This game has been on my playlist for some time, even going further back than when I initially got it. I had decided it was time in-between all the new and newer releases I’m playing I need to up my dedication somewhat to the older hidden gems and classics. So I reached into my old faithful that is my Gamecube and dug this one out. This review was supposed to have more pictures and some light video sprinkled into it, but it transpired my piece of shit capture software chose to not record most of my gameplay. Meaning there is only a few screenshots going at this time and can only give you my tasty followers a small apology which ultimately falls flat and probably means nothing, but alas I am sorry. I may choose to attempt to capture some more stuff in the not too distant future but I wouldn’t hold your breath. I wouldn’t mine.
Finally sitting down and putting a few hours into this game, and by few I mean a few. It isn’t a particularly long game. I’d imagine it’ll clock in the region of 6-8 hours for the vast majority of people so if you are expecting anything past that you’ll be sorely disappointed. All the action of the game takes place in the mansion. This mansion was awarded to Luigi in a game he never took part in and naturally Mario has been taken and gone missing in said mansion.
The gameplay and mechanics of this game highly differ from your standard Mario game, outside of returning characters and for some their first game appearances in the Mario universe. It’s completely different. This is for the best it helps set Luigi’s solo outing apart, giving way to two sequels so far.
Whilst roaming around the mansion, the game play fundamentality stays the same, you wander through all the different rooms and suck up some ghost with your modified vacuum cleaner, called the poltergust 3000. Once you have cleared the allotted ghosties, you are awarded with a chest that gives you a key to another room, as they are locked and if you wander into a room that doesn’t exist the door smashes you up a wall knocking some of your health off. There is a few variety of different ghosts to suck up and turn into portraits for some reason and then at your leisure you can look at them in a gallery at any time. You also gain the access to water, fire and ice elements which help you with certain puzzles and enemies. Whilst you try and suck up the ghosts you have to wiggle the C-stick in the opposite direction to drain their health, which if you aren’t fast enough you get dragged around and slowly injures you. The coolest feature for me though is the Gameboy horror, this is where you track the map and rooms you’ve been too, your items and the ghost portraits you have collected so far. Not only that though you use it as a camera which helps you unlock how to defeat some of the mini-boss type ghosts, as sometimes your flashlight isn’t enough.
During your search for Mario, you also collect money, gold and cash notes which don’t really do shit. It just effects the sort of mansion you end up with at the end, which for the most part confuses me as they could’ve just added purchasable items or even just different clothing items.
I’d imagine in the sequels every aspect here is built up upon, as this game is a solid entry level title. I’d even go as far as saying that potentially for a game in the Mario series it could’ve been a tad better. For a game that’s over 20 years old now, in some aspects graphically it holds up well. I imagine at the time it looked tip top. The styling of the game and the use of darkness do build up a horror light ambience, with out having to push the age rating up to far. The game excels in it’s audio, with everything being on point and being perfectly balanced aiding in the ambience the game is aiming to build. Along with Luigi’s minimal voice acting usually calling out for Mario as he searches the mansion, it’s gotta bit of extra content outside of the main story, mostly just collecting the extra hidden 50 Boo’s who have escaped. I’d say there isn’t much replay value in it, you can easily blast through it in a few hour sittings, or once you’ve done it once or twice probably easily done in one go. You do unlock a harder mode once you’ve completed the game, admittedly I’ve not bothered with this mode, namely cause I can’t be arsed. However if I did want to play it again I would probably give this version a go, it might add a little more to the game.
There isn’t a whole lot to write up here, as the game is short and once you get going outside of a few extra functions, the gameplay doesn’t change a whole lot. The only parts that stick out are the few boss fights that occur during the game, culminating in a fight against King Boo. It’s an easy game to pass a few hours in, and if you like Mario games and ghostbusters, then you’ve got a neat little hybrid here.
Overall I’d rate this game a meaty 7/10, Positively Tasty. A strong first outing, for a series that is now over 20 years old and I’d imagine only get better with each sequel.
Released May 3rd 2002 on Nintendo Gamecube.
TastyRetroGaming 