The most kid-friendly yet oddly mature spook-a-thon is back! That's right, we're talking about Luigi's Mansion 3. Well, not as a review, of course, we've already covered that, but more so the easter eggs that were hidden throughout. First, let us just say, the game is beautiful! There are more interactables than ever and the visual fidelity the Switch allows makes for great eye-candy.
Second, this is the biggest Luigi's Mansion game by far. with 17 themed floors to explore as well as optional areas and multiplayer modes. So, there are tons of opportunities to hide visual, audio, or even touch-based secrets for fans. And it seems like the developers tried to cram as many in as humanly possible, whether it is nods to horror movie classics, other Nintendo icons, or even other Mario games. So let's get this mansion moving!
10 King Boo Is Apparently A Big Fan Of Mario
There are a large number of bosses in LM3, about one per floor, but the two "big bads" are one Hellen Gravely, who invited our band of plumbers to her estate, and King Boo who was the main villain from the previous game, Dark Moon. Turns out Professor E. Gadd casually released this royal specter right into Gravely's hands, thanks for that by the way. And, players may not have spotted it, but most probably did. When King Boo introduces himself to Luigi once again, he parodies Mario's classic line with "It's-a-me, King Boo!" A not-so-subtle reference, sure, but we wanted to get the most obvious ones out of the way first.
9 The Virtual Boy Was Just One Letter Away From Perfection
This next entry is mostly for all our younglings playing LM3, as the older crowd most likely forgot that this was even a "reference" in the first place. Our main form of communication with the good professor throughout our exploration of The Last Resort is thanks to another one of his inventions, The Virtual Boo. And this invention bares a striking similarity in both name and appearance to another Nintendo product. That's right, we're talking about the Virtual Boy, one letter makes all the difference apparently. In any case, this is an adorable homage to one of Nintendo's biggest failures, and the even went so far as to design the menus in the same eye-blinding red as the original "VR" device!
8 You Think Luigi Has Seen IT: Chapter Two?
Nintendo really went all out with movie references in this game and we're all for it. Poltergeist, The Ring, even Gozilla are always respectfully represented in this game. But they didn't just sink their teeth into horror movies only. And in contrast to Nintendo "sinking" their teeth, this reference is actually a bit more about "floating", at least down here in the Sewers of The Last Resort.
We're, of course, cheekily alluding to Steven King's IT franchise, and how players can find a singular balloon hidden deep in the dusty sewers, the calling card of one Pennywise. That's not all! Eagle-eyed players might also notice that newspaper-folded boats fall down from time to time here as well, one even leads Luigi to the aforementioned balloon.
7 Sure, Let's Reference The Alien Movie In A Game About Ghosts
Now there are other film nods we could go deeper into, but this want felt like an odd inclusion, so we wanted to give it priority. Basically, on the Fourth Floor is the Great Stage there is a theater-inspired area of the game. And on said floor players can find a weirdly abandoned bike with a basket on the handlebars. We're, of course, cheekily referencing E.T, though it's odd how the bike in LM3 is purple instead of red, just like how Pennywise's balloon is usually red as well. In any case, Luigi also has a supernatural companion like E.T in the form of his ghost doggo Polterpup! Who, funnily enough, we just found out you can give tons of well-deserved pets to.
6 Goo-igi Gets A Big Thumbs Up From Both The Audience And Luigi
Now, this next one is less of an easter egg and more of a neat detail that not many players are noticing. One of the best new features that the third entry in this new trilogy introduces is Goo-igi. A clone of the older plumber twin that's completely made out of Goo (we assume it's ectoplasm). And, quite frankly, he's adorable! Well, mostly adorable, his uncomfortably wet sound effects still freak us out. In any case, when players are controlling it, Luigi takes a nap, seems like he "takes over" Goo-igi. But, it seems the green ghost hunter is still slightly aware because he gives Goo-igi a thumbs up whenever the pile of goop picks up an item!
5 Little Mac Is Back! Just Not In The Way You Wanted
Now, Nintendo is a huge company. In fact, other than maybe like Capcom or something, they probably have the deepest catalog of characters beloved by the fans. And they've reused them time and time again. It's both their best and worst quality. And, as such, they have plenty of material to give little nods to in all their games. LM3 is no different, there are references to similar niche games all over the place.
But the instance we adore the most is in the room with openable paintings. Here, the canvases feature some of the less well-known but still totally adored games. Titles such as Punch-Out, Super Mario Strikers, and Dark Moon, once again. Heck, players can even use Little Mac's classic green glove as a projectile!
4 Nintendo Is Pushing Dark Moon Six Years Too Late
And, speaking of the second Luigi's Mansion game, there are a huge amount of nods and winks towards this 3DS exclusive all over The Last Resort hotel. There are obvious homages of course, like King Boo himself, but the most re-occurring one is the Dark Moon symbol/logo. This angular version of the crescent moon shows up everywhere, in paintings, on carpet designs, and even in boss fights! That's because these moons were the big collectible of the sequel game, as the name implies. Even King Boo himself has these violet moons rotating around his head whenever Luigi knocks him senseless.
3 It's Like A Smash Game Up In Here With All The Musical Homages
Finally, we're onto the musical references, and boy howdy are there a lot of them in this vacuum-based thriller. There is a staggering amount of audio nods to other Nintendo franchises all over this funhouse horror hotel. But, as we mentioned in the intro, there are even rumble-based easter eggs that fans have found!
But that's just one of many. Our own personal favorite is the classic 8-bit Donkey Kong Hammer sound effect that plays when opening certain items like the treadmill/bikes in the gym area. All of these minuscule homages add together throughout the experience to make Luigi's Mansion 3 feel like it was truly fun for the devs to work on.
2 Bring Back Foam Suit Godzilla!
There are more boss ghosts in LM3 than ever before. And, all of them are dead set (get it?) on scaring the life out of our favorite green plumber. Well, all but one. Morty is a now-deceased director who is actually the only friendly boss in the game. He just wants to make a movie! Technically he's the eighth boss, but his fight includes helping him film by fighting a ghost in a rubber dinosaur suit which is an obvious nod to the classic Godzilla films. But, what's even better, is players don't actually have to capture him! And, if they leave him alone, Morty will get to editing, and Luigi can visit again later to watch the final hilarious black and white film.
1 Mario Inhaled Multiple Pizzas Minutes After Arriving At The Hotel
And last, on our little list of easter eggs, it's time for pizza! Not to push the stereotype, but Mario seems to be a big pizza fan. Specifically, in Mario's room, Luigi can find a stack of empty boxes (did he bring them with him?) that are all from the same pizza place. And, all of these boxes say the same thing on the side "Since 1983". Now, that's not how old the pizza is or anything (we hope), but rather it's actually a reference to Mario's first-ever debut way back in 1983. Again, a small nod that only the longtime fans would pick up on.