If new rumors that started circulating this week are to be believed, we may know what at least one of the Nintendo NX’s launch titles is going to be. The rumor states that a remastered version of Luigi’s Mansion 3 is going to be one of the games that is ready to go when the new console finally launched.

Dual Pixels is one of the first to float this rumor and while it is just a rumor at the moment, the site points out its source on this has been a reliable one in the past. Calling himself only Geno, this source brought the following tidbit:

“Luigi’s Mansion 3 is planned to be Nintendo’s impressive visual launch title. The goal I’ve been told, was when the team at Next Level and EAD Tokyo 2 saw the American commercial for Luigi’s Mansion 2 (aka Dark Moon) their goal was to create something that visually stunning for NX and according to sources they have come “damn close to it.”

The source went on to say that the game is going to be using quite a bit of “advanced” lighting techniques in order to come up with a game that has the appearance of a “living 3D cartoon movie.” Finally “Geno” said there will be an Augmented Reality multiplayer mode planned. While we’ll have to wait and see just how much if any of this is true, Luigi’s Mansion 2 for the 3DS was a wildly popular game back in the day. We’ll just have to see if Nintendo ever confirms these rumors about Luigi’s Mansion 3 being an NX launch title.

The titles in question are some of the hottest releases currently on the handheld which includes: Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, Fire Emblem: Awakening, Lego City Undercover: The Chase Begins!, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D and Animal Crossing: New Leaf.

You’ll need to register with the Nintendo Club by June 30th, and from there you’ll receive your free download code for the game of your choice. Download codes can only be requested from April 23rd, 15:00 CEST onwards and has to be completed before July 31st with the code itself expiring on December 31st. So if you recently bought a bevy of games already, tough luck.

Head here for all the terms and conditions on “So Many Games!”.

The fate Luigi’s Mansion was dealt wasn’t fair though, and justice has been served with the release of Luigi’s Mansion 2. It corrects the design and lifespan issues of the original and, now free from the shackles of a console launch, Luigi’s adventure is free to breath. It leads to an impressive title that comes as one of the first essential 3DS exclusives outside of the core Mario games.

The plot is little more than a vehicle for the action, with professor E. Gadd calling Luigi back to the mansion to tackle the ghost menace once more. The ghost-pacifying Dark Moon above Evershade valley has mysteriously broken into shards that are scattered across the valley, and Luigi needs to find them all to restore order. It won’t win awards, but it opens up the locations of the game far more than the solus mansion of the original. They all revolve around the same gothic themes, but water-powered towers and decrepit clock factories grant the series a variety you never knew it could have.

The virtues of the levels are plentiful though. Beyond sheer variety, each individual stage is lovingly crafted. Every nook and cranny is a joy to explore, with a fantastic artistic direction bolstering a multitude of secrets, alternate routes and collectibles. Pretty much everything hides some form of currency that goes towards powering up your gear, and the promise of unique gems and hidden Boos proves difficult to resist.

Though the levels are all expansive and rewarding, their structure and the subsequent pacing of the game is something of a mixed bag. Rather than operating as an open map, each environment is divided into several smaller stages that lasts a little over ten minutes on average. Though this piecemeal approach gives the game a tighter focus and the shorter bursts of gameplay that benefit handheld titles, it robs LM2 of the Metroidvania style exploration it so clearly demands.

Regardless of how you feel about the level structure, there is still a definite joy in exploring that can’t be denied. Luigi rocks up with plenty of tools for exploration, from his all purpose ghost-absorbing vaccum cleaner to a powered torch and a darklight capable of uncovering illusions and other paranormal activity. A lot is squeezed out of a fairly limited set of gear, to the point where puzzles become about cleverly using what you have, rather than just scrambling for yet another piece of kit/upgrade. Bosses follow a similar pattern, taking the form of extended puzzles rather than all-out action. This cerebral focus pays off though, as the bosses are always a highlight.

Controlling Luigi and his contraptions is fairly simple. The scheme make sense for a single analogue stick setup, and you’ll be stunning and capturing ghosts like a pro in no time. Aiming isn’t always as snappy as you’d like though. Charging up your vacuum pack/torch locks Luigi in the direction he’s facing and, though you can still use the analogue nub to alter his orientation, it sometimes winds up being a bit fiddly in the heat of combat.

The combat itself isn’t necessarily bad, but it’s the puzzles and explorations that are the game’s forte. What a shame then that the multiplayer shifts its focus away from them. The multiplayer has you progressing through a set number of levels in the Thrill Tower with up to three local or online players. The objectives for each floor are little more than finding a certain number of items or clearing the floor of all ghosts based on your selected game mode and, though the levels are randomised, it all becomes tiresome quite quickly. At no point is there any bad design going on. The mechanics and netcode are solid and it all works well, but it’s devoid of the same imagination and charm that is present in the main game. Criticisms aside, kudos goes to the inclusion of download play, allowing you to play with your buddies even if only one of you has a copy of the game.

Whatever mode you delve into, there’s no denying that Luigi’s Mansion 2 is a visual delight. The evocative locales are brought to life vividly and the animations on the leading man himself are some of the best to grace a handheld title. From his casual stroll to the clumsy arm-flailing that accompanies a rapid descent, it’s always a pleasure to navigate your surroundings as the underestimated Mario brother. The gorgeous textures and animations are accompanied by a catchy soundtrack and the suspiciously emotive vocal work that goes behind Luigi’s non-vocal sound bites. The entirety of the presentation demonstrates the playfulness of a first party Nintendo title but, without the company’s history putting pressure on them, developer Next Level Games have been able to take the charming Mario aesthetic to a whole new level. It looks good, sound good and, ultimately, is good.

Two years into the 3DS’ console cycle and we’re finally starting to get compelling reasons to keep our system at the ready. Though the Mario games have been a real incentive to stay glued to our 3D screens, their classic platforming gameplay has lacked the depth that the system needs in its exclusives. It now has that depth and quality in the form of Luigi’s Mansion 2. Though the multiplayer is disappointing and the level structure hinders the game’s grand environments to an extent, LM2 is still a necessity for anyone with a 3DS.

This game was reviewed on 3DS.

Luigi’s Mansion 2 will have multiplayer Nintendo has finally officially revealed. The game will be available on the Nintendo 3DS in March. It is also the first game in the series to feature a local and online multiplayer mode.

Up to four players can join up and journey into the Scarescraper jam-packed with paranormal creatures. In Hunter Mode, each player controls a different colour Luigi and is challenged to hunt down ghosts and use effective teamwork to clear each floor of the tower before the clock strikes zero.

Just a few days back, we had reported that the game will have multiplayer and now Nintendo has sent out an official press release for the same as well as the new video which you can check below.

It has also been revealed that bonuses and upgrades can be earned depending on how well the team performs, helping to get the ghost-hunting team to the boss battles awaiting at the top of each tower. You  can choose the number of floors in this mode ranging from 5, 10 or 25. Difficulty is changeable and fallen players can be revived.

The 3DS version is supposed feature a tough solo campaign. Tell us what you think in the comments section below.

Luigi’s Mansion 2 for the 3DS gets some new footage courtesy of Gametrailers. The game was unveiled at E3 this year by Nintendo. The game looks very good as you can see in the footage and could be one of the system sellers that 3DS needs right now.

Check out the footage and tell us what you think in the comments section below.

Check out the 15 minute footage from Luigi’s Mansion 2.

Check out some footage for Luigi’s Mansion 2 on the 3DS. Unlike most titles announced at E3, this one won’t be seeing the light of day till 2012. According to Nintendo of America president, Reggie Fils-Aime, the game will feature “several new mansions.”

Thanks to Siliconera for the info.

Nintendo showed off many games for their 3DS today in a video- Mario Kart 3DS, Mario 3DS (which is a 3D 2D platformer), Kid Icarus, Luigi’s mansion. Many more will be shown. More info as it comes.

Oh, and Star Fox is back- hell yeah!

Mario Kart 3DS- The game looks really great from the demo they showed on stage- the return of coins, many tracks (old and new), kart customization, underwater racing, gliding, new items and  a shitload of other awesome stuff. Releases this Holiday season.

Star Fox 3DS- You can control the game with either the buttons or with the gyroscope. The game features video chatting. Arrives in US stores this September.

Super Mario 3D– This has to be one of the best demos ever shown in any conference. Typical fun Mario stuff, Mario outfits, a funky music theme in the background, awesome graphics… this game seems to have it all. Releases in 2011- “before the year is over.”

Kid Icarus: Uprising- The gameplay looks stunning, and so do the graphics. The game also has some pretty great voice work. There’s also multiplayer. You can battle other players. 3 on 3 MP action. This looks amazing. Kid Icarus AR cards are also coming soon. Comes later this year.

Luigi’s Mansion 2- Great gameplay was shown, exactly what you expect from a Nintendo game. Luigi travelling through this haunted mansion with his torch, collecting coins, and other stuff. It’s not a “simple revision”, rather an entirely new game, making great use of the 3D, and featuring more than one mansion.