I got my GameCube this morning, and it has been a LONG TIME since I played all day long. With the exception of an hour's break for supper, I was Cubeing from morning 'til night.

Luigi's Mansion is my favorite of my EBworld.com bundle (also including Rogue and Wave Race). I hate to single Luigi out as my favorite considering the cult-like following the other two titles have, and the fact that I only played those for a couple of minutes a piece so far. I'm sure they're great games, but Luigi has my full attention today.

The concept of going from room to room sucking ghosts in with a vacuum cleaner doesn't sound like a compelling foundation for Miyamoto's latest, but there's something to be said for playing it ALL DAY LONG. The uniqueness of the ghosts and rooms keep it interesting, and there's a small dose strategy required as well. I'm a real-life example that simple = addictive.

The control isn't as simple as, say, Mario 64, but you won't press more than two buttons at the same time. The extra "click" of the 'L' analog button is confusing on occasion. Clicking 'L' all the way down shoots a single burst of fire, ice, or water. Most of the time you want to shoot a continuous stream of fire, ice or water, not a one-time burst. The line between a stream and a burst is very thin, and Luigi has taken unnecessary damage because of a VERY minor miscalculation of your finger's pressure. That is my only complaint for an otherwise sound control system.

Graphically, Luigi's Mansion is a visual orgy demonstrating what the GameCube can do with lighting effects and transparencies. The Mansion, characters, and especially the ghosts look gorgeous.

The sound isn't anything to write home about, but it gets the job done. There aren't a wide variety of tunes, however I never once felt that the sound was repetitious. It fits the mood. You get nervous when an enemy ghost is waiting for you, not knowing what lies directly ahead.

All in all, Luigi's Mansion is an excellent game worthy of the Mario legacy. I'll be back soon with a full review.