Around every corner... lurks a ghost.

Luigi's Mansion


Published by: Nintendo

Developed by: Nintendo EAD

Genre: Adventure
Number of Players: 1
Release Date:
US: November 18, 2001
Japan: September 14, 2001
Europe: May 3, 2002

ESRB Content Descriptors: Suitable for Persons Ages Six and Older

Features: 480p Support, Memory Card

Introduction
In this title, Luigi sports in his first ever starring role. He had won a contest, and was given a free mansion. Pretty cool huh? But who would have thought it would be filled with creepy rooms and ghouls. When Mario was taken by the evil King Boo, it was up to Luigi to save him. And when only equipped with a vaccuum, flashlight, and a GameBoy, getting through the mansion will be a very difficult task. But what better to use a vaccuum then to suck up ghosts with it? In Luigi's Mansion, always stay on your tippy-toes, because you are about to go through the worst of fears. And after all of this ghostbusting is over? Well, we'll just see what kind of mansion you get.

Controls
The controls are pretty easy to use, unless you are shaking in fright.

A Button: Examine / Open up a door
C Stick: Changing direction of flashlight and vaccuum
B Buootn: Hold to keep flashlight off
L Button: Expel the element (Fire, Water, Ice, Wind) from the vaccuum
Joy Stick: Move Luigi: walk, run
R Button: Hold to suck up ghosts
Y Button: Floor map
X Button: Search mode; shows Luigi's perspective
Z Button: Item list

Gameplay
The gameplay for this game is pretty straight forward once you have an understanding of the controls. Your object is to suck up a total of 50 Boos, and capture each and every spirit that walks around the mansion. When you suck up a spirit, pearls (the currency $$) are collected, earning you that much more money to buy a new mansion. When you have captured a spirit, they are turned into pictures, and framed in the gallery for safe keeping. All of this leads up to the final battle, where you must save Mario from King Boo. If you really like frightening thrillers; with a little bit of humor, then you wont be disappointed with the gameplay, although the game does get a little repetitive sometimes. Even though it only features an adventure mode, it wont stop you from playing time after time. Overall: 4/5.

Sound
The sound quality isnt that bad for one of the GCN's early released games. the sound effects were a plus in this game; the screaming boos, the dropping of a pearl or key, as well as the sound of the vaccuum sucking up your enemies. It was all very well done. But the big problem with the music of this game, (and Im pretty sure everyone agrees with me on this) is the fact that it replays the same thing over and over again, especially if you are stuck in one area. What made me laugh was the fact that Luigi would hum the tune with a frightened voice. Most of the sounds going on in this game werent that bad, but maybe if a different song played for a different area, etc. Overall: 3/5

Picture
When Luigi's Mansion made its first release on the GCN, it was probably a revolution in graphic design, for it was one of the consoles first released games. Now it may not look so great, in compaison to the release of the Wii, but the new look was something for everyone to look forward too. Making ghosts hollow, the look of the fire or ice as it protruded out of the vaccuum, and the look of the Mech-Bowser all turned heads as this game was released. Even though it may not look so good today, Luigi's Mansion was one of its first to undergo changes, as well as Luigi himeslf. What better to celebrate Luigi's first ever role playing game? Overall, very well designed. Just imagine how good the graphics would look now. A 5/5


For Luigi its all in a days work... sorta.

Replay Value
In this game; in fact for most every adventure title, the replay value is O.K. Not very many people go through an adventure again once it has been played the first time. But Nintendo did their best to avoid that fact. With Luigi's Mansion, the prize for capturing every ghost and saving Mario was a new mansion. Now the type of mansion was based on how much money you collected during the game. there were 5 different mansion ranks. And each time you restarted the story over again you were able to have a second chance at earning a better mansion. When I did this, It was fun until about the 6th time. and I only moved up 2 grades. So if you are aiming for the best possible mansion, then the replay value for this game is pretty much worth it, but for those who get bored of doing the same thing over, not that good. Overall: a 3/5

Luigi's first ever adventure scored an average rating. But this game still kept me hooked when I first got it. It may be pretty hard to find this game now, but if you happen to see it at your local game store, pick it up. I guaruntee you will have fun playing this game. Ive never tried playing mine on the Wii yet, so maybe it will look or feel better by using a Wii classic controller. I you thought ghost stories were myths, think again..

Thanks for viewing!

If you would like to view some trailers for this game, click here: Luigi's Mansion Trailers
I would also like to feature some Luigi's Mansion soundtracks (credit to Chaoszero) if you would like to listen to them. Heres the link: Luigi's Mansion OST's

Thanks to: Snowdog4691, and sorta Chaoszero, for approving this review. XD