Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is a remaster of the original Nintendo 3DS version of Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, now available on the Nintendo Switch, though, in other territories around the world, the game was released as Luigi’s Mansion 2. Regardless of which name you know it as, it was still the second in the franchise. Having never played any of Luigi’s Mansion games, but hearing many people speak fondly about it, when the developer, Tantalus Media, and publisher, Nintendo, offered MKAU Gaming the opportunity to review the remaster, I was excited to find out for myself what people have been talking about.

Moving forward to save on any confusion, the remaster title, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD, will be used in its entirety, and the Nintendo 3DS version will be referred to as Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon.
It’s important to know that if you have ever played or owned Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, the plot is the same in Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD. So, if you are one of these people, you can skip the next paragraph where you can read up on the gameplay, graphical changes, audio, and my final thoughts on Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD. If you are new, like me, then read on to find out what Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is all about.

In the Evershade Valley, Professor E. Gadd is researching the region’s ghosts. Outside Professor E. Gadd’s facility, King Boo appears and shatters the Dark Moon in the sky, the shattered pieces falling to the ground around Evershade Valley and bringing forth a mysterious fog. With the eerie fog and the Dark Moon shattered, all the region’s ghosts become unruly and mischievous. Professor E. Gadd retreats to his bunker for safety and calls upon Luigi to wrangle the ghosts due to his expertise demonstrated in the previous game, Luigi’s Mansion.

Professor E. Gadd soon discovers a shattered piece of the Dark Moon and finds that cleaning its corruption makes the mysterious fog recede. This allows Luigi to approach closer to not only bring the pesky ghosts under control but also find more shattered pieces of the Dark Moon and return them to Professor E. Gadd to remove its corruption.

As mentioned earlier, having never played any Luigi’s Mansion games, my experience is limited to what I have played and researched online. Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD gameplay is, like the plot, the same as Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, but now the gameplay is coupled with all the bells and whistles the Nintendo Switch has to offer.

So again, for those who have played or own Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon and do not need to read up on gameplay, skip another paragraph, and I’ll break down what the Nintendo Switch brings to the formula. For rookie ghost hunters like me, read on if you would like to know what Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD has installed for you.

Playing as Luigi, you will embark on a three-dimensional adventure in various locations as you search for ghosts to capture with your Poltergust 5000. Each location will be presented in a mission-based format where you will be given specific tasks to complete, and while doing so, you will be able to search the environment for treasure and collectables, earning additional rewards when the mission is completed, and you return to Professor E. Gadd’s bunker.

The Poltergust 5000 can also be upgraded, which will make capturing ghosts easier, as well as unlocking progression points throughout the location. Puzzles are also scattered throughout the locations, and you’ll have to solve these to progress.

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD, being on the Nintendo Switch, comes with additional features that the Nintendo 3DS did not have. This now becomes a question of whether Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is worth repurchasing if you already own or have already played Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, but before I answer that question, let me tell you what you get with the remaster. First, the obvious things; a larger screen, better graphics, better sound, and rumble.

All of these are superb and make the experience enjoyable, easily outperforming that of the Nintendo 3DS. Plus, not only do you get to play Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD with these improved features, but you also have the ability to dock the Nintendo Switch and play on the big screen, and it’s amazing. Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD also takes advantage of the tilt controls, allowing you to experience certain aspects of Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD like you would have never experienced with Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon on the Nintendo 3DS. Lastly, having better online functionality to play multiplayer.

My humble opinion regarding the question of whether it is worth repurchasing, sadly, is no. At 80AUD, I do not believe I can vouch for its worth. If you truly adored Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon and what I have said has you excited, sure, go grab it. You will love everything about it. If you are like me and only just beginning with the Luigi’s Mansion franchise and want to jump in, sure, go grab it. You too will love what this game has to offer. Outside of those reasons, I can’t recommend a repurchasing.

Before I move on to the graphics, audio, and my final thoughts, I need to give a public service announcement when it comes to multiplayer. Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD has local co-op and online, but how that is achieved is not as exciting as advertised. Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD multiplayer is a separate game mode – there is no co-op or online help with the main story. Though the mode is incredibly entertaining, it also needs to be noted that local co-op is multiplayer across the same network.

This means that in order to play in the same house on the couch, you’ll need an additional Nintendo Switch and an additional copy of Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD. So, if you were thinking of sharing your nostalgic joy with others, this needs to be taken into consideration – you cannot share what would be called a split-screen experience. I was highly disappointed with how Nintendo has advertised local co-op as I certainly do not deem what they have delivered as that.

Graphically Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is spectacular and takes full advantage of the improved hardware from the Nintendo 3DS to the Nintendo Switch. The cartoony style is exactly what you’d come to expect from all of Nintendo’s intellectual property of the modern era. Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD would now be akin to its sequel, Luigi’s Mansion 3.

The audio is just as divine as the graphics. Not only has it improved its quality, but they’ve also brought forward the original voice talent. Charles Martinet’s work remains with the remaster, and the brilliant orchestral work on the music brings the ghostly and spooky vibes home, along with sound effects that deliver a level of immersion that makes you feel what Luigi does.

Sounding like a broken record I must reiterate that I do not believe repurchasing Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is worth it. Unless you’re an avid fan or looking to come into the Luigi’s Mansion franchise fresh, then I would recommend picking it up. Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is a lot of fun, will provide you with hours of entertainment, and it will certainly suck you in.

Written by: Ashley Barnett-Cosgrove