Luigi's Mansion/Gameplay

The first time you load the disc in the GameCube, you'll need to choose a save file. There are three files, and they require three blocks of memory to save the game. From the Main Menu, you can select, copy or erase a save file, or choose your Options. To get started, choose an empty save file. The game begins with Luigi walking towards his new mansion. Once inside, you'll begin your adventure.

Once you have a file saved here, it will display how far you are into the game ('Up to Area X', where X is the current Area you are playing through), your score as of the end of the last Area, in Gs, and, after you complete the game, the number of times you have done so.

There are a number of differences between the American, Japanese and PAL versions. The main differences are that the PAL version has been altered to increase the difficulty, and that Rank A completion can only be achieved in the Hidden Mansion.

On the Options menu, you can choose sound, rumble, control and language settings. The Brightness function allows you to adjust the settings on your TV to the optimum setting for this game. There is also a short preview movie of Pikmin. Once you have everything set as you want, it's time to begin!

Areas
Luigi's Mansion is divided into a short 'tutorial' section, and four Areas, each one increasing on the previous in size and difficulty. An Area begins when Luigi first enters the Mansion from Professor E. Gadd's laboratory, and ends with the defeat of that Area's boss. For example, Area 1 begins when Luigi returns to the Mansion after completing the Tutorial, and ends after the boss battle.

Elements
There are three Elements hidden throughout the Mansion, representing the elements of Fire, Water, and Ice, and they allow you to find Elemental Ghosts. These ghosts fill your vacuum with the element of that ghost, and allow you to blow it out at things like ghosts and candles. Elemental Ghosts are usually found at an object associated with that Element. For example, a Fire Element Ghost can often be found in a fire. Each Element has different effects on the object you blow it at. For example, the Fire Element can light candles, while the Water Element will put them out. A meter will appear at the bottom of the screen whenever your vacuum contains an Element. The Elements may also be required to defeat some ghosts.