Luigi's Mansion 2: Dark Moon

Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (or Luigi's Mansion 2 if you're fancy) is the sequel to the cult classic GameCube game, and it’s all about our boy Luigi stepping up to the plate (again) to deal with some spooky nonsense. This time, Professor E. Gadd calls him back to action because the Dark Moon, a magical artifact that keeps ghosts chill has been shattered, and now the ghouls are running wild. Luigi’s gotta strap on his trusty Poltergust 5000 and clean up the mess across multiple haunted mansions. It’s not just one spooky house this time, there’s a whole lineup of creepy locales, each with its own vibe and puzzles to solve.

Dark Moon is a solid follow-up to the original, but it’s got its own flavor. The first game was all about that atmospheric, single-mansion exploration, while Dark Moon goes for a more mission-based structure. Some people dig it, some don’t. It’s not bad, just different.  

The gameplay is where it shines tho. Sucking up ghosts is still stupidly satisfying, and the puzzles are clever without being brain-melting. Each mansion has its own theme, like a icy one or a clockwork one, and they’re packed with secrets and Easter eggs. The controls are tight, and the visuals are charming, Luigi’s animations alone are worth the price of admission. Dude’s got more personality in his shivers than most protagonists have in their entire script.  

That said, the mission structure can feel a bit disjointed. You’re constantly going back to the same mansions, which kinda kills the sense of progression. And while the multiplayer mode (yeah, there’s co-op!) is a fun addition, it’s not exactly a game-changer. Still, it’s a nice bonus if you’ve got friends who are into ghost-hunting shenanigans.

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