Honestly, playing the Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD walkthrough on the Switch feels a bit like stepping into a time machine that’s been polished to a mirror sheen. It’s weird. Back when it was Dark Moon on the 3DS, we were all squinting at those tiny screens, but now, everything is loud, colorful, and surprisingly stressful in HD.
Getting through Evershade Valley isn't just about sucking up ghosts with a vacuum. That’s the basic stuff. If you really want to clear this game with those elusive three-star ranks, you’ve gotta understand the rhythm of the Poltergust 5000 and the specific quirks of each mansion. Most people just rush through the doors. Big mistake. You'll miss half the treasure and definitely fail to find those pesky Boos hiding in the furniture.
The Gloomy Manor Essentials
The first mansion is basically your tutorial, but don't let the "Gloomy" name fool you into thinking it's a cakewalk. You start at the Front Yard. It’s simple. But then you hit the Lab and the Gear Room, and suddenly you’re juggling mechanics.
One thing that trips up players in the early Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD walkthrough stages is the Dark-Light Device. You don't get it immediately. You have to earn it. Once you do, your entire perspective changes. See a suspicious gap on the wall? Shine that rainbow light. See a missing painting? Dark-Light it. It’s the difference between finishing a level with 100 gold and 1,000 gold.
The boss here—the Grouchy Possessor—is a bit of a jerk. He hides in a giant spider. Pro tip: don't just vacuum the silk. You have to use the environment. Pull the silk ball into the fire. It sounds violent for a Mario spin-off, but Luigi’s gotta do what Luigi’s gotta do to get that Dark Moon shard back.
Secrets of the Haunted Towers
Moving into the Haunted Towers is where the difficulty spike hits. It’s vertical. It’s green. It’s full of plants that want to eat your face.
The biggest hurdle for most people in this section of the walkthrough is the "Pool Party" mission. Those sneaky Hiders and Slammers love to play hide and seek in the changing rooms. If you’re struggling to find the last ghost, remember that the Poltergust can pull more than just spirits. Pull the rugs. Shake the lockers. Blow air into the ceiling fans.
Wait. Did you check the ceiling? Seriously.
The stairs in the Hollow Tree are a nightmare if you don't have patience. It’s a literal staircase of illusions. If you take the wrong path, you start over. It’s frustrating, sure, but the trick is watching the flames. If a flame goes out or changes color, you’re heading the wrong way. Keep your eyes peeled for the subtle visual cues Nintendo loves to hide in plain sight.
Managing Your Gold and Upgrades
Upgrading the Poltergust 5000 is non-negotiable. You need that "Power Gauge" maxed out as fast as possible.
When you capture a ghost, don't just hold the button. You have to pull back on the stick, wait for the meter to build, and then hit the "A" button for a surge. This gives you more "G" (currency) and drains the ghost’s HP faster. It’s all about the timing. If you’re just holding the vacuum and hoping for the best, you’re playing it wrong.
- Rank 1: 2,000G for Power Gauge Level 2.
- Rank 2: 4,000G for Dark-Light Level 2.
- Rank 3: 7,000G for Power Gauge Level 3.
If you aren't hitting these milestones by the time you reach the Old Clockworks, you’re going to have a hard time with the bosses. The ghosts get smarter. They start wearing sunglasses to block your Strobulb. They carry shields. They hide in armor. You need the extra juice to break their defenses.
Why the Old Clockworks Breaks People
The third mansion, the Old Clockworks, is where the "puzzle" part of "puzzle-adventure" really kicks in. It’s all gears and sand. Lots of sand.
The "Overhang" section is particularly brutal. You’re balancing on beams while ghosts try to knock you off. My advice? Don't even try to fight them while you're on the thin parts. Lure them to the platforms. Use the vacuum to stay grounded.
And then there's the clock hands. You have to manipulate time—literally—to open new paths. If a door is locked and you can’t find a key, look for a clock face. Most of the time, the solution involves the Dark-Light or a specific time setting.
Finding Every Boo
Boos are the ultimate collectible in this game. Each mission has exactly one. If you miss it, you don't get the bonus mission for that mansion.
Finding them requires a "search everything" mentality. They hide in invisible objects. If you see a shadow on the floor but no object casting it, hit that spot with the Dark-Light. A chest or a vase will pop into existence, and boom—there’s your Boo. They have punny names like "Boogie Woogie" or "Boo-hoo," but don't let the cuteness distract you. They’re annoying to catch because they turn invisible and fly through walls.
Dealing with the Secret Mine
The Secret Mine is cold. It’s slippery. It’s arguably the hardest part of any Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD walkthrough because of the "Across the Chasm" mission.
You’re in a gondola. You’re firing coals at ice. It’s a shooting gallery in the middle of a ghost hunt. The physics can feel a bit floaty on the Switch compared to the original 3DS controls, so give yourself some grace if you miss a few shots. Focus on the golden spiders first; they give the most points.
The boss here, the Shrewd Possessor, is basically a face-off against a giant ice monster while you're in a sled. It’s fast. It’s hectic. The key is to wait for him to charge. Dodge at the last second, then hammer him with the sled’s burner.
The Treacherous Mansion Finale
By the time you reach the Treacherous Mansion, you should be a pro. This is the museum of the paranormal. It’s huge.
The puzzles here involve jumping between different dimensions or time periods using the warp portals. It’s easy to get turned around. Always check your map. The map in the HD version is actually quite helpful if you bother to look at it. It shows you which rooms have been "cleared" and where the unresolved objectives are.
King Boo is the final hurdle. He’s obsessed with his crown. He’s faster than he looks. The fight is a three-stage ordeal that tests everything you’ve learned: dodging, vacuuming, and timing. When he drops the spiked balls, don't just run away. Position yourself so he runs into them.
Pro Tips for the Three-Star Rank
Getting a three-star rank on every mission is the goal for completionists. It’s not just about speed.
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- Health Matters: Every hit you take reduces your score significantly. Try to finish with 100 HP.
- Collect Everything: Every coin, bill, and gold bar counts. Use the vacuum on every curtain and every chandelier.
- Time is Money: You need to be fast, but not so fast that you miss the treasure. It’s a balance.
- Capture Multiple Ghosts: If you can suck up two or three ghosts at once, your "Power Gauge" bonus multiplies. This is the secret to getting those massive gold totals needed for the top rank.
Most people think you just need a lot of money. Nope. It’s a combination of low damage, high gold, and fast time. If you spend twenty minutes in a room looking for one coin, you’ve already lost the three-star rank.
Practical Next Steps for Your Playthrough
If you're stuck right now, stop wandering aimlessly. Open your map and look for the blinking red objective marker. If it’s not there, it means you haven't triggered the next event. Go back to the last room where something "happened" and use your Dark-Light on every single wall.
Next, head to the Vault in the Bunker. Check your upgrades. If you haven't unlocked the Super Poltergust yet, go back to an earlier, easier mission like "A-1: Poltergust 5000" and farm for gold. It’s tedious but worth it for the later mansions.
Finally, don't sleep on the ScareScraper. Even if you’re a solo player, the multiplayer mode is a great way to practice combat without the pressure of mission objectives. It helps you get the "feel" of ghost pulling down, which is essential for the boss fights in the Secret Mine and beyond.
The HD version brings a lot of life to Luigi’s facial expressions, and honestly, watching him shake in fear is half the fun. Just keep your thumb on the Strobulb and your eyes on the shadows. You'll get through it.