Was Luigi's Mansion originally meant to be darker?

Dr. Furball · 01-19-2008, 04:54 PM

As we all know, Luigi's Mansion is a game featuring a haunted house and lots of ghosts. However, instead of being scary, the game has a cartoony, humorous feel to it. But, do you ever get the feeling that the game was meant to have a darker feel to it? Take this early video, for example. The scene at the end really creeps me out, poor Weege looks like he's been literally scared to death.

Not to mention that some things in the final game are a bit creepy as well, such as King Boo possessing Bowser's corpse (I still don't think it's a suit), and Luigi's shadow hanging from a noose in the telephone room.

So, what do you think?

Luigiman7 · 01-19-2008, 05:01 PM

^ I dont remember that noose part.

Watch this. poor Luigi. I wish I could get the beta version. I wanna play it.

And the end of that movie IS creepy. Gave me chills.

And, why would King Boo kill Bowser for his body?

Rainbow Dash · 01-19-2008, 05:25 PM

That's not Bowser at the end.

Dr. Furball · 01-19-2008, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mama Luigi is better than you

^ I dont remember that noose part.

I didn't know about it either until someone on TMK's forums posted a screenshot.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mama Luigi is better than you

And, why would King Boo kill Bowser for his body?

I don't think King Boo killed him. Madame Clairvoya says that Bowser was "soundly defeated" by Mario.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chunky Kong12345

That's not Bowser at the end.

You're probably right, but the Koopa king appears in King Boo's portrait with him. But it probably doesn't mean anything.

CuccoLady · 01-19-2008, 10:05 PM

I'm a wimp, so the game scared me as it was.

...

Especially the blackout. And those twins. And everything else. ><

KittenTheSmitten · 01-19-2008, 10:51 PM

@.o Okay, the ending made me go "ah" and push back my chair. Why is Luigi drowning in his own inner demon?

I definitely liked what we got (for someone who's only seen speedruns of the game, haha *ducks from incoming bullets*), but this looked interesting too. I kinda like the health system from the beta version.

Metal Man · 01-20-2008, 04:06 AM

Having thoroughly beaten the game, I'm pretty sure they toyed with the darkness level.

That said, this version we have is probably just right. Too dark and it'd have alienated key fans. Too light and people ignore it as 'Silly.'

Plus, some parts of Super Mario Galaxy are scary too.

Luigiman7 · 01-20-2008, 08:47 PM

The Beta version also had a different entrance into the dining room.

**X-3** · 01-20-2008, 09:01 PM

The ending of that video made me burst out in laughter. It wasn't so scary.

I'm pretty sure that King Boo just uses a Bowser suit: Bowser's corpse wouldn't make ANY sense.

Dizzy · 01-20-2008, 10:19 PM

^Well, why not? Ghosts are people without bodies, and bodies are people without souls. It fits perfectly.

Unless you meant canonically, because Luigi's Mansion took place before SMS.

**X-3** · 01-24-2008, 07:48 PM

Yeah, that's what I meant. Canonically. I mean, it wouldn't make sense for Bowser to suddenly die and be used by King Boo, and then come back perfectly fine the next game. :\

Though...it would explain why Bowser Jr. had a paintbrush made by Gadd, or why King Boo was in the Casino...I'm going to assume that it was just a suit, though.

Dizzy · 01-24-2008, 07:52 PM

There are also other references that explain that SMS was made after Luigi's Mansion. Such as someone mentioning Luigi and the Polergust.

Robotazy · 01-24-2008, 08:10 PM

The beginning is funny.

Also, it may have been planned to make this a horror game, instead of a somewhat action game.

They also had a Meter that made your vaccum overload if it sucks in too much or something.

I guess afterwards, they looked at it, and thought that Mario can't do horror, so they lightened it up, removed the Game Over thingy, and made the Poltergeist run on limitless power.

These choices may have saved the game, or made it worse.....

we'll never know.

CuccoLady · 01-24-2008, 09:04 PM

The blackout would have made me lose bodily fluids if it had been in the Beta version.

I just know it.

Dr. Furball · 01-24-2008, 10:20 PM

I don't think that the darker theme would've worked, anyway. The exaggerated, cartoony art style of the series would've seemed out of place. Although the close-up shot of light hitting Luigi's face at the beginning was kinda cool.

Robotazy · 01-24-2008, 10:24 PM

Cartoony art style couldn't stop Conker from being very violent.

Maybe Luigi's Mansion would've been THE Horror Game along with Eternal Darkness.

Like I said, We'll never know.

01-19-2008, 04:54 PM	#1
Dr. Furball Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Mad Science Academy, 12th Floor Gender: Posts: 1,125 Thanks: 185 Thanked 97 Times in 60 Posts	Was Luigi's Mansion originally meant to be darker? As we all know, Luigi's Mansion is a game featuring a haunted house and lots of ghosts. However, instead of being scary, the game has a cartoony, humorous feel to it. But, do you ever get the feeling that the game was meant to have a darker feel to it? Take this early video, for example. The scene at the end really creeps me out, poor Weege looks like he's been literally scared to death. Not to mention that some things in the final game are a bit creepy as well, such as King Boo possessing Bowser's corpse (I still don't think it's a suit), and Luigi's shadow hanging from a noose in the telephone room. So, what do you think?

01-19-2008, 05:01 PM	#2
Luigiman7 ヽ(◔ ◡ ◔)ノ.･ﾟ*｡･+☆ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: ~)´◡｀(~ Gender: Posts: 17,605 Thanks: 1,134 Thanked 1,012 Times in 713 Posts Blog Entries: 8	^ I dont remember that noose part. Watch this. poor Luigi. I wish I could get the beta version. I wanna play it. And the end of that movie IS creepy. Gave me chills. And, why would King Boo kill Bowser for his body? Last edited by Luigiman7; 01-19-2008 at 05:47 PM.

01-19-2008, 05:25 PM	#3
Rainbow Dash been dreamin', i've been waitin' Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: a bomb-ass cloud house bachelorette pad Gender: Posts: 24,402 Thanks: 173 Thanked 1,179 Times in 716 Posts	That's not Bowser at the end.

01-19-2008, 10:05 PM	#5
CuccoLady Anime and Cartoons Mod Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: THIS LOCATION REMINDS ME OF A PUZZLE, LUKE Gender: Posts: 9,077 Thanks: 2,825 Thanked 1,222 Times in 822 Posts	I'm a wimp, so the game scared me as it was. ... Especially the blackout. And those twins. And everything else. ><

01-19-2008, 10:51 PM	#6
KittenTheSmitten Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada Gender: Posts: 144 Thanks: 41 Thanked 23 Times in 13 Posts	@.o Okay, the ending made me go "ah" and push back my chair. Why is Luigi drowning in his own inner demon? I definitely liked what we got (for someone who's only seen speedruns of the game, haha ducks from incoming bullets), but this looked interesting too. I kinda like the health system from the beta version.

01-20-2008, 04:06 AM	#7
Metal Man Fairy-Slaying Maniac Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: 1592 Miles Away From Here Gender: Posts: 18,062 Thanks: 148 Thanked 683 Times in 482 Posts	Having thoroughly beaten the game, I'm pretty sure they toyed with the darkness level. That said, this version we have is probably just right. Too dark and it'd have alienated key fans. Too light and people ignore it as 'Silly.' Plus, some parts of Super Mario Galaxy are scary too.

01-20-2008, 08:47 PM	#8
Luigiman7 ヽ(◔ ◡ ◔)ノ.･ﾟ*｡･+☆ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: ~)´◡｀(~ Gender: Posts: 17,605 Thanks: 1,134 Thanked 1,012 Times in 713 Posts Blog Entries: 8	The Beta version also had a different entrance into the dining room.

01-20-2008, 09:01 PM	#9
X-3 Useful as an Owl Join Date: Jan 2004 Gender: Posts: 15,947 Thanks: 753 Thanked 1,213 Times in 790 Posts Blog Entries: 10	The ending of that video made me burst out in laughter. It wasn't so scary. I'm pretty sure that King Boo just uses a Bowser suit: Bowser's corpse wouldn't make ANY sense.

01-20-2008, 10:19 PM	#10
Dizzy Podiaphobe Join Date: Oct 2007 Gender: Posts: 19,359 Thanks: 1,764 Thanked 1,162 Times in 805 Posts Blog Entries: 116	^Well, why not? Ghosts are people without bodies, and bodies are people without souls. It fits perfectly. Unless you meant canonically, because Luigi's Mansion took place before SMS.

01-24-2008, 07:48 PM	#11
X-3 Useful as an Owl Join Date: Jan 2004 Gender: Posts: 15,947 Thanks: 753 Thanked 1,213 Times in 790 Posts Blog Entries: 10	Yeah, that's what I meant. Canonically. I mean, it wouldn't make sense for Bowser to suddenly die and be used by King Boo, and then come back perfectly fine the next game. :\ Though...it would explain why Bowser Jr. had a paintbrush made by Gadd, or why King Boo was in the Casino...I'm going to assume that it was just a suit, though.

01-24-2008, 07:52 PM	#12
Dizzy Podiaphobe Join Date: Oct 2007 Gender: Posts: 19,359 Thanks: 1,764 Thanked 1,162 Times in 805 Posts Blog Entries: 116	There are also other references that explain that SMS was made after Luigi's Mansion. Such as someone mentioning Luigi and the Polergust.

01-24-2008, 08:10 PM	#13
Robotazy PRESS ANY KEY TO PANIC! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: A Tiny Shed Gender: Posts: 16,483 Thanks: 529 Thanked 1,254 Times in 897 Posts Blog Entries: 46	The beginning is funny. Also, it may have been planned to make this a horror game, instead of a somewhat action game. They also had a Meter that made your vaccum overload if it sucks in too much or something. I guess afterwards, they looked at it, and thought that Mario can't do horror, so they lightened it up, removed the Game Over thingy, and made the Poltergeist run on limitless power. These choices may have saved the game, or made it worse..... we'll never know.

01-24-2008, 09:04 PM	#14
CuccoLady Anime and Cartoons Mod Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: THIS LOCATION REMINDS ME OF A PUZZLE, LUKE Gender: Posts: 9,077 Thanks: 2,825 Thanked 1,222 Times in 822 Posts	The blackout would have made me lose bodily fluids if it had been in the Beta version. I just know it.

01-24-2008, 10:20 PM	#15
Dr. Furball Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Mad Science Academy, 12th Floor Gender: Posts: 1,125 Thanks: 185 Thanked 97 Times in 60 Posts	I don't think that the darker theme would've worked, anyway. The exaggerated, cartoony art style of the series would've seemed out of place. Although the close-up shot of light hitting Luigi's face at the beginning was kinda cool.

01-24-2008, 10:24 PM	#16
Robotazy PRESS ANY KEY TO PANIC! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: A Tiny Shed Gender: Posts: 16,483 Thanks: 529 Thanked 1,254 Times in 897 Posts Blog Entries: 46	Cartoony art style couldn't stop Conker from being very violent. Maybe Luigi's Mansion would've been THE Horror Game along with Eternal Darkness. Like I said, We'll never know.