Review: Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon

I know I said my next my next review would be Ocarina of Time, but since I recently got this game and I have some extra time, why not?

Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon is the latest game in Mario series and the sequel to Luigi's Mansion. It brings back the fantastic charm that Luigi's Mansion had and brings a little bit more with it.




















The story begins in EvershadeValley, a home to many friendly ghosts, where Professor E. Gadd is doing research on ghosts with the assistance of some friendly but mischievous ghosts. When out of nowhere, King Boo appears and takes the Dark Moon, a strange, gem-like moon that keeps the native ghosts of the valley friendly, and breaks it into six pieces.

The Dark Moon

Upon breaking it, all ghosts in the valley, including E. Gadd's assistants, become aggressive and wreak havoc across the valley. The only one who can stop King Boo's plan is Luigi, who already defeated the undead king once. E. Gadd and Luigi get one Dark Moon piece which landed near E. Gadd's lab. Afterwards, Luigi must collect the last five pieces, which landed in certain mansions across the valley. Only then will the ghosts return to normal.












Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon is nearly similar to the original title. You capture ghosts in neat mansions with Luigi's Poltergust 5000. Each mansion has its own interesting theme. Unlike the original, catching ghosts is slightly different. In Luigi's Mansion, you just simply shine Luigi's flashlight towards a ghost and the suck it up with the Poltergust. Now, he must use a new attachment called the Strobulb, which emits a flash that stuns ghosts. The Poltergust 5000 also has a feature called Dark-Light, which allows Luigi to find invisible surroundings. The Game Boy Horror has also been updated, now being a new gadget called the Duel Scream, which looks like the original DS. One downside to it is that the first person mode is taken out, but the Duel Scream still shows you your map and allows you to contact E. Gadd. The first person mode technically does return, but it's kind of limited and involves peeping through windows and holes into other rooms (see picture of the garage below).

Poltergust 5000

Duel Scream

The downside to the game is that each mansion is broken down into missions. It's not a big or terrible thing, it just makes free roaming the mansions more difficult, which was something I liked to do in the original. Basically, after you complete a certain task in each mission, you have to return to the lab. Even though it's not my kind of thing, it does help organize the game better. Also there is and unlock able time attack mode in each mansion that can be treated as a free roam if you wish.

The game also comes with a really fun co-op multiplayer called the Scare Scraper, which up to four people can play. Each person must play as Luigi and capture all the ghosts on the their current floor in order to advance. It is available for both online and local use and is very fun. However, it is bother bother trying to join a co-op game. Not sure if that's just me or the way the game was designed.

Playing in the Scare Scraper

The graphics in Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon are really good and make good use of the 3DS and its capabilities. The mansions are slightly more goofier looking in design compared to the one in the first game. See below:

Luigi's Mansion

Room in the original mansion

                 

The first mansion in Luigi's Mansion:
Dark Moon

Room in newer mansion

Each mansion has a good design and are fun to explore. The characters and ghosts are really good looking and look better than the original game in my opinion. Overall, the graphics are really good and make full use of the 3DS.













In Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, there is a lot more music in the game than before. Instead of just hearing Luigi's constant whistling, now we get a tune in nearly every place available. Most of the time, like in Luigi's Mansion, it's usually the same song just re done. The songs are very good, mysterious and sometimes a little creepy. They fit the mansions perfectly and are impressive. Also, for the record, Luigi still whistles but not as much as before.














Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon is a fun game that continues the Luigi's Mansion story. With its cool mansions, interesting story and more along the line, it is definitely a game that should be added to your 3DS library.


Gameplay-5
Graphics-5
Music-5
Sounds/Voices-5
Controls-5

Overall-10

Next Review

Already said I would do Ocarina

of Time, so I'm sticking to that.

Review: Paper Mario

Paper Mario is a Mario RPG that was released in 2000 and 2001 for the Nintendo 64. It was the first game in the famous Paper Mario series. It brought a new way to look at Mario, actually, that's literally true because as said by the title, Paper Mario was a montage of many things paper.

The story starts with a place called Star Haven, which is home to a magical rod known as the Star Rod, which grants its user any wish. Then the day hit where Bowser swiped the rod for himself.

The story then begins to unfold with Mario and Luigi receiving a letter from the princess, inviting them to a party at the castle. It goes pretty well until an adorable paper Bowser wrecks it, using his castle to lift Peach's castle into the stratosphere.

Mario takes on Bowser and has the upper hand, until Bowser uses the Star Rod to make himself invincible and easily defeating Mario. He kick Mario out the castle window and leaves him falling for his doom. He lands in Goomba Village, where he meets Goombario, an educated Goomba and a huge Mario fan.

On his adventure, Mario must find the Star Spirits, seven powerful spirits who Bowser has imprisoned and put under the guard of some of his most powerful underlings. Only then can Mario stop Bowser in his tracks. He also will meet many new travel partners, each one with a unique ability that will help Mario later on.












Paper Mario is a turn based RPG that works very well.

In battle, you are given many choices to make. You can jump on enemies, hit them with Mario's hammer, or use badge attacks,which involve flower points. If you run out of flower points, then you can't use badge attacks. When Mario gets a new Star Spirit, he can summon it to attack the enemy he chooses. These powers run off of Star Energy, which you gain more of the more Star Spirits you collect. Like most RPGs, you explore an open and free world and when you enter a battle you are temporarily isolated from the overworld. Overall, Paper Mario has excellent gameplay.











It is a Paper Mario game, so I'm going to say the same thing again. The graphics are a definite yes. Everything in the game is paper, which makes the game look different than most other Mario series. It also makes nearly every character look adorable, like I probably said about Bowser already.

There's not much more I can say about the graphics, but they are excellent. They may not look as good as the game's sequels, but they are still excellent, here is another sample photo.

Not much I can say about the music, but it is good. It may not be the best, but it is still fun to hear. Each song fits its theme very well. From casual, to creepy, to even fun and whimsical, each song fits perfectly. The sounds in the game are silly and have cartoon characteristics, which are always welcome in my book.









Paper Mario is a very well designed game. I do admit that SOME of the controls in the game may be a little confusing, but it just takes a little adjusting. I recommend this game for anyone that loves Mario or just games in general. It is definitely worth the points it costs on the Wii Shop.

Gameplay-5
Graphics-5
Music-4
Sounds/Voices-5
Controls-4

Overall-9.6

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Review: Paper Mario: Sticker Star

Paper Mario: Sticker star is the fourth game in the Paper Mario series and is on the Nintendo 3DS.
























The story starts in a town named Decalburg, which is home to a festival called the Sticker Fest. Citizens gather to see the Sticker Comet, which is said to make wishes come true. Mario and the Toads watch as a comet floats down to them. Shortly afterwards, Bowser tries to steal the comet for himself A few Toads try to pull him away, but he instead crashes into the comet, causing it to break into six pieces and fly across the kingdom. One of the strongest ones happens to land on Bowser's head and makes him invincible. Mario attempts to attack him, but is knocked out by the overpowered Koopa King. Mario wakes up to find the festival grounds completely torn up. After searching the grounds a little bit, he finds a sticker fairly named Kersti, who yells at Mario for touching the comet. After the ranting she joins Mario to look for the six Royal Stickers, six special stickers that were inside the Sticker Comet.

Kersti

All six Royal Stickers

Despite being a Paper Mario fan, I must say that there are some disappointing elements in the game. Sticker Star returns to turn based RPG battles, however, they are a little dumbed down compared to Paper Mario and The Thousand Year Door. First, every attack is a sticker, including the jump and hammer attack. Each sticker can only be used once, including the jump and hammer. If you run out of stickers, you cannot attack and have to run from the battle. Stickers are still pretty fun, I just wish that the system was at least a little different.

You pick your stickers, which appear in the one to three slots
above Mario. Afterward, you do what the stickers are made to
do.

Second, no partners appear in the game, which is a little disappointing. It doesn't damage the battle system any. Instead, we get a battle spinner. For 3 coins, you play a slot game. If you get three matching items, you get to use three stickers. Finally, but it doesn't really bother me, is that you no longer level up by battling. Instead you must find HP Hearts, which add 5 HP to your health and are commonly hidden in caves. It can be stressful if you have to battle strong bosses, since most of the bosses are rather difficult, so I recommend looking high and low for hearts.














Like most Paper Mario games, graphics are a definite yes. A new thing tested in this game is the landscape. Unlike past games, they are nearly completely made of cardboard, which adds a nice touch to the paper concept. Speaking of the paper concept, the characters in the game have been polished as well. From folding in half when jumped on to being crumpled into a ball, they definitely have more paper characteristics on them.















Like most Mario games, the music is well done and fits their respective places. From happy, to warm, to creepy, to Christmas-like, to tropical, all the music is very good. Sounds are very cartoon-like and don't sound too real, which definitely fits the game. There weren't really any voices so I can't say anything about them. Overall, music and sounds are all well done and pass.














Paper Mario: Sticker Star is an enjoyable game either way. Despite some parts of the game that are downers, it is still fun to play. If you like Paper Mario no matter what, try it. If your a little skeptical about it, at least test it first. In the end, Paper Mario: Sticker Star is an enjoyable game and may be well worth it.

Gameplay-3
Graphics-5
Music-5
Sounds/Voices-5
Controls-5

Overall-9.6

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Review: Super Mario 64

Super Mario 64 was originally released on the Nintendo 64 in 1996 (1997 in Europe and Australia). It is one of the games to bring Nintendo into the 3D era. It gave us a new way to play Mario and showed us a greater future.

The story starts with with Mario getting a letter promising him a cake. He runs to the castle to find not a cake, but a nearly empty castle. Peach has been once again kidnapped by Bowser. Along with this, Bowser's holding everyone captive inside the castle walls. Mario must then collect Power Stars by jumping into painting-like portals that lead to different places. These types of paintings to be exact:

This makes me like art a little bit more.

Using the Power Stars, Mario can unlock more doors in the castle and gain more stars.

The gameplay to Super Mario 64 is simple and good. Like I already said, you jump through paintings to different worlds, whether it be a battlefield, a volcano, or even a clock. A new thing in Mario is that worlds are fully 3D and are free to explore. Mario can now punch enemies, or he can simply jump on them. Some enemies can even be picked up. At the end of every level is a Power Star. Some levels have a boss or a mini-boss, who usually have a special way to be beaten. While I still mention it, portals are not just paintings. They range from other things such as cages, holes and walls of water. There are also a small but helpful range of power-ups, but I'm not going to spoil them. The gameplay is very good and addictive.

                         


The graphics were pretty good for their time. The Nintendo 64 used 64 bit graphics, explained by the name, making it able to make 3D worlds that brought a new way to explore. The areas in the game are all beautiful and a joy to look at. Here are some examples and some of my personal favorites:

Characters in the game look very good for their time. Look up at the two Marios at the top. They are in full 3D and are fully animate. They look very good compared to many other in that time. The figures fit their 3D atmosphere and are well worth it. Graphics get a check for being new and pretty good for their time. While I'm still talking about characters, I want to mention how creepy Bowser looks.

Uhh... I really don't know what to say about that.

The music in this game is very good and a joy to hear. Each song fits its theme, from being calm and soothing  for water levels, to being festive for cold levels. Sounds are well recorded and fit their places in the game. There aren't many voices in the game, but we do have Mario's grunts, Bowser's roar and a Chain Chomp's bark. They may start sounding like a broken record, but they too are well recorded and pass.
















Super Mario 64 is a great game and well worth the time. With its vast levels, fun bosses and much more, Super Mario 64 is worth it to be on your Virtual Console collection. If you don't own a Wii, but own a Nintendo DS, check out its remake Super Mario 64 DS. I may do a review on it later on it just for kicks, but until then, thank you for reading.

Gameplay-5
Graphics-5
Music-5
Sounds/Voices-5
Controls-5

Overall-10

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