If there is any company that knows how to maintain long-standing series, evolving but never overhauling the formula of each game, it’s Nintendo.Zeldais decades old, as areMario, Metroid, andKirby. All are in a good place even after all these years, andLuigi’s Mansionis one first party IP that should also receive long-term commitment from its publisher. There are fans ofLuigi’s Mansionthat don’t care forMarioplatformers, and its protagonist exhibits more than enough charm and personality to carry his own weight moving forward.
Luigi’s Mansion 3released in a busy 2019, and won the hearts of many with its gorgeous presentation and familiar gameplay. It’s something different for Nintendo, as its darker color palette is radically different from most of its joyful releases, butLuigi’s Mansionhas always straddled the line between spooky and funny effortlessly. Making pit stops on the GameCube, 3DS, and Nintendo Switch, the fourth game should be a foregone conclusion, and the Switch’s successor is the best place for it.
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Luigi Deserves More Attention
Beginning life as acounterpart to Mario in the originalMario Brosfor player two to control, Luigi has since become a fan favorite thanks to his lanky looks and sheepish, timid personality. He crops up in plenty of titles in which Mario takes center stage, sometimes as a major character and sometimes in a minor role, like 2017’sSuper Mario Odyssey,where he’s merely the host of the Balloon World mini-game. He’s always been treated as second best, which is a shame, as his presence in anyMariogame is welcome.Luigi’s Mansionis the only real chance he gets to escape the shadow of his brother nowadays.
Luigi is generally on his own inLuigi’s Mansiongames, for one reason or another. It’s a very different experience to thelight-hearted platforming that Mario is known for. Instead,Luigi’s Mansionis a level-based action adventure series that leans into eerie, horror-inspired tropes while injecting a great deal of humor into the story and presentation. Three games have released in 21 years, but the sparse nature of its release pattern shouldn’t mean Nintendo and consumers alike forget to look toward a fourth game.
The Nintendo Switch is Destined to be Replaced
The Nintendo Switch has had a valiant life since it launched in 2017, hosting a plethora of sublime titles. It has seen a new, revolutionaryZeldaexperience, the re-emergence of 2DMetroid, and the fine-tuning of aMario Kartgame to make it the best yet. Its resume is decorated, and one of the finest first party games that it has housed isLuigi’s Mansion 3. It did well to remind gamers of the series' magic. It’s unlikely thatLuigi’s Mansion 4will be on the hybrid system, asThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomis rumored to be the last significant game for the Switch before its inevitable replacement. To bringLuigi’s Mansion 4to the new hardware would be smart, as it gives that console a killer app right out of the gate.
Luigi’s Mansionreleased on the GameCube as a launch title, largely serving as the warm-up act untilSuper Smash Bros. Meleehit shelves just a few days later. It gave Mario’s leaner, greener brother his time to shine, and began a series that is revered for its great comedy, fun levels, and being an approachable Halloween game for non-horror fans. Since then, it has spawned two sequels on different, more advanced hardware which were both well received by critics. Eagerly awaiting the release ofSuper Smash Bros. Meleewhilst playing the originalLuigi’s Mansionon the GameCubeis nostalgic, and launching the Switch’s replacement with a new game in the series would be a subtle yet fun nod to long-standing Nintendo fans.
