Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon is a strong title for the 3DS, one with strong gameplay that showcases the system's graphical potential and makes good use of the 3D technology. With a good-length, well-put-together campaign, and plenty of extra collectibles for the completionist, it's a good value for your money.
As Luigi, you explore several mansions that have been haunted by troublemaking ghosts (not to be confused with Boos, who are also present but in smaller numbers). Along the way, you solve puzzles, collect money, capture ghosts, and try to recollect shards of the shattered Dark Moon. The atmosphere is typical Mario-universe, perhaps slightly darker than usual, but with plenty of comic relief at Luigi's expense. It's a perfect style for kids, but I still found myself greatly enjoying the gameplay as an adult gamer, even if watching Luigi jump and shiver in fear doesn't particularly amuse me.
Most of the gameplay revolves around the Poltergust 5000, a vacuum with attachments that would make any Dirt Devil feel outclassed. Full completion of the game requires a thorough inspection of each room with your Poltergust - can you suck up that carpet to reveal a hidden button in the floor? Are there gold bars stashed behind that painting on the wall? What happens if you blow air on the ceiling fan? Every room is very interactive, and your explorations are often rewarded with ample cash.
The game makes excellent use of physics in conjunction with the Poltergust. Wads of paper or cash swirl through the air in the vortex of your vacuum's intake. Cloth realistically flaps, folds, and stretches when pulled on or blown by the machine. Watching the effects of the vacuum is its own reward. I liked that Dark Moon offers more monetary variety than the typical Mario game. You'll still be collecting gold coins, but there are also paper bills and gold bars. Bills are fun to suck up, and the bars are rewarding to find.
The highlight of the game is in conflict with ghosts. You will attempt to stun ghosts you encounter with a burst from your flashlight, and then catch them in the intake gust of your vacuum. Once a ghost is caught in the vortex, it will squirm around rapidly. By pulling away from it, you can charge your Poltergust for electric bursts. Each fight is a visual treat, with brightly colored ghosts and electrical discharges, swirling winds, and lighting effects. Catching multiple ghosts at once causes them to drop extra cash, with huge bonuses when you capture three or more.
Each location has about five stages, including a boss stage, and a bonus stage. The rooms you explore in each stage often overlap, but there will be differences from stage to stage - new treats might be hidden in the dresser, cobwebs might block a previously open path, or new passageways may appear. These changes keep the stages feeling fresh. Each stage (except the boss stage) contains a hidden Boo, found by illuminating invisible objects with the "dark-light device" - a paranormal flashlight. Capturing all the Boos in an area unlocks the bonus stage.
I feel that the mansion setting really benefits from the 3D capabilities. With the 3D slider on, you feel like you are peering into the mansion, a miniature stage set before you. The effect works well, and the game doesn't feel the need to remind you that you are playing a 3DS by using gimmicky 3D.
Give the trailers a watch - if the visuals or gameplay seem appealing to you, this is a must-have.
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I specifically purchased this listing because it showed the original, US packaging. As you can see, I received the Nintendo Selects version. Nowhere is this version shown on the product page.
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