tommy_lop's Full Review: Luigi's Mansion for GameCube
Ok I decided to rent it last weekend. I knew Luigi's Mansion was one of the first games on the gamecube and I wanted to see how it compared to Mario Sunshine. Well I heard it was easier then Mario Sunshine but I wonder how much so I decided to try out. I can now cite Luigi's mansion has one of the many reasons why the gamecube didn’t take off. It's a short easy exploration game rather then an action adventure game you expect from Mario. With that said it's still a tone more fun then Mario is missing.
This game could also be a reason for the GCN poor launch to. This was probably the one most people where looking for from Nintendo. Pikmin looked to weird, and you have to buy more controllers to fully enjoy Super Smash Bros. Melee who wants to spend extra money after spending all the money on the console.
Story.
Mario and Luigi have won a mansion off a contest they never entered. Mario has went to look at the mansion and Luigi is following him. When Luigi reaches the mansion he finds it haunted and Mario is missing again. He runs into a strange man in a white coat named E. Gadd (expect many lames horror puns like this through out the game). He arms Luigi with a flashlight and a vacuum cleaner and sets Luigi off into the mansion.
Graphics.
The graphics on this aren't bad, they are stunted by modern day gamecube games but for a released it show what the gamecube could do. Luigi's is no longer a cartoon person with bright colors. The colors of Luigi are now dark and patted and Luigi's trousers look like there real denim. The mansion itself has dark colors and looks like a haunted house complete with full moon out of the window and lighting. The ghosts are cartoonish type ghosts that look like there rejects out of the Casper movies. Has far has the boo’s there are no more rough edges to these there now smooth edged. The graphics are all right since there first generation but there not has good has Mario Sunshine.
Sound.
A few short spooky and melodramatic horror background music is basically what we have hear, nothing toe taping hear. In less you count the original Super Mario Bros tune in the background of one room. The rest is just sound effects of Luigi whistling and yelling Mario. The music is ok but Luigi’s shouting and shivering gets old after a while.
Gameplay.
OK there’s a reason why gamecube is in last place, it’s not the system it’s self it’s Nintendo marketing. And marketing of there game audiences, I can’t believe the edgy (edgy for Nintendo of course) commercial they gave this game to appeal to teenagers. Teenagers won’t like this game it’s short and simpleminded kid’s exploration game. Meanwhile with the more adult Mario Sunshine (adult not because it has tons of gore or nudity but because it’s frustrating has hell) they give us a clean is better then dirty ad that appeals to the 6 year old crowd. Get the marketing right for once Nintendo.
Anyway’s the gameplay goes simply like this Luigi has a vacuum and a light. The whole idea is to stun the ghost with the light then vacuum them up with the vacuum cleaner. A power level appears has Luigi fights with the ghost when the ghosts power level hit’s 0 the ghost gets sucked up by the cleaner. Of course there are some ghosts that can be turn to portraits and hide keys for these you have to find a clue to what they hate and do it to them to have them sucked up into the vacuum.
The 2nd part is after he gets the key he finds the locked door goes into and repeats. While there are individual puzzles in each room, most of them consist of hitting a to shake stuff to see what falls out, a few other require element medallions to solve puzzles. There is stuff to collect like paintings and boo’s to keep you distracted. The problem is that all this gets old after a while even with a few of the side quests.
Another small complaint I have about the game is the lack of a jump, not that’s it’s needed but you feel like your feet are super glued to the floor because you can’t jump.
Game Boy Horror.
Ok this was the big gimmick of the game is the gameboy horror. Don’t confuse this option with a GBA link up it’s just a rather dumb item in the game. Basically it operates has a communicator to E. Gadd for advice. Has well as item status, maps, and a first person view. It’s nothing big it’s just something Nintendo do to plug into the Gameboy system.
How long will it take to beat the game.
The game only took me less then 6 hours to beat and I beat it on the first day of the 3-day rental. It’s short, it’s easy, it’s for the kids.
Final recommendation.
While this game is a whole lot more challenging then Mario is Missing Luigi’s first game. However since this was the major plug for Nintendo for a launch game it fails miserably. It’s to short and easy things you don’t want with a launch game. This games only good at a rental, and only if you have 6 year old in the house. Meanwhile I am off to play a real horror survival game on my Gamecubes gameboy player, Castlevania Circle of the moon
Luigi is off to check out a haunted mansion full of howling ghosts & spirits Help Luigi vacuum up ghosts in over 90 rooms When you capture ghosts, tra...More at Amazon Marketplace
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