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Luigi's Mansion 2: Dark Moon Review Thread

eternalb

Member
Since I was bored, I transcribed the conclusion for the video reviews.

GameXplain

It's simply a joy end-to-end, which is realized through a constant supply of smart puzzles, new mechanics, and an unwavering attention to detail

It not only retains the gameplay and personality of the original game, but improves upon it in many ways."

GameTrailers

"3DS owners will be hard pressed not to cut Luigi just a little more respect

Dark Moon ends up beign a perfect excuse to bring Mario's brother back into the limelight. Every haunted rooms seems to breathe when an inventive charm and delicate attention to detail that makes this game one of the best reasons to own a 3DS."
 

Kouichi

Member
Reviews are looking good so far. Not that they mattered, a sequel to Luigi's Mansion is an instabuy for me. Can't wait!
 

lantus

Member
Very tempted to pick this up with a 3DS XL this weekend with that sale going on. Must resist the temptation!
 

Skiesofwonder

Walruses, camels, bears, rabbits, tigers and badgers.
The singleplayer being great doesn't surprise me, but the multiplayer being much more then a throwaway does. Though I guess I should have expected as much with Miyamoto's lofty "better than Mario Kart" expectations.
 

eternalb

Member
There's a review on 1Up by Jeremy Parish but no score. It's positive though.

Positive, but silly. "Benighted" or a synonym thereof, is not a word I've heard used by anyone to describe the original. The fact it paved the way for a great sequel is not at all as surprising as he makes it out to be. That's second in silliness in only to Polygon's "ghosts lacking in personality compared to the first" line
 

DashReindeer

Lead Community Manager, Outpost Games

I'm a little disappointed by what Andre had to say about the multiplayer portion. This really doesn't sound like it has nearly the depth and variety that a good Mario KArt game does, so why did they keep stressing that Miyamoto was holding them to that same standard? I thought that might be something we'd play in my office daily for weeks to come like we did with MK7, but it looks like we'll be playing Monster Hunter for a while instead.
 

zroid

Banned
There were definitely a few reviewers who found the multiplayer to be throwaway. GamesRadar and GamesBeat, for example.
 

Nugg

Member
Don't read too much into the Polygon review, it can always change to follow the trend of real reviews
 
Nice to see that The Escapist has zero idea of what a platformer is.
Eh, that doesn't really surprise me. It's common to hear people call stuff like Super Paper Mario and Sticker Star platformers despite both of those games having minimal platforming. Just seems it's because a default-term for a game featuring one of the Mario bros when you don't know what else to call it.
 
I think I need to fast track my purchase of this game now, I always intended to get it, but later on. It looks like it's much better than I had ever thought it would be.

Side note, is anyone else astonished at the 3DS's output this year so far? FIre Emblem Awakening, Etrian Odyssey IV, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow: Mirror of Fate, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, and now this, and this isn't counting any of the eShop stuff. I mean, holy shit Nintendo!
 
I'm not surprised this game is getting great reviews, because the game is effin' awesome. I'm having a blast so far. I didn't expect it would be THAT good.
 

giggas

Member
Eh, that doesn't really surprise me. It's common to hear people call stuff like Super Paper Mario and Sticker Star platformers despite both of those games having minimal platforming. Just seems it's because a default-term for a game featuring one of the Mario bros when you don't know what else to call it.

I could ALMOST see calling those games platformers because at least there is a jump button. But anyway, you're probably right about your default term idea.
 

trixx

Member
That's it. I'm getting a 3ds I don't know why I got a Wii U instead. I'll pick up the pikachu one with this game
 
Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon has lost a bit of the soul of its predecessor — the ghosts have lost their motivations and personalities, such as they were. They're just monsters now. But by nearly every mechanical design metric, Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon is a better game than its predecessor. Vanquishing ghosts is still a satisfying enterprise — I just wish I could get to know them, first.

I love how this makes no sense, and is not justified in that score whatesoever. Man, Polygon digging it's own grave week by week.
 

dallow_bg

nods at old men
I don't get the Polygon review hate for this one?
(and i don't care for Polygon either)

He's just saying he wishes the ghosts had the background story snippets like the original game. Something I actually quite liked if I remember the original correctly.

Does this one not have that kind of stuff?
 

eternalb

Member
Mario Galaxy 2 has lost a bit of the soul of its predecessor — the goombas have lost their motivations and personalities, such as they were. They're just monsters now. But by nearly every mechanical design metric, Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a better game than its predecessor. Vanquishing goombas is still a satisfying enterprise — I just wish I could get to know them, first.

Modified quote just to show how silly that complaint is

He's just saying he wishes the ghosts had the background story snippets like the original game. Something I actually quite liked if I remember the original correctly.

What story snippets? The only enemies that said anything of note were the bosses; most of the Portrait Ghosts said nothing at all.
 

beta_fuse

Member
Ign gave it a 9.3

Luigi’s Mansion 2 might be a sequel, but it’s one that shows Nintendo at its inventive best. It’s an essential game in the 3DS’ increasingly impressive line-up, and though I sometimes wished that it would leave me alone to explore more at my own pace, it’s otherwise difficult to fault a game this detailed, absorbing and masterfully made.
 
I don't get the Polygon review hate for this one?
(and i don't care for Polygon either)

He's just saying he wishes the ghosts had the background story snippets like the original game. Something I actually quite liked if I remember the original correctly.

Does this one not have that kind of stuff?

It's partially fallout from the SimCity/Arthur Gies & Crecente debacle, partially because this guy appears to want to make friends with the ghosts...

170333_o.gif
 
NintendoLife 9/10: http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/3ds/luigis_mansion_dark_moon
VideoGamer.com 9/10: http://www.videogamer.com/reviews/luigis_mansion_2_review.html
Edge (online) 8/10: http://www.edge-online.com/review/luigis-mansion-2-review/
GameBlog.fr 9/10: http://www.gameblog.fr/test_1549_luigi-s-mansion-2-3ds#.UUtLnFXQyx8
GamerTell A+: http://www.technologytell.com/gaming/109706/review-luigis-mansion-dark-moon-for-3ds/
Metro 9/10: http://metro.co.uk/2013/03/21/luigis-mansion-2-review-dark-moon-rising-3554172/

Guardian:
The controls can be fiddly and the otherwise superb visuals look pixelated on the 3DS XL, but nevertheless, this is a deep, charming adventure, with superb audio and challenging puzzles. An essential purchase for Nintendo fans.
 
I don't get the Polygon review hate for this one?
(and i don't care for Polygon either)

He's just saying he wishes the ghosts had the background story snippets like the original game. Something I actually quite liked if I remember the original correctly.
Does this one not have that kind of stuff?
I think there was some odd justification and that last sentence about it being better in every way seems to undermine the score. I do agree thought that the special ghosts where you had to figure out how to capture them will be greatly missed and that was a really crucial part about the original for me as well as the large open cohesive world. So I think Polygon has legitimate complaints but I believe their score undermines the fact that this is by and large the superior game even though they disagree with personal design choices. Choosing a more mission oriented over a more open world structure isn't a flaw, its a design choice that should be rated based on how well it's executed. I wonder if Miyamoto was behind the no special ghosts as he was with eliminating original characters in pm:ss for established characters.
 

OwlyKnees

Member
I think there was some odd justification and that last sentence about it being better in every way seems to undermine the score. I do agree thought that the special ghosts where you had to figure out how to capture them will be greatly missed and that was a really crucial part about the original for me as well as the large open cohesive world. So I think Polygon has legitimate complaints but I believe their score undermines the fact that this is by and large the superior game even though they disagree with personal design choices. Choosing a more mission oriented over a more open world structure isn't a flaw, its a design choice that should be rated based on how well it's executed. I wonder if Miyamoto was behind the no special ghosts as he was with eliminating original characters in pm:ss for established characters.

There are special ghosts, though. I haven't read the review, but if he says there are no special ghosts that you have to figure out how to catch - he is factually wrong.
 

ToastyFrog

Inexplicable Treasure Hate
Positive, but silly. "Benighted" or a synonym thereof, is not a word I've heard used by anyone to describe the original. The fact it paved the way for a great sequel is not at all as surprising as he makes it out to be. That's second in silliness in only to Polygon's "ghosts lacking in personality compared to the first" line

Until just recently, every conversation I'd had about Luigi's Mansion involved the other parties disparaging and dismissing it. I always felt like some sort of misfit for enjoying it. I wish I could have lived in your world from time to time.
 

jj984jj

He's a pretty swell guy in my books anyway.
I'm glad the delays paid off for this one, it sounds like a pretty polished experience.
 

dallow_bg

nods at old men
I think there was some odd justification and that last sentence about it being better in every way seems to undermine the score. I do agree thought that the special ghosts where you had to figure out how to capture them will be greatly missed and that was a really crucial part about the original for me as well as the large open cohesive world. So I think Polygon has legitimate complaints but I believe their score undermines the fact that this is by and large the superior game even though they disagree with personal design choices. Choosing a more mission oriented over a more open world structure isn't a flaw, its a design choice that should be rated based on how well it's executed. I wonder if Miyamoto was behind the no special ghosts as he was with eliminating original characters in pm:ss for established characters.

So it's lacking the special ghosts. That's interesting.

That being said, if we focus on the "better game than original" as far as gameplay goes. Maybe he felt the original Luigi's Mansion was less than a 7?
The game wasn't universally loved when I bought it at launch. It's always been one of my faves though.


I realize Polygon is under some heat, but this seems like the wrong place to focus it.
 
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