Luigi's Mansion 2 HD, The Brass Tacks, Is It Worth It?

Five years ago, I had the chance to review every costume in Luigi's Mansion 3. Although that game lacked in the challenge department, it left an indelible mark on me as one of the most beautiful games on the Switch. Hence, writing a review for Luigi's Mansion 2 HD feels like a tightrope, as every sentence I craft is inevitably weighed against the third instalment rather than the original Nintendo 3DS game.

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Luigi's Mansion 2 HD The Brass Tacks

Let's get this straight from the get-go: the HD edition of Luigi's Mansion primarily offers graphical upgrades over the original. There are no new mechanics, hidden levels, different enemies, or new modes to pad the content. The game is a faithful replica of the original with significant enhancements in the visual department. 

Textures are now in higher resolution, edges are smoother, and lighting is better. The game's visual appeal has been significantly enhanced, making it a treat for the eyes. However, the third part still stands several rungs above this, especially in terms of lighting and character models. Nonetheless, this game looks beautiful and runs without significant hitches on the Switch.

Now, when it comes to characters, as the title suggests, Mario's brother Luigi is back in the spotlight, ghost-hunting through abandoned mansions. The story starts with a call from Professor Gadd, hiding in a bunker in Evershade Valley. The notorious villain King Boo has shattered the Dark Moon into fragments, causing ghosts to go berserk and forcing our professor into hiding.

 Our mission is to find all the Dark Moon fragments and restore peace to the valley. Of course, Luigi is once again bumbling and terrified, which can sometimes be charming for both adult gamers and younger audiences. I found the story even better executed than in the third instalment, as it's presented in chapters and often brings new twists.

The Gameplay

However, one major gripe from the 3DS instalment persists: the levels are pretty linear, and there's no option to save within levels. The game is divided into five mansions/castles, each split into a smaller number of levels. Once you start a level, you can only save once you've completed it. Likewise, if you lose a life, the game sends you back to the beginning, making you lose all the items you've collected up to that point. Naturally, this pushed me to avoid losing often, but it can be extremely frustrating if you like to collect everything. Imagine gathering all possible coins, hidden diamonds, and catching ghosts, only to lose because of some silly mistake at the end of the level.

Regarding the equipment for tackling numerous ghosts, I had the Poltergust 5000 vacuum cleaner at my disposal. Before I could suck up a ghost, I had to stun it with a special flashlight. Additionally, I had a particular Dark-Light device that allowed me to detect ghost movements between rooms. But the best part of Luigi's Mansion isn't just the combat; it's how all these features of the Poltergust 5000 are used for puzzle elements within the levels.

For instance, with the vacuum, I could unroll a carpet to reveal a switch for a hidden passage. Or, using the flashlight, I could illuminate special switches that would open a safe with a key. Particularly fun were the puzzle elements with the Dark-Light device, as I could reveal hidden doors or invisible objects that could be used to progress further. These puzzle sections create a perfect symbiosis with the action parts – the levels are evenly sprinkled with action and puzzle elements that will thoroughly engage every part of your gamer's brain.

The Multiplayer System of Luigi's Mansion 2 HD

Outside the primary story mode, the game offers a multiplayer mode called ScareScraper. This is familiar, as the 3DS version also offers online play. ScareScraper isn't available for local play, which is a shame because it would have been a perfect hit in a group setting on a single screen. The only options available are local play for up to four players with four versions of the game or online play for the same number of people. In this mode, each player takes on Luigi in different outfits, and the goal is to clear all the floors together. Naturally, the floors are randomly generated and never the same.

I was relieved that they at least provided two options: playing with your friends or finding players online. Knowing Nintendo's policies, this is quite radical from their side. However, expect to communicate less, as we're only given four exclamations, which can be quite limiting when playing with strangers.

Nintendo helped organize a multiplayer session for me with a couple of my friends from abroad (Hungary and Wales). The communication above problems came to light, but we completed all three modes on basic difficulty. In multiplayer, each player takes on Luigi in different outfits, and the goal is to clear all the floors together. Naturally, the floors are randomly generated and never the same.

The Fun Was There

Depending on the mode, the way you move between floors differs. In Hunter mode, we had a time limit to find and capture all the ghosts on that floor. In Rush mode, we needed to find the exit, and all three players had to step on the switches to open the passage. Initially, time was very short in Rush mode, but we could collect small clocks on the floor that added ten seconds to our timer by uncovering secrets or catching ghosts. The third mode we played was Polterpup, which involved discovering ghost dogs and capturing them on the floor.

I had a lot of fun playing this with friends. Of course, communication was challenging with the limited set of commands. You'll be shouting "Help" when you need reviving and encounter a group of enemies. I don't know how people even play coop games on the Switch without the help of Discord anymore. We managed to successfully navigate all three modes and reach the final floor, where we had to defeat the boss together. Regarding the modes, Rush was the most challenging, which made it the one we played the most.

In Conclusion

With about 15 hours of story and a multiplayer part, Luigi's Mansion 2 HD certainly doesn't lack content. Now, whether this justifies the total price at launch is another matter. Because beyond the visual treatment, the new-old Luigi's Mansion doesn't bring any additions. Unfortunately, it's the same set of missions, identical multiplayer modes, and the same enemies. And the same complaints about the lack of save points within levels. However, the game's engaging gameplay and the variety of modes can provide significant replay value, making it a worthwhile investment for fans of the series.

Of course, the good things have been carried over, too, such as the fun multiplayer mode, the general exploration and action formula, and the visually well-packaged title for the Switch. I feel that original players would be much more inclined to repurchase this title if it offered at least a new mode, difficulty options, new enemies, or an additional hidden castle. This package seems more like a classic opportunity to sell the game to players who didn't own a 3DS and want more Luigi in their lives.

Our Rating: 7.8/10

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD earns an 7.8/10 because it delivers polished visuals, smart puzzle design, and enjoyable multiplayer, but adds no meaningful new content beyond the original release. Luigi's Mansion 2 HD has an ESRB rating of E for everyone, and multiplayer is especially fun if your kid is already into Mario or Luigi. 

Recommended age:7+

I recommend it for kids aged 7+, because the spooky theme is cartoonish rather than scary, puzzles require basic reading and problem-solving, and the gameplay encourages patience and coordination without inappropriate content.

Gemini AI-style summary

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is a faithful HD remaster that enhances visuals and performance while retaining its linear structure, clever puzzles, charming tone, and enjoyable multiplayer, but offers no new content beyond the original game.