

Graphically, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is appealing and bright while feeling a little underwhelming. The Switch’s capabilities give the game a vibrant, polished look that the 3DS simply couldn’t achieve. I just expected a little more. The spooky mansions are detailed and atmospheric.

The controls can be a bit awkward, especially when trying to aim the Poltergust 5000. It’s not a deal-breaker although quite frustrating at times, younger players, or those new to the game might find it fiddly, especially during the more intense ghost battles.

In terms of gameplay, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD offers a mix of ghost-catching and puzzle-solving. Each mansion is filled with hidden secrets and environmental puzzles that require a bit of brainpower and creativity to solve. Whether it’s pulling levers, setting objects on fire, or using your vacuum in unexpected ways, the game will have you scratching your head often.

There is an online multiplayer mode called ScareScraper and while I appreciate the addition, it didn’t hold my attention for very long and felt more like a bonus feature in a DVD as opposed to something more meaty and meaningful like say the Extended Edition of The Lord of the Rings. Would have been cool if it was local co-op on one Switch.

One of the standout aspects of the game is Luigi himself. His nervous humming, skittish reactions, and endearing personality add a layer of humour and charm that’s hard to resist. He’s not your typical hero reeking of bravado and fearlessness, and that’s precisely what makes him so relatable and fun to play as.

Now, let’s talk value for money. At over a thousand rand, the price of a new title, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD seems a bit steep, especially considering Luigi’s Mansion 3, which was designed specifically for the Switch, is available at the same price. While the HD version is undoubtedly fun and nostalgic for those who played the original, it’s hard to justify, especially since gamers could get a more modern experience for the same cost. Had this game come in around the R700 mark it would have scored higher in this department.