Luigi's Mansion 2 HD

Luigi's Mansion 2 is a charming and spooky adventure that’s more accessible to newcomers than its predecessor. The game offers plenty of ghost-hunting fun, but its simplified mechanics and structure may not appeal as much to longtime fans of the series. It’s a great entry point for new players, but those seeking a deeper challenge might find it a bit too straightforward.

All in all, this is another successful revamp from Nintendo, even if this isn't my personal favorite of the series. Luigi is charming as he shivers his way through the haunted houses while nervously humming the game's theme song. However, I miss a little more variety in the battles against the ghosts. It becomes a bit monotonous in the long run to simply flash them with the flashlight and then drag them in with the vacuum cleaner. This, combined with the fact that the flow of the game is interrupted by being taken out of the houses every fifteen minutes, puts a dampener on the engagement. However, this can be a matter of taste and preference. Otherwise, this is a good mix of low-key and child-friendly horror and slapstick humor that can probably entertain most people.

As a Nintendo Switch release, Luigi's Mansion 2 HD manages to entertain despite the problems that eventually make it tiresome, just like the original. Although it's not the best game in the franchise, it's a title that has interesting mechanics and relies especially on the contextual narrative adapted for each region. For those who played the original, however, the big difference is in the controls. The visual evolution isn't big enough to justify the full price.

Another success in terms of historic preservation, and it's worth nothing that it's still a great game, but there's not much there to talk about Luigi's Mansion 2 again.

Luigi's Mansion 2 HD is one of the worst remasters ever released on Nintendo Switch. It takes us to scary gameplay and solving various puzzles that are so popular in the series with the charisma of our cowardly friend.

Offering the best way to play Luigi’s Mansion 2, but falling short of the crown of best game in the series thanks to its superior supernatural sequel, this HD remake is an ideal pickup for any Switch owner who didn’t own a 3DS.

Luigi's Mansion 2 HD still has the feeling of a portable game that was tailored to the system it was built for, but for the most part, things have been ported over extremely well. The mission-based structure that pulls players out of the game on a frequent basis, constant interruptions from E. Gadd, and a lack of saving until stages are completed detract from what is otherwise a light-hearted and fun little adventure rife with plenty of secrets to discover and puzzles galore, albeit one that isn't on par with the first and third entries in the series. The improved visuals and controls are a boon that make Luigi's Mansion 2 a better game than it was before, but with a lack of much else that's new, the high price tag is a big ask.

Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon on 3DS was a surprising revival for an unconventional game. Now that we've had Luigi's Mansion 3, the series has come more into its own, and the second game is neither the trailblazer nor the refined third entry. That makes Luigi's Mansion 2 HD an oddball--less essential than some other Switch remakes, but an interesting middle step in the development of Luigi's puzzle series, with its own charms and place in the series history.

Unquestionably, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is the best version of this second episode of the franchise. The remaster stands out with careful production, which makes the experience even more lively and pleasant both for the eyes and the controller in hand. However, it suffers somewhat from its aging. The arcade aspect, coupled with certain mechanics and a lack of renewal in the environments tends to be boring. In this sense, the title inevitably suffers from comparison with the third part, released on Switch, which offers a modernized and more effective formula. Therefore, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD would undoubtedly have deserved to be released before this sequel. It will therefore probably appeal more to those who have never tried Luigi’s Mansion 3. Despite everything, it is a nice opus, which has everything to restore its image after a mixed success on 3DS.

Luigi's Mansion 2 HD is a handsome remaster of a great 3DS game, but it now lives in the shadow of its sequel. It's still a fun time, though, and a great chance for newer Luigi's Mansion 3 fans to get some more ghostbusting action in.

Quotation forthcoming.

It would be extremely difficult not to be charmed by the graphics and animation in Luigi’s Mansion 2, as the passion behind them is practically tangible. Even the central focus of puzzle solving and ghost-catching are fun on their own. However, I cannot possibly overstate how much of the joy gets sucked out by its strict adherence to a completely linear chapter progression. It’s like a hospital painted in vibrant colors. It does a lot to brighten things up, but you can only do so much to counterbalance the sterility.

Despite some of the minor story and gameplay grievances, this is still a wonderful experience that has only been further improved with modern upgrades. This HD version's new or updated content offers only benefits when compared to its original iteration, even if they’re primarily cosmetic. Whether you’re experiencing this haunting tale for the first time or looking to return to a familiar classic, there’s no denying that Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is the definitive way to play.

Luigi's Mansion 2 HD isn't for everyone, although fans of cartoonish action-adventure games or Mario in general, should be happy. But if you're neither of those two things, you'll most likely bounce off of this game, because it's many elements seem archaic.

Luigi's Mansion 2 HD is exactly as it sounds. It's the second game in the series with a very fresh coat of paint. Unfortunately, while the visual upgrade is a decent effort, it ultimately still harbours the same design quirks that made the original game so controversial. While it falls flat in the face of the games that came before and after it, it's a great grab if you're looking to experience some more Luigi's Mansion.

Like the mansions of Evershade Valley, Luigi's Mansion 2 HD is haunted by the ghosts of the past. With Luigi's Mansion 2 HD, Nintendo had a perfect opportunity to revise the worst aspect of the original, and offer the definitive version of an already well-liked game. Instead, it feels like a much harder recommendation, especially for anyone that already played this on 3DS.

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is a frenetic, atmospheric ghost hunt that’s been sliced and stacked into something safe, digestible, and slow.

Fans of the original looking for a nostalgia fix and loyal Nintendo completists won’t be disappointed. But Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD definitely isn’t Nintendo at its inventive best. If it were, it would have Mario’s name on the front.

As ever, Mario’s brother is a scream, but this remaster is haunted by the spectre of its much better sequel – and the price might spook you.

Luigi's Mansion 2 HD is, for good or ill, the minimum that a Nintendo game's remaster for the Switch can offer. It's not essential, but not everything has to be.

Luigi's Mansion 2 HD is a no-frills port of the 3DS game with some minor visual upgrades. It won’t win over those who disliked the original, but it’s a solid experience for everyone else.

It's still a pleasant platformer with interesting gameplay mechanics, varied and detailed unique locations to explore, a broad list of enemy types to face and overcome, and lots of secrets to find hidden in nooks and crannies. But at the same time, this HD remaster is inferior to Luigi's Mansion 3 in pretty much every conceivable metric, and there's not a strong enough sense of nostalgia here to save it.