Although Nintendo’s fourth-generation console was launched on the GameCube with a starring role in Luigi’s Mansion, the sequel to Luigi always felt a bit left out. He was downgraded to the portable platform, but that wasn’t because he delivered a bad game. The video game, formerly known as Dark Moon, has always maintained a positive reputation, but after the success of Luigi’s Mansion 3 on Switch, the second part seemed to waste its time trying to shine. Fortunately, Nintendo and Next Level Games brought it to the console, and although it still has its peculiarities of games before 3DS, there is no reason to omit this entry in the trilogy.

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD looks good, but compared to recent Nintendo Switch updates like Metroid Prime and Paper Mario: The Millennial Door, pictures are not found. The game has been smoothed out and looks sharp, but this is not a verification work. The lighting and effects are superficial, but the animation (which has always been a highlight of Luigi’s Mansion) is still outstanding. Watching Luigi crouch and shiver as he sneaks away and is surprised by ghosts is always entertaining and effective.

Walking and sucking ghosts, cobwebs and money is a simple pleasure, even if I have never felt completely comfortable with the controls. Exploring is usually also smart and charming. Stairs become ramps, corridors become conveyor belts and rooms change and grow unexpectedly. Each of the houses feels like you are entering a new Disney haunted mansion, and I appreciate that each has its own style and themes.

Where the game is most reminiscent of its previous platform is in its dynamics or lack thereof. Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon is designed for short seasons, so you often get “pixelated” from a mansion before fully exploring it. I often wanted to do more in the past… or just leave the building to pursue the next big goal, but this choice is not up to the player.

As cute as Polterpup is, I didn’t like the missions where I had to track him down. Each of the villas has a labyrinthine layout, and trying to get through them on a winding path to find the dog is not as pleasant as a quiet walk, solving puzzles and jumping into the air when a ghost appears out of nowhere..

The online multiplayer scarecrow mode is back, but it needs to be unlocked through regular gameplay, which is annoying. I get it to encourage the player to learn the ropes before jumping online, but it’s an unnecessary obstacle when it comes to tying friends. However, apart from this frustration, the mode is fun and your progress is reflected in your updates throughout the game. You feel like you are working towards a unique goal, no matter where you are on a ghost hunt. The cooperation as different Luigis in different villas is fast-paced and has just the right intensity. I’m usually not ashamed to ignore modes like this in comparable games, but I’m glad I spent time on it here.

I’m a big 3DS fan, but I’m grateful to have Luigi’s Mansion 2 on Switch. Removing the subtitle from Dark Moon and giving it a number also feels like a special option to ensure that this game is fully recognized as part of the Luigi’s Mansion canon, which it fully deserves. This HD version is not a radical reinvention of the portable game, but it is a well-executed adaptation of an experience that has always deserved something more.