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Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon

SCORE: 64

The last time I remember anything related to Luigi's Mansion was back on the Gamecube. Nintendo gave the man in green a shot at being the main man for a launch title. Nintendo is giving Mario's brother another shot in what they have dubbed the year of Luigi. This year is kicking it all off with Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon on the Nintendo 3DS.

If you remember the first game, then you will have a leg up on the competition. Luigi goes around rooms in a mansion capturing ghosts. There is always a specific order that must be completed to progress through the level. When the level completes gamers are brought back to see how they did.

This is where a real problem comes into play in Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon. Some levels took me ten minutes, and others took fifty minutes. The average seemed to be around thirty minutes. This is too long for a hand held game. I may need to stop after twenty minutes. So I am left with a choice - be late for an appointment or replay all of that later.

The 3D in Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon is stunning. It is shocking how good this game looks. Luigi is constantly freaked out by the ghosts in this hand held game. He generally cowers in fear from them in the cut scene movies. It is up to us to make him save the day. The ghosts look like friends of Casper. They come in all kinds of shapes and sizes.

I wish Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon would have allowed me to save my progress anywhere. That would have helped the game flow. Some hints in certain parts would have been nice as well. Too often Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon told me to find another way to get into a certain room. But it gave me no clue what other way I should go.

Money is hidden all over the place, and will help you upgrade your equipment when a certain dollar amount is attained. Golden dog bones are also extremely important in Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon. They will allow you a continue if you die in a level. Trust me on how important this is. Imagine you are twenty-five minutes into a thirty minute level and you die. That continuation will help you move forward and hopefully complete the level.

It is wonderful that Nintendo put so many different mansions in Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon. Things can change in a mansion from level to level. So just because you cleared out a staircase in one level does not mean it stays cleaned out in the second level. Always be on your toes with this Nintendo 3DS title.

The levels in Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon are dark. Luigi is bringing the light into this dark world. The spiritual nature of Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon is something parents may want to discuss with children. I am surprised this 3DS game was given an 'E' for Everyone rating instead of an 'E10+' for Everyone 10 and older rating.
- Sam

Graphics: 59%
Sound: 67%
Replay/Extras: 72%
Gameplay: 53%
Family Friendly Factor: 63%

System: Nintendo 3DS
Publisher: Nintendo
Rating: Rating: ‘E’ - Everyone
{Crude Humor, Mild Cartoon Violence}
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