Ringing. Wright. Doobie. Celebrity siblings have been a part of our culture for as long as we can remember. There is something about brothers that seems healthy and trustworthy; we savor the idea of ​​a great friend have another cool guy who looks a little like him. But ask anyone who has been a brother and they will tell you that it’s not all a circus. misery and yacht rock. There is usually a bit of rivalry and a hierarchy about who makes the decisions. Someone always has to be player two. In the world of Nintendo, that player two is almost always Luigi, but every once in a while, the company lets the less famous sibling be his brother in every game. go on an adventure of your own.

Luigi’s mansion 3 came out on Halloween 2019. It’s another spooky and spectacular adventure for Luigi, often relegated to being known as “Mario’s brother.” This third installment in his franchise proves that he’s more than just playing second fiddle, and Nintendo fans are happy to embrace the dastardly plumber at the center of one of the Switch’s most unique and innovative titles.

Innovation has been a hallmark of the franchise since it first appeared on the Gamecube in 2001. Originally conceived as a blueprint for the disappointing N64 add-on, the 64DD, Luigi’s mansion elevated the other brother Mario to brand ambassador status by making his solo debut as a launch title for the new console. (Yes, technically mario has disappeared is Luigi’s debut, but no one considers a forgotten piece of ’90s PC educational software to be part of the canon, okay?)

Because the development in Luigi’s mansion Starting while the Gamecube was still being designed, the team was able to make hardware requests and essentially build the ideal version of the console for their ideas. Gamecube’s real-time lighting and shadow effects were a direct result of feedback provided by the Luigi’s mansion developers, which included Nintendo legends like Super Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto and veteran legend of zelda director Takashi Tezuka. Tezuka’s influence is why the game has a Mario look but a Zelda feel that sends players room by room in what is essentially a multi-story dungeon.

Luigi’s mansion 3 offers some innovations of its own. Like the first game, it began life as a title for a different console than the one it was released on, as the original plan was for it to be a Wii U release. Developed by Next Level Games, the same studio behind Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, It is the first title in the series to feature multiplayer support and online play. She also earned the distinction of being crowned The most technically impressive Switch game by Digital Foundry, which is crazy because Breath of the wild exists. What makes this game so good?

Luigi’s mansion 3 is an inventive mix of puzzle solving, exploration, and light horror comedy. The story follows Luigi’s spooky adventures through the haunted Last Resort hotel, where a simple vacation goes wrong when his friends are captured by King Boo. Equipped with the upgraded Poltergust G-00 vacuum cleaner, you can vacuum up ghosts, solve puzzles, and uncover secrets hidden behind a host of subtle environmental clues. There are plenty of surprises spread across the hotel’s 17 floors, as each has its own theme, from a medieval castle to a Hollywood film studio.

The charm of the game lies in its mechanics and level design. Luigi’s Poltergust isn’t just for catching ghosts: it’s a versatile tool used for vacuuming furniture, blowing objects, and punching ghosts. The feel of the controls is crisp and responsive, a priority dictated by Miyamoto himself from the beginning of the series. The addition of Gooigi, a gelatinous clone with unique abilities, opens up clever new puzzles that require the player to switch between Luigi and Gooigi to progress. Together, the two can smash through doors, navigate spikes, and overcome otherwise impossible obstacles.

The atmosphere is very Ghostbusters in a world that still awaits a great Ghostbusters game. Meanwhile, Luigi’s mansion is happy to fill the void. Players are happy to allow it too. Luigi’s mansion 3 It has sold more than 12 million copies and has a comfortable 86 on Metacritic. Nintendo was so happy with the game that it acquired Next Level Games. A sequel is certainly in the works, and with a new Switch on the horizon, another launch title isn’t out of the question.

Luigi’s mansion 3 It captures the spirit of Halloween more than any other Switch game. Sure, there are plenty of horror titles that offer creepy scenes and genuine scares (looking at you, horror world) but Halloween should be a little edgy and fun. From its unique mechanics, detailed level design, and lovable but cowardly hero, Luigi’s mansion 3 It’s a reminder that even a little brother can be a big success.