Better than the original
| Platform | OVERALL |
|---|---|
| Nintendo 3DS | 9.20 |
| Overall | 9.20 |
|
Note: I have not tried the online or local multiplayer which is supposed to be as good as Mario Kart. If you intend to play that I would assume the score would be even higher as it has got unanimous praise. I am on the final mansion. Luigi's Mansion was the often forgotten sometimes maligned Gamecube launch title. Whilst the Xbox was launching with Halo, Luigi's mansion was somewhat decried and disparaged as being a light, kiddified game. In the following years the whole ridiculous kiddy criticisms have abated somewhat. Perhaps we as gamers who have grown up with the industry have matured in our perceptions as we have our own kids or nephews. Whatever the reason, bringing back this franchise for the first time in over a decade was an inspired move. Indeed the first GC Luigis mansion was made and tested in 3D and actually the GC was stereoscopic 3D capable: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/98097-Nintendo-Built-3D-Into-the-Gamecube So the first thing to get across with Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon is that it's a Nintendo quality game. What does that mean? Well, if you just played it and knew nothing about the developer you would assume it was made by a Nintendo first party. It has that elusive extra Nintendo something, that multitude of little touches that elevate a game and make it something special, just that little bit of magic that makes it charming and memorable. It also has that tight, design focused philosyphy. Luigi's Mansion resembles in some form, Metroid Prime or the the Zelda dungeon approach - yet rendered and presented in a side on viewpoint. The mansions are tightly designed, each room usually has something to find or discover and later mansions have rooms that are linked in clever ways. One must also mention the superb animation in this game, not OMG mega realistic animation but real, key animation the kind of thing one might see in an early Mickey Mouse cartoon. It has that quality. Luigi's characterisation is achieved not by dialogue and exposition but through sheer animation and it works wonderfully. So well in fact that a lot of developers would do well to analyse this game to see what they could do better to bring their characters to life. Luigi is a living breathing thing, a shivering, bumbling scaredy cat who tip toes and stoops tentatively through the environment. He runs with a wibbly wobbly pot bellied run, he crouches and stoops and covers his eyes when afraid - his body twists and turns when he jumps in fright. Despite visuals which are usually somewhere between N64 and Wii most of the time, the animations still look wonderful. On the visual side, this game does not even look as good as a GC title really, it has some nice reflection and lighting effects but is generally not well textured and hurt by an abundance of jaggies, which do not even abate in 2D mode. BUT regardless of this visual deficiency the 3D effect and overall effect is so charmingly magnificent, the game would feel like a shell of itself true self in 2D. This game - this series feels like it was MADE for 3D. Not tailored to 3D, it feels like the original GC game the whole format of room by room was made for 3D. On the 3DS the game comes alive, it feels less like a 2D screen and more like someone has sliced open your little sisters doll house and you are peering inside like a giant. Objects that were previously flat gain a remarkable solidity and tangible nature. It reminds me of when I first played SFIV on 3DS, the characters in 3D looks real - like little toy action figures come to life in a diorama. The lighting also helps, some floors are reflective and luigi's torch when facing towards the screen projects the light, somewhat blinding you with lens flare the way a real torch shone into your eyes would. The controls are solid, you lose twin stick controls but it has generally been well worked to use the one stick and you aren't often attacked from all angles. In the game there are 5 mansions, an abundance of content for what you would assume would be a lighter handheld game. In fact it's probably at least twice the length of the original and that doesn't even factor in the multiplayer. The design also seems to be enhanced over the original, with a blacklight to display hidden objects, a zapper to stun ghosts and the ability to nab multiple enemies at once. When not Ghostbusting you are using your poltergust to interact, solve basic puzzles and rummage through the environment. It has some memorable bosses too, one laugh out loud moment when you fight some... stairs. Overall this is a top notch game and essential if you own a 3DS. |
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Posted by gamingeek Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:07:27
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Fri, 12 Apr 2013 18:24:27
I like this review writing GG. Nice review.
Fri, 12 Apr 2013 18:31:54
Lol. The stairs of DOOM! I wanted more in depth impressions of the bosses. The train one was incredible.
Fri, 12 Apr 2013 18:35:48
Train one?
Fri, 12 Apr 2013 18:37:38
Toy train
Fri, 12 Apr 2013 18:41:42
Is that in the final mansion?
Fri, 12 Apr 2013 18:48:05
The treacherous mansion
Fri, 12 Apr 2013 18:57:51
Don't think I'm quite there. Awesome interview - Next Level discusses balancing nostalgia and new ideas in Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/190322/making_a_game_the_nintendo_way__.php
Fri, 12 Apr 2013 19:02:48
I thought you finished it if you reviewed it.
Fri, 12 Apr 2013 21:11:52
I'm on the last mansion, just rescued the two toads last night.
Sat, 13 Apr 2013 08:39:26
How come your reviews are so popular. 
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