Let’s face it; the original Luigi’s Mansion on the Nintendo GameCube received a bad rep. Really the first Nintendo console to release without a serious Mario title at launch, the GameCube and Luigi’s Mansion were probably doomed from the start. Now, with ten years and a lot of nostalgia behind it, Luigi’s Mansion 2 was announced for the Nintendo 3DS here at E3 2011 and I put hands on the game and a sweet pin.

Once again, Luigi must utilize Professor E. Gadd’s Poltergust ghost-sucking vacuum in order to rid a mansion of the incorporeal spirits wandering its halls and solve the mystery. The controls were easy to adapt to, especially using the Nintendo 3DS’s gyroscope to point the nose of my Poltergust up and down.

With a less than difficult learning curve, it was a very short time before I was stunning ghosts and sucking them up. To do this, you use your flashlight’s strobe option to freeze the ghost and try to snag it with your Poltergust. Of course, the pesky phantom is not going down without a fight. The longer you hold on, the more you wear down the ghost’s “hit points,” eventually reaching zero - making your capture. The game play mechanic is simple enough, but it gives you a sense of frivolity to the action as you “water ski” behind the ghosts as you wear them down to ensnare them.

That is not all you can do with the Poltergust. Objects around the outside and inside the mansion can be affected by your vacuum. Sheets and tablecloths, etc. can be sucked up to reveal hidden passages and treasures. You can also use it to suck up coins and paper money you can use for bonuses and powerups.

I didn’t get a ton of time with the game in the Nintendo booth at E3, but where Luigi’s Mansion 2 really shined in my eyes were the visuals and use of lighting effects. They perfectly meld the feeling of fear that Luigi constantly exudes with the underlying humor found throughout the game. I definitely get a “My First Survival Horror Game” vibe from it.

That is not to say I’m down on it. I think Luigi’s Mansion 2 will be a very enjoyable title. I think I would like to get more hands on before making a final ruling, but with great visuals and easy-to-pick-up game play, Luigi’s Mansion 2 will be a fine addition to the Nintendo 3DS.

Check out the rest of the screenshots below and the video and let us know your thoughts.