Originally releasing as a launch title for the GameCube back in 2001, Luigi's Mansion has just been reworked for a release on Nintendo 3DS, launching in North America last week and in Europe tomorrow. It's an interesting little project - what was a launch title for one console is arriving at the very latter stages of another, and Nintendo has employed the help of Grezzo (the studio behind the 3DS ports of Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask) to do just that.
Things get more interesting thanks to the fact that Luigi's Mansion was a game that was originally designed for stereoscopic 3D, but never saw this be realised due to the limitations of the technology at the time; the 3DS is finally offering the game that chance it so desperately desired all those years ago. It's still a blast to play, too; we said that the new release is "as fun now as it was when the GameCube launched" in our review, and we're sure players will agree.
But what about from a highly-detailed technical point of view? Well, the folks over at Digital Foundry have been putting the game through its spooky paces to find out more, with some interesting little discoveries being noted throughout. The team has praised the 3DS version for its "completely revamped" visuals, "higher level of detail and nuance", and "smoothly rendered" character models, while noticing several areas where the GameCube version still comes out on top.
The game's target of 30fps doesn't always manage to stay completely solid on 3DS, and various visual tricks such as shadows inside the mansion have been dialled down slightly. On the flip side, little touches have been added here and there to spruce up the new version a little, meaning that there are pros and cons for both versions. You can read up on Digital Foundry's full verdict here, or see it for yourself in the video below.
Have you picked up Luigi's Mansion on 3DS? If you're in Europe, do you plan on buying the game when it launches tomorrow? Let us know your thoughts on the new version in the comments below.
[source eurogamer.net]
Comments 54
Biggest Con? Not on the Switch. I would buy the game again in a heartbeat if it got a Switch release. Not sure why they are still keeping the 3ds on life support.
Imagine 1,2 and the next Luigi's mansion being in a Switch bundle. That would be a dream come true.
@Kalmaro
I agree. When they announced this I was sure it would be for Switch.
They should've released it as a Switch game. This game deserves on better hardware with better graphics. It should've beat the Gamecube version. Why can't they bothered to release the older games on Switch? Everything goes 3DS alongside Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. Such a shame
@rdrunner1178 Right? Seemed like an obvious choice. Oh well.
Sorry, not enough changes or improvements to make me play this on 3DS and not GC. I'm gonna pass on this one. Captain Toad is a different story, with the stages not available on Wii U and vice versa, so of that game I want both versions.
After all these years luigis mansion in 3D.
This is better played on a 3ds with 3d than switch in my opinion.
"Oh no, not 3ds!"
Lol.
Have a GC, never played it. Don't plan on playing this as it isn't my cup of tea, but it's nice the 3ds is still getting games.
This is a game that really benefits from the 3D effect of the 3DS so I see why it went to 3DS. I loved the 3D on the sequel. And yet, I find myself not buying it precisely because I"m not sure I'd play it on my 3DS at this time. Maybe when 3 comes out, 1 and 2 will be brought to Switch. Though.....I'd miss that 3D....
I have to ask, can this game be played on the first gen 3DS?
I bought this and I am having a blast! My only gripe is that the c-stick (aiming up or down) seems to have a slight “lag” in it. True, you can tilt the system to do the same thing and it’s not a deal-breaker but it’s one thing that I felt was “off” about the game.
Now for those complaining this isn’t on switch instead. I agree to a degree. If we read all the news though, this game was supposed to be stereoscopic 3D from the beginning so that’s why this is utterly the perfect reason to have it on the 3DS. Would’ve been awesome to have on Switch I agree but we have the third installment coming down the road which will fulfill that.
Also, for me I find myself still playing the 3DS more than the Switch. I know this will change over time as more of those classics start rolling out onto Switch but for now, if you own a 3DS and you like Luigi’s Manaion, you owe it to yourself and Nintendo to get this. It’s truly fun and a great experience all around! I do not regret my purchase.
@Kalmaro Because the 3ds is long from dead ma dude
@mchief190 Yes, it can! Though as the video mentions, there are some slight performance issues when compared to a New 3DS. Nothing serious though.
@Kalmaro same, I was so disappoint that this and 2 are not on Switch, it's where they should be in glorious hd and obvs coz 3 will be in Switch sooo? C'mon Ninty pull ya finger out and get em done up on switch!!! I'd buy it right away!
Loved the original, and love this one. I'm on the hidden mansion right now. Couldn't care less that it's not on Switch, in fact I think I like it better with 3D.
@patbacknitro18 Yeah, because Nintendo won't take it off life support.
If we ran a poll right now asking which platform people would want this game on, 3Ds or Switch, we both know who would win.
I'd gladly trade 3D and a smaller screen for a smooth 60fps experience on the go or at least docked.
I live in Europe and my copy shipped today. I sold my GameCube version as soon as this was announced, sort of offsetting the price for the upgrade. Really looking forward to exploring the mansion again! <3
And to everyone complaining about this being on the 3DS instead of the Switch? You're getting Luigi's Mansion 3 next year! Let the 3DS have some ports and be happy Nintendo is supporting another system despite a new one being out for once. Usually they just jump ship immediately and don't look back. Glad the 3DS is still getting all this love.
Yeah I've been having fun with the 3DS port, I can confirm it's pretty well done. Adding in the option to use the Strobulb was a great idea as well. I get why they went the 3DS route with this one. There's a lot of features that just work better on 3DS than they would on the Switch. The map for example is very nice to have on the bottom screen and the 3D is actually good.
@NintyNate Exactly? Can you imagine the sales if they had bundled all 3 together?
I prefer Luigi Mansion 2. The 3D looks better and you got a DS not a crappy Gameboy color.
I never had any of the Nintendo Home Consoles except for the NES and the Switch now. I will definitely buy this … and probably Dark Moon.
The sequel on 3DS was gorgeous in 3D, so I'm going to get this remake soon. Even though I still have it on my cube, still ready to play. I'm really looking forward to the third game, but I must say, I'll miss the diorama feel.
@Kalmaro I'd happily pay £100 for that s**t lol don't know why they focus on games for the DS still, Metroid Samus returns would of been better full hd and prettier details on Switch... I want Luigi's Mansion trilogy for Switch!!!
Even though it felt like a downgrade. I had fun with one of my nephews over the weekend with the game. Adding the Goo guy kind of made the game too easy though, but it was interesting and enjoyable to play together. Started it on my own during the week.
I’d like to replay LM1, but I’m holding out hope they put it (or 1 + 2 bundle) on Switch someday.
@Zuljaras play dark moon first as it’s cheaper
I wish this game was released on Switch too, but I understand why it wasn't. A lot of commenters who say they would have preferred Switch I think are forgetting this game was originally intended to launch on the GameCube with stereoscopic 3D as an option. Due to technical limitations back in 2001, that was never fully realized. Now with 3DS, Nintendo has the ability to launch the game in the originally conceived way, with stereoscopic 3D intact. Yeah a Switch version of the game would be great but on the 3DS Nintendo has the ability to let gamers play the game as it was meant to be played, in full 3D! Maybe a Switch port will be in the future when the 3rd game comes out, or if Nintendo does a 180 reversal and finally offers a Virtual Console on Switch with GameCube support!
I know it kind of sucks that there is no switch version but I love my new 3ds still and any chance I get to pull it out and play is good. I wish the switch had a 3d option. I know that will never happen but a bit of wishful thinking can't hurt.
It's very interesting just how much better makers of 3D games have gotten with considering the look of the final full-screen image, rather than obsessing over the individual 3D assets, over the last two decades.
Colors, values, lighting, concentration of details, all these things. Many GameCube-era games look like a complete jumble of details and disparate assets when you look at them today.
I know people wanted this on Switch, but I think this being on 3DS has more to do with the game originally being intended to display in 3D.
Grezzo got rid of the skull on the front door of the mansion. Why? Seems like a silly change.
@AlternateButtons I hear you. A good number of us who got the 3DS upgraded to the Switch though and would rather the game be on a bigger screen.
Luigi humping the furniture (Oh yeah! Oh yeah!) never gets old.
According to the video the 3DS version is not a port but a remake. A port is adapting the game to different hardware and a remake is rebuild the game. There are some things that have been improved but others that are better on GameCube because the game made use of specific hardware functions like double framebuffering.
I still haven't played the 3DS version, it is not out in Europe until tomorrow. There are some things that I think that look better on the GameCube game but I can't wait to play the game in 3D and see those new textures by myself. I think this is a case where there is no definitive version.
Still, rehashed game at full price... this is 19.99 Digital, at Best.
Hold my cash for Etrian Odyssey Nexus
If they want a Switch port of Luigi's Mansion why not of other GameCube or 3DS games? It seems that some people expect every game to be a Switch exclusive but at the same time they are begging ports. I have never seen more selfish people than the Switch fanboys such as @Kalmaro. They don't just ask for a Switch version but they wished that the 3DS version didn't exist.
This is a game that is perfect in stereoscopic 3D and many people is happy that it is released for 3DS, a console that more people own and many people still use.
Been to busy to play for the past couple of days, but I did start it and I'm really enjoying it. I would have liked an HD bundle with the sequel on the Switch, but the 3D really goes a good distance in increasing the immersion factor, and I'm glad they did it. For what it is, the trimmings from the GCN version aren't a big deal for me, although I can see the price being a deterrent, especially if you still have the original.
@AlternateButtons The video in this article tells us that it doesn't seem like this game uses the LM2 engine though...
@Claude It is possible that Nintendo releases the original and the sequel for Switch before or after the third entry but I agree that this game is perfect for 3DS. If only they remade Super Mario 64 too, another perfect candidate for stereoscopic 3D.
@AlternateButtons It doesn't use Luigi's Mansion 2 engine.
@AlternateButtons It's true, confirmed by Digital Foundry. The engine is not the same and the game looks quite different to Luigi's Mansion 2. It's true that Luigi looks similar to Luigi's Mansion 2's model but that's just because they are using modern Luigi. The assets in this remake are based on the original assets with new textures and the lighting is also new, so the assets are not taken from the sequel. The geometry has been reduced in some areas and increased in others. It's literally a remake on their own engine.
I'm just happy to see the number of frames per second mentioned in an article! : )
Inb4 "But the game was supposed to be in 3D!" yes, but at the cost of lo-fi graphics?
i like the Graphics and performance of the GameCube version more than the 3DS version. the only advantage the 3DS version has is the two player mode.
hopefully they will port the GameCube version of the game over to the Nintendo Switch with the addition of 2 player mode. if they do port the game over to the Nintendo Switch, hopefully Nintendo will add additional difficulty levels to the game.
the P.A.L. version of the game had a higher difficulty level than the U.S. version when playing through "the hidden mansion" which was nice. too bad that didn't carry over to the 3DS version of the game.
because of the added two player mode; it would be nice to see a re-release for this game on the GameCube just for the multi-player mode, even if it means having loading times added to the game. but they might never create an updated version for the GameCube.
@stevenw45 To be fair any 3DS game graphics look crappy on a big screen and YouTube video and you can't appreciate the 3D either.
@BlueOcean
i played the 3DS version. some effects were updated, but it ruins the feel of the game. at least in my opinion. i tried playing the 3DS version with the 3D feature turned on and i dislike it.
i hacked into the ROMs for the P.A.L. and U.S. versions of the game for the GameCube and it seems as though the coding for the 3D support was left in the game, but only for the U.S. version.
i'm not sure if the 3D feature in the GameCube version can be enabled or not. (assuming that the proper hardware is present) and who knows how far along Nintendo and other hardware developers got when it came to developing the needed equipment despite the cost and limitations of the technology at the time.
I picked this up over the weekend but haven't given it a spin just yet as I'm still trying to finish up my OoT 3D run; I haven't had a lot of time to game lately. I'm at least hoping to start it by Halloween. XD
@stevenw45 So you played the 3DS version, fair enough. I do like the game in stereoscopic 3D. There is a change of style in the visuals, I like both styles and I still keep my European version of the GameCube game (better than the US version) so I can play it too. As I said, I don't think that there is a definitive version of the game now, because the remake is a handheld game in 3D with some changes and the original is the GameCube classic. I see some improvements in the 3DS version but I also think that the GameCube version has some superior features.
@BlueOcean,
there will never be a definitive version of the game. unless Nintendo decides to surprise us when Luigi's Mansion 3 comes out.
when Luigi's Mansion 3 comes out, what kind of trouble will King Boo will cause.
@stevenw45 No, I mean a definitive version of Luigi's Mansion 1, it doesn't exist yet for the reasons I explained above.
@BlueOcean
i was referring to Luigi's mansion 1 when i said "here will never be a definitive version of the game" just like you are. unfortunately, i think our conversation is starting to circle around and starting to repeat ourselves (thanks to our choices in words....)
@stevenw45 Misunderstandings happens, now I see what you mean. Well, I wouldn't rule out a remaster of both games in the future, but for now the 3DS version has something unique I was excited about.
Just finished luigis mansion 2 a couple hours ago. Never played luigis mansion 1 so I'll pick this up when it goes on sale. I hear it's a short campaign (6-8 hours). With that said $40 is a little too steep for me at this point. But looks awesome and lm2 was great.
I was glad to play through the remake 5 times!
I'm loving it. The game looks beautiful in 3D and is great fun. Maybe they'll come out with a bundle for the Switch down the road for those who are complaining. You have to understand that not everyone has the money for a new system right away and usually wait for a price drop.
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