The Third Haunt
When there’s a mansion filled with ghostly horrors of all shapes and sizes, who you gonna call? Luigi, of course. So break out the Gameboy Horror and prepare to get spooky, because the tallest Mario brother is back for a fright-filled adventure on the Nintendo Switch.
Luigi’s Mansion 3 is the latest installment in a series that dates back to the launch of the Nintendo GameCube in 2001. A devotion to equal parts creepy and kooky has made Luigi’s Mansion a cult classic series, and fans have been left wanting more for years. The wait is finally coming to an end, and everything that makes the series so enjoyable seems to be present; as well as a few new additions that keep things interesting.
New Moves
The usual flashlight and vacuum mechanics are present, but with some additional (and very useful) moves. As well as the usual flashlight blast to stun ghosts, Luigi can deliver a burst of light to knock them back when he’s surrounded. In the demo at E3, this was exceedingly useful in tight hallways with multiple ghosts.
Using the vacuum will be familiar to anyone who’s played previous entries, but the A button now allows for smashing enemies or yanking parts of the environment. After a few seconds of successfully vacuuming, a press of the A button makes Luigi whip a ghost in the opposite direction; temporarily incapacitating them and making for an easy capture.
A suction dart is another addition to the green plumber’s arsenal that makes for some interesting moments in combat as well as puzzle solving. Pressing Y fires a suction cup dart that can be vacuumed and yanked to remove enemy shields, or expose new areas in the environment. The boss battle at the end of the demo relied heavily on this mechanic, and it managed to add a layer of intrigue to the usual flashlight/vacuum one-two punch.
Gorgeous Goo
Perhaps the most interesting feature, and most full of potential for unique puzzles, is Gooigi. Clicking the right thumbstick spawns a goo version of Luigi, immune to spikes and able to perform actions in tandem with Luigi. In the demo, Gooigi was used to activate a windmill-powered elevator and send Luigi to the next floor. This simple puzzle shows the potential for some very creative Gooigi-based content in the final game.
The graphics are simple but effective, with a vibrant color palette that’s worthy of the Nintendo seal of quality. Luigi cartoonishly shakes and shudders his way through the horrors around him. The ghosts give off a sinister glow as they creep through the dark corridors. Everything has the dark-yet-whimsical aesthetic that defines Luigi’s Mansion.
Sounds Like Fun
The audio is top-notch as well. Luigi’s moans of fear echo through the halls as floorboards creak and swarms of rats squeal. The music is sufficiently sinister, and accurately matches what’s happening on screen.
The boss at the end of the demo was a fairly simple, but entertaining experience. Like bosses in previous entries, his design and animations are brimming with personality. Wielding a lance and riding on ghostly horseback, he charges at Luigi with brazen confidence that quickly turns out to be his downfall.
Switch owners should keep an eye on Luigi’s Mansion 3. The demo is everything a fan of the series could want, both in style and execution. While there isn’t a release date yet, Nintendo has previously stated we can expect the game sometime in 2019.
Be sure to stay tuned to NerdOn! for more articles and other great E3 content.
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