Game Review: Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD (Nintendo Switch)

Released in 2013 on the Nintendo 3DS, Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon (aka Luigi’s Mansion 2) was the long-awaited follow-up to the 2001 GameCube game Luigi’s Mansion. A series of ‘ghost-busting’ games that put players in the role of Luigi as he explores haunted locations, capturing ghosts, collecting treasure, and defeating Boos. A third entry in the series, titled Luigi’s Mansion 3, was released in 2019 on the Switch and for many, it was their first experience of a Luigi’s Mansion’s mansion game.

Until now, as in a rare event, the second game in the series has been given a tune-up and re-released on the Switch. Albeit with an outrageous price for what is just a remaster.

Dropping the ‘Dark Moon’ part of the title and simply going under the name, Luigi’s Mansion 2, this HD remaster has been lovingly crafted with clear attempts to enhance the original 3DS experience as much as possible. It’s a lovely looking game that has been well-refined and smoothed out impressively, both docked and in handheld mode. In this regard, Luigi’s Mansion 2’s remaster is a complete success.

How about the story and gameplay though? This is where the series started to get bigger and bolder, and that begins with a story based around the ‘Dark Moon’. A literal moon in the sky above Evershade Valley that shatters and sends the ghostly inhabitants of a collection of spooky mansions, wild. Reluctant to get involved, but dragged into it regardless, Luigi is kitted out with Poltergust 5000 and sent to recover the Dark Moon fragments by Professor E. Gadd.

As missions are completed across the mansions, a bigger plot will be uncovered. One that involves the Boos and worst of all, King Boo itself.

It’s a solid story that doesn’t test the mind or the limits of imagination, borrowing aspects of the original, but showing how the concept can be expanded upon in style. It’s a story told through short cut-scenes and dialogue sections, but it always manages to stay interesting and fun. Mainly because the characters and world are so vibrant. This game really goes look great, even giving Luigi’s Mansion 3 a run for its money.

Each mansion comes with a set of missions that allow progress through its rooms, halls, dungeons, attics, gardens, and much more. The core gameplay of the original 2013 game is unchanged, and the goal outside of the main mission completion is still to bust ghosts and find treasure which can then be spent on upgrading the Poltergust 5000. Upgrades that make the ghost-busting experience a little easier, but this is Luigi’s Mansion and few will find themselves seriously tested, regardless.

Especially as the control scheme, which had already been impressively improved on the GameCube original, is simply perfect. When this game came out in 2013, the general consensus was that it was a massive step-up in every department and 11 years later, it still holds up.

Is it fun though? Absolutely, and the improved environments, varied locations, range of ghostly enemies, and unique puzzles ensures it stays that way right to the very end. An end that comes at around 12–15-hour mark with some replay value in place for those who want to find all the hidden Boos and get the best rank for each mission.

These are the positive aspects of the game that give it longevity. Whereas the four-player online co-op mode, the ScareScraper has little appeal and, already, you’ll struggle to find three other players to connect with online. Local co-op over Wi-Fi is also supported, but like the former, feels like window dressing at most.

These are aspects of Luigi’s Mansion 2 that few will find themselves caring about and there is a strong argument for them having been left out of this remaster. Especially when you consider how aspects of the original game that were criticised haven’t been improved. Aspects such as no mid-mission saves, confusing maps, and quite a restrictive mission structure.

None of this ruins the Luigi’s Mansion 2 experience, it’s too enjoyable for that, but it would have been nice to see this remaster be more than just a visually tarted-up re-release. Especially when you take the egregious price-point into account. Is it worth the money? Only if you’ve never played it before. If you’re a returning player, wait for this to go on sale. It’s still brilliant, but not brilliant enough to warrant the cost.