Luigi's Mansion 3 was one of the best Nintendo Switch games of 2019, serving as yet another high quality exclusive for the console's increasingly impressive library. In an attempt to capitalize on Luigi's Mansion 3's popularity, Nintendo has since released some downloadable content for the game in the form of the Multiplayer Pack, which unlocks two expansions for the game's multiplayer modes.
Available for $9.99, the Luigi's Mansion 3 Multiplayer Pack - Part 1 is available now, whereas fans will have to wait until July to get their hands on Part 2. Since Part 2 won't be available for a few months, those that decide to buy the Luigi's Mansion 3 Multiplayer Pack are basically buying it just for the Part 1 content right now, which includes some new ScreamPark mini-games, ScareScraper costumes, and more.
The meat of Luigi's Mansion 3 is still the story mode, but Multiplayer Pack - Part 1 goes a long way in making the game's multiplayer modes more appealing. Most of the new content is for the ScreamPark, doubling the number of multiplayer mini-games from just three in the base game to six after purchasing the DLC.
The three new Luigi's Mansion 3 ScreamPark mini-games are Tricky Ghost Hunt, DodgeBrawl, and River Bank. Each new mode can be played by up to eight players using single Joy-Cons, and when played with groups of friends, they can all be a great deal of fun. However, the lack of online multiplayer for ScreamPark or even bots does hurt the value for those who don't have a large group of people to play with.
In Tricky Ghost Hunt, players compete to see who can catch the most ghosts with the Poltergust G-OO, all the while dealing with electrified floor panels. More and more ghosts flood the screen as the game continues, leading to some chaotic hilarity with ghosts and Luigis running around everywhere. There's only a single stage and so it lacks depth like the original ScreamPark mini-games, but it's still fun in small doses.
DodgeBrawl is the real star of Multiplayer Pack - Part 1, as it doesn't revolve around ghost hunting and uses the Poltergust G-OO's abilities in unique ways. As the name implies, DodgeBrawl is the Luigi's Mansion version of dodgeball, with players having to shoot things like large fruits and bombs at each other to try to take out the other team. It's fun even with just two people, but it's considerably more entertaining when played as a party game. DodgeBrawl can be a blast with the right friends, and it would be great to see the mode expanded on in the future with customizable rules, new stages, and more.
And finally, the third and final piece to the Luigi's Mansion 3 Multiplayer Pack - Part 1 ScreamPark mini-games is River Bank. River Bank is a much more exciting version of the already-available Coin Floating mini-game, with the added threat of falling off a waterfall and getting swept away by falling logs. With River Bank being this much fun, it's hard to see why anyone would really even bother to go back to Coin Floating.
Most of the content in Luigi's Mansion 3 Multiplayer Pack - Part 1 is for ScreamPark, but there's also content for the ScareScreaper co-op mode. This mainly comes in the form of new three costumes for Luigi: Mummigi, Green Knight, and Groovigi. These are amusing little outfits that players can use in ScareScraper, and they also add new floors based on each costume. However, those who were unimpressed by ScareScraper in the base game won't suddenly be won over by the inclusion of new outfits for Luigi.
As far as the story mode goes, there is one piece of content that's added as part of the Multiplayer Pack, but it's nothing substantial. Players will now be able to equip a special Flashlight Type-P that changes Luigi's flashlight beam to an image of his ghost dog, the Polterpup. Otherwise, those who play for Luigi's Mansion 3 purely for the story mode and aren't interested in the other game modes don't really have a reason to pick up the DLC, though that's to be expected since it is the "Multiplayer Pack" after all. But even though the Flashlight Type-P is nothing to write home about, it's still a nice little bonus.
What Luigi's Mansion 3 players have to decide is if the content in the Multiplayer Pack is worth the $9.99 asking price. Since $9.99 gets players both Part 1 and Part 2, it's honestly not a bad deal, especially since the new ScreamPark mini-games in Multiplayer Pack - Part 1 are all better than the ones available in the base game. Solo players or those who can't get a group together will likely not get much bang for their buck with it, however,
The next batch of Luigi's Mansion 3 DLC, Multiplayer Pack - Part 2, is set to add even more ScreamPark mini-games to the lineup, as well as more ScareScraper costumes. Some fans may prefer to see Nintendo release story DLC instead, but those who like the multiplayer will find a lot to like here. Having more mini-games to play makes Luigi's Mansion 3 double as a party game for those willing to spend the extra cash, and it's not a bad investment by any means.
Luigi's Mansion 3 is out now, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch. The Multiplayer Pack - Part 1 is available to download now, with Part 2 launching July 2020.