Luigi’s Mansion 2 Score Round Up

When you think of the most beloved Nintendo franchises, what comes to mind? Many Nintendo fans will mention Pokemon, Super Smash Bros, The Legend of Zelda, Mario Party, Mario Kart, Metroid, Animal Crossing, Mario Bros, Kirby, Fire Emblem, and Splatoon. At times, some Nintendo fans will forget about F-Zero, Starfox, Golden Sun, Pikmin, Xenoblade Chronicles, Donkey Kong, Wii Sports, and Luigi’s Mansion. Last month, Nintendo released an HD remastering of Luigi’s Mansion 2: Dark Moon. While some fans have been excited about the game, others have been skeptical of the remaster wondering what Nintendo might have changed since the Nintendo 3DS.

Although we are not quite yet ready to review Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD, we thought that it would be a good idea to share with you the review scores and impressions of other media outlets.

Media Scores

Looking at Metacritic, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is currently sitting at a 77 review score; meanwhile, the user review score is sitting at 78. So why did Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD (Dark Moon) go from an 86 to a 77?

 Review Commentary/Critique

God is a Geek

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is a remake with a modern look, but no real new content. However, it’s still a fantastic game and the best version for people to experience for the first time.

GamingBible

There’s a sense of sadness in Luigi’s form as this is uttered. Sure, his brother gets all the glory, but Luigi is clearing out huge collections of ghosts, getting knocked back on his butt by rambunctious ghouls, and facing his fears. I’d argue that he’s a great hero, and his adventures here are equally as brilliant as any Mario has had over the years.

Vooks

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is the same great game it was on the Nintendo 3DS, now with a fresh lick of paint and improved controls thanks to the dual analog sticks. Whether it’s worth picking up again after 10 years is up to you. However, for everyone else—whether you’re a Luigi’s Mansion newbie or a Luigi’s Mansion 3 player—this game is well worth a look; just remember to bring a torch.

Areajugones

As a game in itself, it is a timeless gem that has not aged at all thanks to the freshness provided by the playability of this saga, its originality and its impeccable level design. And as a remaster, although it doesn’t look as good as Luigi’s Mansion 3, the visual changes and improvements fit it like a glove and doesn’t clash at all among the Nintendo Switch game catalog.

Hobby Consolas

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD may not be at the level of other remasters and remakes like Metroid Prime Remastered or Paper Mario: The Millennial Door, but even that doesn’t stop it from remaining a timeless classic that is worth discovering if you haven’t played it on Nintendo 3DS …or revive, if you already did.

WellPlayed

Luigi, the loveable scaredy-cat that he is, returns for another outing that holds up well in its transition from 3DS to Switch. Despite being a straight port without any new features, it remains a gorgeous and inventive world worth exploring for old and new fans alike.

Vandal

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD retains its charm and humor with its ghost-busting adventure across haunted mansions, offering solid gameplay and level design. While it excels in visuals and controls on the Switch, it lacks new content additions from its original 3DS release.

VGC

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is another strong Nintendo remaster which doesn’t mess around with the original too much, but delivers enough improvements (particularly in terms of visual detail) to make it a worthwhile release. The controls still aren’t perfect and Luigi’s Mansion 3 is the better game but the sheer charm crammed into every crevice means it’s still absolutely worth a look.

IGN

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is a great installment in Nintendo’s spectre-snaring series, even if it’s not the best one you can play on the Switch.

Shacknews

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is a treat for fans of the original game as well as those who were introduced to the franchise with Luigi’s Mansion 3. It’s been properly modernized with beautiful lighting and improved features, though there are some growing pains in the jump between platforms. Still, it provides the excellent blend of spooky and silly that makes the series so endearing.

Twinfinite

Overall, I really enjoyed Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD. The polished graphics are impressive and the gameplay is engaging. The game is infused with the classic Mario Bros. humor we all know and love, the story is fun, and our protagonist is a loveable goofball…The only thing that lets it down is the lack of extra features. It is a simple, straight-to-the-point remastering, perfectly produced for a new audience. Unless the 3DS version is your all-time favorite game, the fresh graphics are not enough to justify spending the full whack just to replay it on the Switch.

Gamingbolt

Luigi’s sophomore solo adventure is still an absolute blast, and even though this is a fairly conservative remaster, it makes for a welcome return to the haunts of Evershade Valley.

Gamepressure

While it may not be perfect or add more to what the original came with, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD lets those who never had a chance to play it experience it in a whole new light. Its bones may still scream 3DS handheld game, but you can appreciate how much went into making the game shine on Switch. Its updated visuals simply add to the fun gameplay and enticing levels of the original that were and still are a joy to play.

Game Informer

I am a big 3DS fan, but I am grateful to have Luigi’s Mansion 2 on the Switch. Dropping the Dark Moon subtitle and giving it a number also feels like a specific choice to make sure this game is fully recognized as part of the Luigi’s Mansion canon, which it fully deserves to be. This HD version is not a radical reinvention of the handheld game, but it’s a well-executed port of an experience that always deserved a little more.

Nichegamer

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is not worth the absurd asking price. This is still a decent game and while it does have some annoying design issues, kids won’t mind having to retrace their steps due to the mission parameters. This really should have been packaged with an HD port of the first Luigi’s Mansion too, like what was done with Pikmin 1+2. This would have added some much-needed value if it had to be a full $59.99.

If you didn’t like it the first time, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD won’t change your mind because it is the same game, just higher-def, more expensive, and they dropped the “Dark Moon” subtitle. If you enjoyed Luigi’s Mansion 2 when it was on 3DS, you are still going to enjoy yourself, but chances are you already have this game on your 3DS and there are no new additions or worthwhile changes for anyone returning.

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD‘s target audience is kids who grew up playing Luigi’s Mansion 3 but were born late to enjoy the past games on 3DS. It is the only explanation why it is utterly barebones and bereft of new features. Any kid who enjoyed Luigi’s Mansion 3 will still like Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD, but god help the poor parent who pays full price for it.

Thoughts

Although I did not play the Luigi’s Mansion 2: Dark Moon on the 3DS, the Luigi’s Mansion 2 screenshots and videos make the game look like a ton of fun. After reading other members of the media’s reviews and critiques, it feels like many were disappointed that the game was a carbon copy of the original with only updated graphics. Despite being almost identical, the HD remastering of the game still allows Nintendo Switch players to experience the game for the first time or revisit the franchise. Oddly, Nintendo did not package the remaster of the Original Luigi’s Mansion with it or do an updated version; this seems like a missed opportunity to have the whole franchise on the same platform.