Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD review: A ghostbuster who’s scared of his shadow

The HD at the end of the title indicates this 2024 version is less of a remake than a glow-up. By necessity on the Switch, it loses some obvious features such as the 3D effect and the second screen that held the map. Neither could be considered vital functions and the Switch version compensates with notably enhanced visuals.

All the sweet charm of the original remains intact, from the sterling audio work including music and FX to the endearing bag of nerves that is Luigi himself. He’s no athlete like Mario and a bit of coward, so you can see why Nintendo would have fun sending him to creepy mansions to capture mischievous spirits.

Luigi’s only method of defence turns out to be a spectre-sucking vacuum cleaner – not quite a weapon so much as a multi-faceted tool. Like a dungaree-clad Ghostbuster, Luigi wanders through dusty rooms listening and watching for signs of a phantom presence. His Poltergust 500 vacuum comes equipped with a flash bulb to temporarily dazzle the apparitions and an infra-red lamp to expose magically hidden objects such as doors and secrets.

When the ghosts pop out, he must freeze them with a burst of light and then quickly wrestle them into the vacuum via an amusing tug of war. Later puzzles involve manipulating the environment such as by pulling levers or dragging items to set them aflame.

The fun comes in short chunks – perhaps too brief for their own good, because you’re regularly hauled back to base for advice by your mentor, the comically named Professor E Gadd. But you’re soon thrust back into each level, where Luigi’s company always brings a smile to the player’s face.

Witness his off-key humming that echoes the in-game music or his skittish reactions as he prods and pokes at the paranormally possessed corridors and spooky rooms.

The confined nature of the levels can sometimes be problematic when grappling with the wildly bucking ghosts, not least because aiming the vacuum feels a tad awkward. Younger or less experienced players drawn in by the colourful setting and gentle humour may find the battles with bigger baddies rather challenging.

But at their heart, Luigi’s escapades serve up a helping of supernatural whimsy that stands up well after more than a decade. Nonetheless, the fact that Luigi’s Mansion 3, a superior sequel made specifically for Switch in 2019, costs exactly the same as this one presents a dilemma. At €60, the cost of Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD might scare you off.