Home Video Games Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD review on Nintendo Switch

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD review on Nintendo Switch

June 25, 2024

It’s been over a decade since Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon graced the Nintendo 3DS, bringing the green-clad plumber’s ghostbusting adventures to a new generation. Now, Nintendo is giving this beloved sequel the HD treatment, porting it to the Nintendo Switch for a whole new audience to experience. While the core gameplay remains intact, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD delivers the same charming, spooky fun with a visual upgrade to match the series’ evolution.

With its refined controls, enhanced visuals, and addictive multiplayer modes, this remastered classic is poised to deliver a spooktacular good time. Let’s jump in and take a look at Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD on Nintendo Switch!

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD details

Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
Reviewed on: Nintendo Switch
Developer(s): Next Level Games, Nintendo
Publisher(s): Nintendo
Genre: Action-adventure
Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer (local wireless 1-4 players or online 1-4 players)
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

A haunting homecoming to Evershade Valley

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD continues the spooky adventures of the green-clad plumber, once again called upon by Professor E. Gadd to save the day. This time, the trouble is brewing in Evershade Valley, where the professor has been studying the local ghosts. When the Dark Moon, a celestial object that keeps the ghosts peaceful, is shattered by the mischievous King Boo, the ghosts turn hostile and start wreaking havoc. With the trusty Poltergust 5000 in hand, Luigi must explore a variety of haunted mansions to recover the missing Dark Moon pieces and restore order.

The story may be simple, but it provides a charming and delightful backdrop for the game’s core ghost-hunting gameplay. Traversing the themed mansions, solving puzzles, and capturing ghosts with the Poltergust is as engaging as ever, with the added benefit of tighter controls thanks to the Switch’s dual-stick setup.

Familiar ghostbusting with a few new twists

The core gameplay of Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD revolves around exploring various haunted mansions and using the trusty Poltergust 5000 vacuum to capture ghosts. This tried-and-true formula remains largely intact from the original 3DS release, and it continues to be an engaging and satisfying loop.

Poltergust 5000

As Luigi, you must navigate through each mansion, solving puzzles and uncovering secrets while also confronting and capturing the mischievous ghosts that lurk within. The Poltergust 5000 is essential, serving as both a flashlight to illuminate dark areas and a vacuum to suck up any ghosts that get in your way. Stunning ghosts with the Strobulb first is key, before then pulling them into the Poltergust in a tug-of-war style mini-game.

Immersive exploration and rewarding interactivity

What I really love about Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD’s gameplay is the level of interactivity and exploration. Every room is filled with objects to examine, switches to activate, and hidden items to discover. The mansions themselves are cleverly designed, with new areas gradually unlocking as you progress and solve puzzles. The game encourages you to search and experiment by rewarding those who take the time to thoroughly investigate every nook and cranny.

Enhanced controls

While the core gameplay loop remains unchanged, the transition to Nintendo Switch does bring some welcome improvements. The addition of dual-stick controls allows for much more precise aiming and movement. It alleviates some of the control issues present in the original 3DS version. The only real downside is the lack of any major new gameplay additions or content. Beyond the visual and control upgrades, this is essentially the same Luigi’s Mansion 2 experience fans played over a decade ago. For those who never got to enjoy it the first time around, that won’t be an issue.

A polished paranormal presentation

Visually, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD on Nintendo Switch is a significant upgrade over the original 3DS release. The jump from the 3DS’s resolution to the Switch makes a noticeable difference. Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD features sharper textures, more detailed environments, and crisper character models. The lighting and environmental effects have also been enhanced, creating a more polished and atmospheric look.

While the game maintains the same charming, cartoonish art style as the 3DS version, the improved visuals allow Luigi’s personality to shine even brighter. Luigi’s expressive animations and mannerisms are more pronounced. From the way he nervously glances around haunted rooms to his clumsy interactions with gadgets and gizmos, its a delight. The ghosts themselves have also been given a visual upgrade, with more intricate designs and more fluid, lifelike movements. It may not look as good as Luigi’s Mansion 3, but it’s still incredibly polished and charming. And, it perfectly captures the spirit of the series.

The audio design is equally impressive. With a wonderful musical score that seamlessly shifts to match the tone of each new area. Luigi’s nervous humming and the haunting ambience of the mansions create a delightfully spooky yet whimsical atmosphere. The voice acting, while limited, is well-done, with the quirky characters delivering their lines with the perfect blend of humour and earnestness.

Cooperative ghostbusting in the ScareScraper

In addition to the single-player story mode, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD also features a multiplayer mode called ScareScraper. This cooperative mode allows up to four players to team up and tackle a variety of ghost-busting challenges together. ScareScraper is accessed from Professor E. Gadd’s bunker after completing the first few levels of the main story. There are three unique game modes to choose from each with their own objectives and strategies: Hunter, Rush, and Polterpup.

Hunter mode: Team up to capture all the ghosts as quickly as possible.
Rush mode: Race against the clock to find the exit before time runs out.
Polterpup mode: Use the Dark-Light device to track down and catch all the mischievous Polterpups hiding throughout the level.

Out of the three game modes, Rush Mode was my favourite. Its frantic pace and high-stakes nature gives you a sense of urgency that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Whether playing locally with friends or hopping online, the ScareScraper mode provides a lively, fast-paced complement to the single-player campaign. It extends the longevity of Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD and gives you new ways to experience the game’s charming ghost-hunting gameplay.

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is a charming and highly polished remaster

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD exemplifies everything that made the 3DS original such a charming and engaging experience. The game’s core gameplay of exploring spooky mansions, solving puzzles, and capturing ghosts with the trusty Poltergust remains as fun and satisfying as ever. The visual upgrade to HD brings the game’s detailed environments and expressive character animations to life in a whole new way.

The return of the addictive multiplayer mode provides an excellent cooperative experience that’s sure to have you and your friends on the edge of your seats. While Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD may lack new content and features it is still a wonderfully charming and highly polished remaster that both newcomers and returning fans will find plenty to enjoy.