Nintendo of America has re-released last week’s Nintendo Direct Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon video interview with Shigeru Miyamoto. This would normally not be a newsworthy event, except that they included a new intro segment that was apparently in the Japanese presentation but was cut from the North American broadcast. I’m not sure why Nintendo decided to cut the introduction from the NA Nintendo Direct, but I’m happy that they finally released it. After all, it’s not everyday that you get to see Miyamoto try to suck Iwata up into a real life Poltergust 5000.
For those who may have missed the Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon information in the original Nintendo Direct presentation, here is a quick rundown of all the major points that Miyamoto covered.
The Poltergust 5000 that Luigi uses in Dark Moon has been upgraded significantly from the vacuum in the original Luigi’s Mansion, and now has several features that are required to solve puzzles.
In addition to sucking in ghosts the new Poltergust can also interact with objects in the environment. The video shows Luigi using the device to pull tablecloths from tables, causing a ceiling fan to spin fast enough to knock down a key, sucking in a ball and shooting it out as a projectile, and using the suction to pick up and carry a bucket filled with water. Additionally, Luigi can use the Poltergust to blow up a balloon, which is then used to float him up to other areas of the map that would otherwise be out of reach.
Outside of the Poltergust’s sucking abilities, the device has a Dark Light attachment that can find items that have “disappeared”. The video demonstrates the Dark Light ability by having Luigi it to reveal a bridge over a gap.
Miyamoto also explains that fighting the ghosts in each of the game’s unique mansions is different from the original Luigi’s Mansion. In Dark Moon Luigi will first need to stun ghosts with his Strobe Bulb and then suck them into the Poltergust 5000, similar to catching and reeling in a fish. It won’t always be easy, as some of the ghosts can use objects to block the Strobe Bulb or attack Luigi from behind to avoid getting caught in the beam.
You can check out the full Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon interview with Miyamoto in the video below to see the game in action. At the very least make sure to watch the first minute to see Miyamoto’s real life Poltergust 5000.
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