Is Luigi‘s Mansion 3 Worth Buying? An Enthusiast‘s Deep Dive
As a long-time Nintendo fan, the Luigi‘s Mansion series holds a special place in my heart. When the original Luigi‘s Mansion launched back in 2001 alongside the GameCube, it marked a new era for the cowardly plumber. He embarked on a ghostbusting quest, armed with a vacuum cleaner, in one of the most charming and delightfully spooky games ever. Now with the release of Luigi‘s Mansion 3 in 2019, the series has hit new heights. After spending countless hours exploring its haunted hotel, I can definitively say Luigi‘s Mansion 3 is a must-have game absolutely worth buying. Let‘s take a deep dive on why it‘s one of the best Nintendo Switch experiences.
Re-Introducing a Cult Classic Series
For those unfamiliar with the series, the Luigi‘s Mansion games are an action-adventure spin-off from the main Super Mario titles. The original Luigi‘s Mansion on GameCube pioneered Luigi‘s ghost capturing adventures, having him explore a creepy mansion using his trusty Poltergust vacuum. Players enjoyed Luigi‘s humorous cowardice and the satisfying gameplay of stunning ghosts with Luigi‘s flashlight and sucking them up with the Poltergust.
The sequel, Luigi‘s Mansion: Dark Moon on the Nintendo 3DS, refined the formula even further in 2013. These two games cemented Luigi‘s ghostbusting crusades into classics with fans begging for more. Luigi‘s Mansion 3 brings the concept to new heights on the Switch, building on nearly 20 years of legacy.
Key Details About Luigi‘s Mansion 3
Before detailing why Luigi‘s Mansion 3 is a must-buy, let‘s recap some key facts for those unfamiliar with what this game offers:
Release Date: October 31, 2019
Developer: Next Level Games
Game Length: 15-20 hours main story; around 30 for 100% completion
Modes: 1-2 players locally; up to 8 players online and local wireless
Platform: Nintendo Switch (exclusive)
Price: $59.99 USD
At Home in a Haunted Hotel
Rather than a mansion, the setting of Luigi‘s Mansion 3 is a luxury hotel with 15 floors, a basement, and a roof to explore. The ghosts have taken over, turning each floor into themed environments like a medieval castle and Egyptian pyramid. Luigi traverses floors using elevators, gradually ascending the hotel on his quest to save Mario and friends. The floors house puzzles, unique bosses, and secrets aplenty. I loved exploring the diverse array of environments, which continuously surprised me with attention to detail. It really feels like a living, breathing hotel full of paranormal mayhem.
Spectral Abilities
What makes bustin‘ ghosts so satisfying is Luigi‘s arsenal. His Poltergust vacuum returns with some new upgrades. The Suction Shot enables Luigi to fire a plunger on a rope to latch onto objects and pull them. He can also slam ghosts and objects with a satisfying burst. These new abilities, combined with Luigi‘s classic flashlight stun and vacuum suck, make capturing ghosts a blast. Pulling off combos feels so good and the controls are super tight. I especially loved using Suction Shot to interact with the environments, pulling curtains, lifting buckets, spinning ceiling fans. The physics and responsiveness make exploring fun whether there are ghosts or not!
Terrifying Bosses
After cleaning out each floor of spectral sightings, Luigi eventually faces wicked boss ghosts like the Portrait Ghosts. These big baddies put up a fun fight, requiring mastery of Luigi‘s abilities. For example, Kruller the mall cop ghost charges on a creepy carousel horse. Only by surveying his attack patterns can Luigi stun, vacuum, and capture him. Every floor‘s boss provides memorable battles that test your skill.
Gooey Co-op Action
A major addition to the franchise is Gooigi, a gooey doppelganger of Luigi. Once unlocked, a second player can control Gooigi for co-op play! My favorite memories were teaming up to solve puzzles that require both characters. One player may need to hold down a switch while the other crosses a gap for example. Coordinating and communicating to bust ghosts proved super fun. And seeing two Luigis on-screen never gets old.
Scares and Smiles
Of course a huge part of Luigi‘s appeal is his personality, on full display here. The exaggerated cowardly reactions to jump scares are priceless. Pop-up ghosts will always elicit a chuckle as Luigi freaks out. Luigi‘s charm comes across in the lively animations too, like the way he hums along to the catchy music. I‘ll never forget the pure joy of making him dance along to the end credits theme. Even the gloomy ghosts have delightful personalities, making you almost feel bad for slamming them!
| Review Scores | Thumbs Up |
|---|---|
| IGN – 9.3/10 | Satisfying Ghost Capturing |
| GameSpot – 8/10 | Charming Personality & Humor |
| Nintendo Life – 9/10 | Gorgeous Visuals |
| GamesRadar+ – 4.5/5 | Clever Environmental Puzzles |
Beloved By Reviewers and Fans
It‘s clear I‘m not alone in my praise for Luigi‘s Mansion 3. Professional reviewers consistently awarded it high scores, as seen above. They too found it one of the best Switch games thanks to the tight controls, charming characters, ingenious designs, and wealth of content. Over 8 million other gamers clearly agree too, having purchased Luigi‘s latest adventure. User reviews are overwhelmingly positive as well. It‘s not just me – Luigi‘s Mansion 3 is considered one of THE must-have games for the Nintendo Switch due to its sheer quality and enjoyment.
Replay Value Times Two
Even after 15-20 hours completing the main hotel quest, Luigi‘s Mansion 3 kept me coming back for more. Finding all the hidden collectible gems takes thorough exploration. Tracking down where those sneaky Boos are hiding will puzzle even veterans. Of course playing through the story again in co-op with a friend is a blast thanks to Gooigi. But there‘s an additional mode too – online Scarescaper! This allows up to 8 players to cooperate clearing floors together. It‘s a frantic and fun party-like experience. With so much to find, challenges to complete, and multiplayer action, Luigi‘s Mansion offers plenty of replay value.
Should You Buy It?
If you own a Nintendo Switch, absolutely do not hesitate to purchase Luigi‘s Mansion 3. This game stands shoulder to shoulder with the very best experiences on the console. The impeccable polish, gorgeous visuals, engaging exploration, entertaining combat, and sheer personality place it in the top tier. Luigi has never been more lovable to control. It exemplifies excellence in game design and attention to detail. I will forever remember the joyful time I spent guiding Luigi through the hotel‘s labyrinth of paranormal puzzles and activities. The way each floor surprises and delights makes this an adventure I can recommend to all players regardless of skill level or age. Do yourself a favor and let Luigi invite you to his haunted getaway – you‘ll be glad you checked in!