Let me be honest with you—when I first picked up the controller and encountered the tank-style controls in Luigi’s Mansion, I felt a little thrown off. It’s not that I’m unfamiliar with classic survival horror movement schemes, but something about guiding Luigi while ghosts circle around corners had me fumbling more than I’d like to admit. I remember one early session where I spent a solid 10 minutes just trying to rotate Luigi smoothly enough to aim the Poltergust at a tricky Boo hiding behind a grandfather clock. That moment made me realize: mastering the controls isn’t just a minor detail—it’s the difference between feeling clumsy and feeling like a pro ghost hunter. And that’s exactly why I’m sharing these five strategies today. Whether you’re playing on Switch or revisiting the 3DS original, these tips will help you boost your performance, cut down on frustration, and make the most of Luigi’s quirky toolkit.

First, let’s talk about the right stick. It controls the direction your tool is pointing, and honestly, it’s a game-changer once you get the hang of it. Early on, I’d rely too much on strafing or awkwardly repositioning Luigi, but the moment I started treating the right stick as my primary aiming tool, everything clicked. The Poltergust, Strobulb, and Dark-Light Device are mapped to ZR, R, and L respectively, and this layout is surprisingly intuitive once muscle memory sets in. I’ve found that practicing in low-pressure areas—like the Training Room or early mansion corridors—helps build that familiarity. One drill I do involves circling a stationary object while keeping the Strobulb trained on it. After about 15–20 minutes of this, my capture rate improved by what felt like 30%, and I was stunning ghosts far more consistently.

Now, about movement: the default Omnidirectional tank controls can feel stiff, especially when you’re trying to make quick turns under pressure. I switched to the Horizontal movement option early in my playthrough, and it made a noticeable difference. It restricts vertical movement but allows smoother left-right rotation, which feels more natural when you’re navigating tight spaces. That said, even with this setting, getting your bearings quickly during a ghost ambush isn’t easy. I’ve died more times than I care to admit because I turned the wrong way while being swarmed. One trick I’ve adopted is to always keep my back to a wall when possible—it limits the angles ghosts can approach from and gives you precious seconds to reorient.

Then there’s the “look up” function, mapped to the X button. I’ll be blunt: this feels like a weird leftover from the 3DS version. On the Switch, with full right-stick control, manually looking up seems almost redundant. Still, I’ve found a niche use for it. When I’m in a room with high ceilings or hidden cobwebs, tapping X lets me quickly scan upward without adjusting the camera manually. It’s saved me a handful of times, like in the Twisted Suites, where missing a ceiling treasure can mean losing out on 2,000 gold. So while it’s not essential, it’s worth keeping in your mental toolkit.

Another strategy involves mastering the Dark-Light Device. It’s easy to overlook this tool, but uncovering hidden objects and ghost trails is crucial for high scores. I make it a habit to sweep every new room with the Dark-Light, even if it slows me down. In one playthrough, this habit helped me uncover a hidden Pearl in the Bunker Rooms that I’d missed three times before. That single find netted me an extra 5,000 gold. Timing is key here—activate the Dark-Light in short bursts rather than holding it down, and pair it with quick Strobulb flashes to handle any surprise apparitions.

Finally, let’s talk about pacing and mindset. It’s tempting to rush through the mansion, especially when you’re chasing a high rank, but I’ve learned that patience pays off. My best run—where I cleared the main story with a top rank and over 80,000 gold—was also my slowest. I took time to experiment with control settings, replayed certain sections to refine my technique, and didn’t hesitate to reset if a capture went poorly. Over time, these small adjustments added up. I estimate that players who focus on control mastery alone can shave 10–15% off their clear times and boost their gold hauls by similar margins.

In the end, unlocking your potential in Luigi’s Mansion isn’t about having lightning-fast reflexes or encyclopedic knowledge of ghost types. It’s about building a comfortable, intuitive relationship with the controls. Whether you prefer the Horizontal movement mode or stick with Omnidirectional, whether you use the “look up” button or ignore it entirely, what matters is that you find a rhythm that works for you. I still remember the satisfaction of flawlessly capturing a group of Hammer Ghosts without taking a hit—it felt like everything had finally come together. So take these strategies, adapt them, and make them your own. Before long, you’ll be clearing rooms with a confidence that would make even Luigi proud.