Right now, 14th September 2026, marks the twenty fifth anniversary of the Gamecube and, by extension, Luigi’s Mansion. So to rejoice the event, Ollie appears again on Luigi’s first spooky outing; a sport he adored, however by some means by no means owned…
I’ve all the time cherished horror; it’s no secret at this level. So when Nintendo revealed Luigi’s Mansion as a GameCube launch title, I used to be all in from day one. It regarded completely gorgeous: the spooky lighting, the creepy music, the swirling mud that kicks up once you stroll round. Not solely was it a superb showcase for the comply with as much as the N64, however it simply spoke to me on such a deep, visceral degree.
The issue, nonetheless, is that I by no means received round to purchasing it. I didn’t truly get the GameCube on launch day. I needed to wait till my birthday simply a few months after the UK launch on third Might 2002, and in a want to align with my buddies’ plans so we may all play multiplayer collectively, I ended up getting Tremendous Smash Bros. Melee as my first sport.
Being a sprightly thirteen-year-old on the time, the concept of including a second GameCube title to my library so quickly after launch simply wasn’t possible, so I used to be caught with Melee for the foreseeable future (oh no, what a disgrace, nonetheless will I cope). Luigi’s Mansion by no means left my thoughts, although.
This was all earlier than the web actually kicked into excessive gear – no less than for me. It could be a pair extra years till I’d begin correctly frequenting on-line boards and MSN Messenger, so I nonetheless received the vast majority of my gaming information from magazines like NGC and Official Nintendo Journal. I nonetheless keep in mind flipping by means of problem 61 of NGC and re-reading the Luigi’s Mansion assessment time and again, drooling over that 90/100 rating from Geraint Evans.
Sadly, once I was ready to lastly add one other GameCube sport to my library, new titles had been launched that in the end took precedence: Tremendous Mario Sunshine, Zelda: The Wind Waker, Star Fox Adventures, Metroid Prime, Viewtiful Joe, Resident Evil 4 – the checklist goes on. Luigi’s Mansion, as a lot as I nonetheless needed it, stored falling to the again of the queue.
Ultimately, due to the kindness of one in every of my buddies at highschool, I did truly play by means of Luigi’s Mansion a number of occasions after borrowing it for per week or two. It was simply pretty much as good as I hoped for, regardless of listening to from many individuals that it was far too brief. I didn’t care. I merely adored the ambiance, the design of the ghosts, and the whimsical persona of Professor E.Gadd.
Strolling by means of the hallways, urgent ‘A’ to name out for Mario whereas watching Luigi’s nostril jiggle about from strolling and operating will without end stick in my thoughts. I am going to all the time keep in mind utilizing the Poltergust 3000 on the sheet protecting the mirror within the Lobby, seeing the way in which it stretched earlier than capturing up the tube and pondering “what, that is ridiculous!”. Then when the work got here to life within the Parlor and threatened that I might wander at nighttime without end, I felt genuinely creeped out.
To this present day, I nonetheless think about the unique sport to be the ‘scariest’ within the collection, and I hope the inevitable fourth entry takes some extra inspiration from it. For sure, I cherished it so much, and I keep in mind continuously changing the usual round faceplate on my purple GameCube console with customized Luigi’s Mansion prints.
Years later, when Nintendo and Grezzo launched a remake of Luigi’s Mansion on 3DS, this actually ought to have been the second that I lastly took the plunge and truly purchased it. I used to be incomes my very own cash by this level, in spite of everything, so it actually appeared like an inexpensive choice.
Alas, having launched in 2018, I’d already just about moved on to the Change. I used to be enjoying video games like Tremendous Mario Odyssey and Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and with Luigi’s Mansion 3 being introduced only a month or so earlier than the discharge of the 3DS remake, I’d already set my sights on that. But once more, the unique sport would elude me.
I do know what you are pondering: can I actually love Luigi’s Mansion that a lot if I by no means bothered to purchase it? Sure – sure, I can. These couple of playthroughs once I borrowed it again within the mid 2000s have been sufficient to solidify it as one in every of my favorite GameCube video games. I had merely accepted that I in all probability would not personal it for myself. That is simply life typically, is not it? In order for you a replica for your self although, you’ll be able to in all probability choose it up second-hand for about £20-30 today.
Now, in 2026, I can play Luigi’s Mansion at any time when I like (and I do, you higher consider it). It’s been launched as a playable title on NSO for the Change 2, and I could have modded my 3DS to an inch of its life a number of years again, so I can play it there too. However I nonetheless don’t personal it – not correctly – but that by no means dampened my love for it. Heck, possibly that’s partly why I’ve by no means been particularly bothered concerning the downfall of bodily media.
However gosh, that’s a subject for one more time. Play Luigi’s Mansion, people.