Honestly, I can't tell you why I avoided this GameCube launch title all this time. I have a feeling it had to do with its rumored lack of length. (I've heard the game can be completed in just a handful of hours.) Another possibility: I was turned off by the fact that it wasn't a proper, Mario-centric platformer.
Whatever the reason, Luigi's Mansion failed to find its way into my shiny silver GameCube until now.
Actually, I shouldn't say "blame," as I'm really enjoying Luigi's Mansion so far. It took me a few minutes to come to terms with its controls, but since then I've had a blast. I especially like how Luigi's vacuum affects pretty much anything in its path: Hanging clothes, chairs, tables, vases--you name it, this little sucker reels them in (or at least attempts to) like so many fish.
I also really like this game's atmosphere. It's spooky, but silly, too. And the soundtrack? Subtle, but also oh so sweet. I especially get a kick out of how Luigi hums along with the main theme.
Have any of you played through Luigi's Mansion? If so, what are your thoughts on it? And are you looking forward to the sequel, or was one spooky Super Mario Bros. spinoff enough for you?
See also: Previous 'Acquisition #123' posts
30 comments:
This was the first GC game I ever played, actually. It was on my friend's console but I never got around to buying it myself once I bought a GC (the most modern console I own, by the way!). Not sure why as I really enjoyed it - fairly short but original and great fun :)
I love this game.
Yes, it's short (can be completed in about four hours if I remember correctly) but that shouldn't detract from what is a great little game.
That's interesting, Simon! BTW, I never knew that the GC is the most modern console you own. Anyway, yes, this game definitely is charming and fun so far. Can't wait to see how the sequel compares :)
Hey there, dste! Good to hear some other folks like this game, too. If the bit about four hours of play time is true ... woof! I can understand some of the complaints against this game, in that case -- especially since such short games weren't as common back then as they are now. That said, it's clearly a well-made game, and I'm really enjoying it so far, so who cares about the length?
I have a huuuuge soft spot for Luigi's Mansion because I really love the idea of a Mario series game that takes a character completely out of their element and really pushes it.
Like, not only do you have Luigi in a haunted house (woooOOooOOO), but it's a closed area that you explore over the span of several nights. The mansion is like the exact opposite of the Mario series' bountiful open-air areas, but it's still about movement and how to navigate each screen (the hard part of sucking up the ghosts is managing to keep your footing and follow them around while you do it).
Maybe this is just me, but I actually wish that the game was just a liiiiittle bit scarier. Just a little bit more sincerely unsettling!
It's a great game Bryan. I'm not surprised you are enjoying it. It's also short but that didn't stop me from enjoying it when I played it. Actually, I've found that I tend to enjoy shorter Mario games. That could be why I liked Luigi's Mansion (and now Super Mario Land 3D) so much.
Anyway, great buy!
I'm appalled that you never played it! With how you went on about the sequel, I figured you'd played and loved the original like I had! Oh man...
I think the original caught a lot of flak it didn't deserve. I always looked at it as a game to highlight just what the Gamecube could do. It certainly makes a better intro to a controller and a technological jump better than Wii Play ever did.
I'm eagerly anticipating the sequel.
madamluna: I like Luigi's Mansion (so far) for many of the same reasons you do. As for wishing it were a bit scarier: I can see that! I wonder if that will happen with the sequel? Probably not, considering it's a portable release and Nintendo knows a lot of youngsters buy their portable systems and games, but you never know...
Frank: Yeah, shorter games aren't always worse than longer games, are they? Hell, as an adult, I sometimes think "the shorter the game the better," as my poor age-addled brain can't seem to focus on longer games as well as I used to.
Anyway, I very much look forward to spending some more time with this one this weekend :)
The only time I like playing as Luigi is in Mario Kart 64.
Justin: Don't get me wrong -- I've long WANTED to play Luigi's Mansion, and it sat on my Amazon wish list for ages, but I just never got around to actually buying it. I always loved the aesthetics of it, though, and that's one of the main reasons I've been so stoked about the upcoming 3DS sequel, which actually looks quite a bit better than the GC original to my eyes.
BTW, I wouldn't be at all surprised if the flak you mentioned was part of the reason that I avoided the game for so long. I probably got caught up in the "but it's not a proper Mario game!" whinefest and also was turned off by its lack of length.
None of that matters now, though, does it? I finally have it and I'm finally playing it -- and, so far, I'm really enjoying it, too :)
You're kind of a curmudgeon, aren't you, Tom? ;)
Nice find. It's the only Gamecube title I'm still looking for and I don't know why I never picked it up.
Ah, I'm not alone then! Yay!!
Considering how much I've enjoyed it so far, Retr0gamer, I think it's safe to say you will enjoy it, too. So, go pick it up sometime soon!
Random aside: For some dumb reason I get a kick out of the fact that the game is known as "Luigi Mansion" in Japan. Not sure why the lack of an apostrophe and an s makes me giggle, but it does :P
I liked the game for a good bit but I had to give up near the end. There's some boo fetch quest that takes a lot of patience. I got everyone one of them except this one boo that kept flying between a room and a hallway. Making him really hard to catch.
Ah, fetch quests are the worst, aren't they, Adam? I didn't realize this game had any. I guess I'll find out soon enough -- hopefully this weekend. As such, I'll let you know if I find it as annoying as you did.
Good morning, Bryan.
I'm glad you got to pick this one up. As you noted, the atmosphere for this is fun - spooky but silly. The game itself is far from perfect, but it really entertained both my son and me when we got it. This was in fact one of our first titles we got with our Game Cube and the first game for it I had beaten. I'm really looking forward to the follow-up on my 3DS
Hey there, Chalgyr! You know what I really like about the game so far? How wonderfully the whole thing is constructed. It's like you're running around in a spooky dollhouse or something (and I mean that in a good way).
That's one major reason I'm really looking forward to the sequel. One of the things the 3DS does so well is make the games you're playing look like dioramas, and the GC version of this game already looked like a diorama so how can they go wrong with the follow-up?
Luigi's Mansion is one of my favourite video games on that generation. People rag on it's length, but I like the idea that I can sit down and conquer the game on a free Sunday afternoon. A true gem.
Nathan: It sounds like a lot of people here feel the same as you do about this game and its length. I have a feeling I'll agree with you when it's all said and done. After all, my attention span just isn't what it used to be :)
Anyway, thanks for the comment!
yay! you're finally playing Luigi's Mansion! Have you seen this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvpZRbV0EuA&hd=1 ? I WANT IT NOW! Also I want that ringtone at around 0:54 mark!!!
Anyway, enjoy the game :) I had heaps of fun with it when it came out. I think this and Eternal Darkness were my first GC games. So much fun :)
I hadn't seen that particular video before, Igor, but I've seen a lot of others. It sure looks great, doesn't it? Release it NOW, Nintendo!!
I'm shocked you haven't played this before, what with all the hype you've been giving Luigi's Mansion for the 3DS! :P
I haven't played it myself, as I never owned a GameCube. I might pick up a copy now that I have a Wii, though!
I know, Anne. It's kind of sad, isn't it? The thing is, I'd kind of forgotten about Luigi's Mansion until the 3DS sequel was announced at last year's E3. The footage shown there so blew me away that it prompted me to re-think my decision to pass on the original. Strangely, it took me a year to get off my butt and buy the damn thing :)
As for you picking it up, too: I really have a feeling you'd enjoy it. It's certainly a unique game, and so charming. Luigi humming along with the main theme (as you wander about the haunted mansion) gets me every time!
It sounds adorable! I'll definitely have to get a copy before the 3DS version comes out :)
If you can find one cheap enough, Anne, I'd certainly recommend it. The one I picked up was little more than $10, if I'm remembering correctly. (I know, I only picked it up a little over a week ago, but my mind's a bit off this weekend...) Anyway, the 3DS sequel looks even better to my eyes. Here hoping it actually is :)
It's great! I wait for the next Luigi Maison!
Me, too, Marco! Wish it was releasing sometime soon, rather than this holiday season, but I'll take what I can get :P
I will never understand why Luigi's Mansion got so much negative press. Big whup, you don't get to play as Mario. The game was a great GCN launch title and still looks impressive to this day. I was very excited when I heard this baby was getting a sequel, which I cannot wait to play. I also need to replay the original.
Hey there, Reggie! Yeah, you'd think people would be excited to get something other than a Mario game once in a while, right? Anyway, screw the haters, I say. Like you said, the game is great, especially in terms of its graphics. And the 3DS sequel looks even better!
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