Luigi's Mansion

Filling in the considerably large shoes of his brother, Luigi makes his debut in Luigi's Mansion, the premier game for the launch of the GameCube. Is he up to the job or is this Ghostbuster busted?

O Brother, Where Art Thou?
When Luigi inherits a huge mansion, it seems he's finally hit the jackpot. There are only two major snags: the place appears to be severely haunted and his brother Mario is missing. As you explore the 50-plus rooms of Luigi's Mansion you'll try to figure out what's behind these two mysteries with the help of a strange lab geek and his ghost-sucking vacuum device. It doesn't take a scientist to figure out Mario's disappearance is directly related to the unearthly shenanigans, so off you go into Boo central.

Smoke and Mirrors
Anytime you launch an advanced gaming system, you want to show people why they upgraded -- and it always comes down to the graphics first. Nintendo's goal with Luigi's Mansion isn't to throw a billion mip-mapped polygons at the screen just to prove it can'although the game does feature some incredibly crisp texture details on all the objects in the house and the fanciest smoke effects this side of Gandalf's pipe. Impressive as these are, it's the way the GameCube is able to use these visual treats throughout the game that really make them stand out. Ghosts shimmer brightly and look amazingly translucent, Luigi's vacuum interacts seamlessly with everything in the mansion, shadows and reflections in mirrors give clues or reveal hidden danger, and even simple details like the way Luigi puts out a fire on his hat reveal careful craftsmanship.

Perhaps the most impressive thing is that the game almost never loads data from the disc. From the second you switch your GameCube on, the short boot-up screen appears for no more than two or three seconds before you're staring right at the title screen. Even the cut scene that appears when Luigi is opening a door can be skipped revealing that the game is not "hiding" the transfer of new data.

Bustin' Moves
As Nintendo's been evangelizing for the GameCube, they've been touting gameplay as the most important factor. Albeit with a learning curve, Luigi's comes through. Veterans and beginners alike will have to grapple with the control scheme as well as the new GameCube controller, but it's both rewarding and addictive once you've mastered it.

There's a bit of hand-eye coordination involved as the left analog stick moves Luigi around while the right stick controls the direction of the vacuum and flashlight. Pressing down the right shoulder button activates the vacuum and turns off the flashlight. You not only use the vacuum to suck in ghosts but also to search for items and activate room devices. After discovering the fire and the water medals, you'll also be able to spray flames, water, and freezing ice. This may sound simple on paper, but the complex controls and all the inventive ways you can learn to use them make Luigi feel unlike any other game before it.

If you've played a Mario game at anytime during your life you'll appreciate a brilliant musical scheme that is, paradoxically, simultaneously familiar and unique. Cheerfully springy tunes mix in with doses of fittingly chilling arrangements that create a spooky yet still lighthearted atmosphere. Luigi whistling and humming the very background music you're listening to in order to keep himself calm while searching the frightening mansion is a nice touch.

It's-a Me -- Luigi
Luigi's Mansion is not the type of experience you traditionally expect from a game launching with a new Nintendo console. Not just anyone can pick it up and start playing, and anyone who thinks this is a sequel to Mario 64 should be forewarned. Those issues aside, this is a fantastic example of what the GameCube is going to be about and a masterful example of game design to show off to your friends. Luigi's Mansion is a must-have for GameCube owners and gives the system a new star.

Note: This review is based on the boxed Japanese game. According to Nintendo, the only difference in the U.S. version will be language translation.

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