The Final Word game review

Luigi's Mansion -- Nintendo

R.I.P.
A great launch title for the system that really sets the ground work for promising material to come. For all intents and purposes, Luigi's Mansion is a classic Nintendo platform game. Playable by both adults and children, although adults may find the ability to solve the game quickly a turn off. Kids on the other hand will spend hours on this game. If you're really looking for something to compare this to though, the closest concept would have to be the movie Ghostbusters.

More than anything, Luigi's Mansion really demonstrates that Nintendo is making strong efforts at developing a true cartoonish/animated look-and-feel for their games that doesn't simply revolve around making everything cel-shaded. Everything about this game has the traditional Nintendo feel that is a trademark of Nintendo games since all the way back to the NES. Control of everything Luigi does is right on the mark, and catching ghosts is a good challenge. In fact, as you get better at controlling the vacuum, you can get better a snatching up the ghosts.

Music and effects in the game is great. For instance as Luigi is wandering around the mansion before ghosts have been cleared out of the area, he sings in a very nervous hum which is accompanied by ghost chirps which are in time with his singing. Then, when an area is clear and the lights are on, he walks proudly and whistles his song. It's amazingly subtle, but pretty soon you're singing along and you realize that Luigi singing is the background music in much of the game. What a novel way to do the game music!

Graphics are really nice, game control is just spot on the mark, and sound is great and very deep in content. The story is amusing, and everything about the game is classic fun. Really, the only thing I can knock this on is that as a long-time gamer, the length of the game was way too short for my liking. Sure you can play through multiple times, but even that only goes so far. In any event, if you have kids, you must get them this game. They'll love playing it, and you may also.

(12/2001)