Unlock Luigi in Super Mario 64 DS: A Comprehensive Guide

Super Mario 64 DS, a reimagining of the classic Nintendo 64 title, adds a wealth of new content, including new playable characters. Luigi, Mario’s often-underestimated brother, is one of these unlockable characters. Playing as Luigi offers a different experience, with his unique jumping ability and ghost-busting skills. This guide provides a detailed, step-by-step walkthrough on how to unlock Luigi in Super Mario 64 DS.

Why Unlock Luigi?

Before diving into the unlocking process, it’s worth understanding why you’d want to play as Luigi. Each character in Super Mario 64 DS has unique abilities:

* **Mario:** The all-rounder, possessing a balanced skillset suitable for most situations.
* **Yoshi:** Can flutter jump and eat enemies, providing unique traversal and combat options.
* **Luigi:** Known for his higher jump and ability to become invisible, crucial for accessing certain stars.
* **Wario:** Strong and can break certain objects that other characters can’t.

Luigi’s ability to turn invisible, particularly, opens up new possibilities for collecting stars that would otherwise be inaccessible. His floaty jump also makes certain platforming challenges easier.

Prerequisites and Initial Steps

Before you can unlock Luigi, you’ll need to progress through the game and unlock Yoshi. Here’s how:

1. **Start a New Game:** Begin a new game as Mario.
2. **Complete Course 1: Bob-omb Battlefield:** Collect the first star, “Big Bob-omb on the Summit.”
3. **Enter the Castle:** Return to Peach’s Castle and enter. After the introductory scenes, you’ll gain access to the different areas of the castle.
4. **Go to the Courtyard:** Head to the courtyard area, which is accessible via a door on the left side of the entrance hall.
5. **Find the Rabbits:** In the courtyard, you’ll encounter rabbits. You need to catch one of the rabbits. It might take a few tries as they are fast. The rabbit will eventually drop a key.
6. **Unlock the Door:** Use the key to unlock the door near the waterfall in the courtyard.
7. **Enter the Room:** Inside, you’ll find Yoshi’s egg. The egg will hatch and Yoshi will become playable.
8. **Talk to Yoshi:** Engage in a conversation with Yoshi. He will explain his role and grant you access to his abilities.

Now that you have Yoshi unlocked, you can proceed to unlock Luigi.

Unlocking Luigi: A Step-by-Step Guide

Luigi is unlocked within the walls of Peach’s Castle. The process involves finding and interacting with certain paintings and solving a specific puzzle.

**Step 1: Find the Mirror Room**

1. **Enter the Castle:** Start from the castle’s entrance hall.
2. **Go to the Second Floor:** Ascend the stairs to the second floor.
3. **Locate the Door:** Look for a door with a ‘?’ symbol above it. This door is located opposite the entrance to the Hazy Maze Cave.
4. **Enter the Room:** Go through the door. This leads to a small, seemingly empty room.

**Step 2: Activate the Mirror**

1. **Switch to Yoshi:** Change your character to Yoshi if you are not already playing as him. This is important, as Yoshi is needed for the next step.
2. **Look at the Mirror:** When you enter the room as Yoshi, observe the mirror on the back wall. It will not display Yoshi’s reflection but instead will show a reflection of Luigi.

**Step 3: Capture the Hidden Luigi**

1. **Jump into the Mirror:** This is a bit tricky. As Yoshi, jump towards the mirror. You don’t need to perform any special actions; simply jump directly into the mirror’s surface.
2. **Enter the Painting World:** After jumping into the mirror, you’ll be transported to a small painting world. In this world, you will find a painting of Luigi.

**Step 4: Defeat the Big Boo**

1. **Engage the Big Boo:** Upon entering the painting world, a Big Boo will appear. This is a mini-boss that you must defeat to progress.
2. **Defeat Method:** To defeat the Big Boo, you need to punch or ground pound it three times. Be careful, as it will try to attack you by lunging or spinning. Dodge its attacks and time your strikes carefully.
3. **Avoid The Boo Buddies:** There are also smaller boos in the area, avoid these as they are invincible and will distract you from defeating the Big Boo.

**Step 5: Claim the Key**

1. **Collect the Key:** Once you defeat the Big Boo, it will drop a key. Grab the key; this key unlocks the next stage in your journey to unlock Luigi.

**Step 6: Head to the Basement**

1. **Exit the Painting:** After obtaining the key, exit the painting world by jumping back into the mirror.
2. **Go to the Basement:** From the castle’s entrance hall, go down the stairs to the basement. The basement is accessible via a door near the entrance.

**Step 7: Find the Room of Secrets**

1. **Navigate the Basement:** In the basement, look for a locked door. This door is typically near the entrance to the courses in the basement (e.g., Wet-Dry World).
2. **Unlock the Door:** Use the key you obtained from defeating the Big Boo to unlock the door.
3. **Enter the Room:** Enter the newly unlocked room. This room might contain a few enemies, so be prepared.

**Step 8: Complete the Puzzle**

1. **Locate the Painting:** Inside the secret room, you’ll find a large painting that is partially obscured or incomplete.
2. **Use Yoshi’s Ability:** As Yoshi, use your tongue to eat the Boos that are circling the painting. By eating the boos, the painting will slowly get clearer until the whole image is visible.
3. **Reveal Luigi’s Portrait:** After you’ve eaten enough Boos, the painting will reveal a clear portrait of Luigi.

**Step 9: Capture Luigi**

1. **Jump into the Painting:** Jump into the revealed painting of Luigi. This will transport you to another painting world.

**Step 10: Solve the Puzzle in Luigi’s Painting**

1. **Navigate the Maze:** Inside Luigi’s painting, you’ll encounter a maze-like area. This area may contain moving platforms, enemies, and various obstacles.
2. **Find the Star Switch:** Your goal is to navigate the maze and find a switch marked with a star symbol. The location of this switch can vary slightly, so explore the area thoroughly.
3. **Activate the Switch:** Once you find the switch, activate it by ground-pounding or jumping on it.

**Step 11: Rescue Luigi**

1. **Locate Luigi’s Cage:** Activating the switch will cause a cage containing Luigi to appear or become accessible.
2. **Free Luigi:** Find a way to open or break the cage. This may involve solving another small puzzle or using a specific ability.
3. **Luigi is Free:** Once the cage is open, Luigi will be freed.

**Step 12: Talk to Luigi**

1. **Approach Luigi:** Walk towards Luigi and interact with him.
2. **Luigi Joins Your Team:** After a short conversation, Luigi will officially join your team of playable characters.

Alternative Method: Using the Character Switch Glitch

While the standard method is the intended way to unlock Luigi, an alternative, albeit glitchy, method exists. This involves exploiting a character switch glitch. Be aware that using glitches may cause unexpected behavior in the game, so proceed with caution.

**Important Note:** This method relies on a glitch and might not work consistently on all versions of the game or under all circumstances.

**Steps:**

1. **Find a Painting:** Locate any painting that you can enter. For example, the Bob-omb Battlefield painting.
2. **Begin to Enter the Painting:** Start the process of entering the painting by jumping towards it.
3. **Pause the Game:** As Mario begins to enter the painting, pause the game.
4. **Switch to Yoshi:** In the pause menu, switch your character to Yoshi.
5. **Unpause the Game:** Unpause the game. If the glitch works, Mario will transform into Yoshi mid-jump.
6. **Exit the Course:** After entering the stage, immediately exit back to Peach’s Castle.
7. **Repeat the Process:** Repeat the process of entering any painting, pausing, and switching to Yoshi several times. Sometimes, upon returning to the castle, an event will be triggered.
8. **Luigi Appears:** After several attempts, Luigi may randomly appear in the castle.
9. **Talk to Luigi:** Interact with Luigi, and he should become a playable character.

This method is highly unpredictable and may require many attempts. It’s generally recommended to stick with the standard method for unlocking Luigi.

Luigi’s Abilities and How to Use Them

Once you’ve unlocked Luigi, you can switch to him at any time by accessing the character selection screen (usually by finding a character switch block or pausing the game and selecting a character). Luigi’s unique abilities include:

* **Higher Jump:** Luigi can jump significantly higher than Mario, allowing him to reach platforms that Mario cannot.
* **Invisibility:** Luigi can become invisible by pressing the ‘X’ button (or the equivalent button on your control scheme). This ability is crucial for accessing certain stars that require you to pass through obstacles or avoid enemies.
* **Floaty Jump:** Luigi’s jump has a floaty quality, allowing him to control his descent and make precise landings.
* **Wall Jump:** Luigi can wall jump.

Here are some tips on how to effectively use Luigi’s abilities:

* **Reaching High Places:** Use Luigi’s higher jump to access stars that are located on high platforms. Combine his jump with a backflip for even greater height.
* **Avoiding Enemies:** Use Luigi’s invisibility to sneak past enemies or obstacles that would otherwise be difficult to overcome. Remember that invisibility is temporary, so use it strategically.
* **Precise Landings:** Take advantage of Luigi’s floaty jump to make precise landings on small or moving platforms. This can be particularly useful in challenge stages or time trials.
* **Ghost Busting:** Luigi is excellent at collecting the ghost star in Big Boo’s Haunt. He can go invisible which will prevent the Boos from finding him, and his higher jump allows him to reach the higher areas of the stage.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes, players encounter issues while trying to unlock Luigi. Here are some common problems and their solutions:

* **Cannot Find the Mirror Room:** Ensure that you are on the second floor of the castle and that you are looking for the door with the ‘?’ symbol above it. The door is located opposite the entrance to Hazy Maze Cave.
* **Mirror Does Not Show Luigi:** Make sure you are using Yoshi when you look into the mirror. Luigi’s reflection will only appear when viewed through Yoshi’s perspective.
* **Cannot Defeat the Big Boo:** The Big Boo can be challenging. Focus on dodging its attacks and timing your punches or ground pounds carefully. Keep moving to avoid being hit.
* **Key Not Dropping:** The Big Boo should drop the key immediately after being defeated. If it doesn’t, try defeating it again. If the issue persists, there might be a problem with your game save.
* **Luigi Does Not Appear After the Glitch Method:** The glitch method is unreliable and may require many attempts. There is no guarantee that it will work. It’s best to stick to the standard method.
* **Cannot Switch to Luigi:** After unlocking Luigi, make sure you are using a character switch block or pausing the game and selecting him from the character selection screen. You may need to complete a course or return to the castle to trigger the character switch option.
* **Game Freezes or Crashes:** If your game freezes or crashes during the unlocking process, there might be an issue with your game cartridge or emulator. Try cleaning the cartridge or using a different emulator.

Conclusion

Unlocking Luigi in Super Mario 64 DS is a rewarding experience that adds depth and variety to the gameplay. By following this comprehensive guide, you can successfully unlock Luigi and take advantage of his unique abilities to explore the Mushroom Kingdom in new and exciting ways. Whether you choose the standard method or experiment with the glitch method, unlocking Luigi is a worthwhile endeavor for any Super Mario 64 DS player.

Enjoy your adventures as Luigi! His unique abilities will allow you to discover secrets and reach new heights in the game. Happy gaming!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

**Q: Do I need to beat the game to unlock Luigi?**
A: No, you do not need to beat the game to unlock Luigi. You need to unlock Yoshi first, which requires completing the first course and catching a rabbit in the castle courtyard.

**Q: Can I unlock Luigi before Yoshi?**
A: No, you must unlock Yoshi before you can unlock Luigi. The steps to unlock Luigi require you to have Yoshi as a playable character.

**Q: Is the glitch method a reliable way to unlock Luigi?**
A: No, the glitch method is not reliable and may not work consistently. It is best to follow the standard method outlined in this guide.

**Q: What are Luigi’s unique abilities?**
A: Luigi’s unique abilities include a higher jump, the ability to become invisible, and a floaty jump.

**Q: Can Luigi wall jump like Mario?**
A: Yes, Luigi can wall jump.

**Q: Is there a specific level where Luigi’s invisibility is required?**
A: Yes, Luigi’s invisibility is required to get certain stars in levels like Big Boo’s Haunt and others where you need to pass through obstacles or avoid enemies.

**Q: What should I do if Luigi doesn’t appear in the mirror?**
A: Ensure you are playing as Yoshi when you look into the mirror. Luigi’s reflection will only appear when viewed through Yoshi’s perspective.

**Q: How many stars do I need to collect before unlocking Luigi?**
A: There is no specific number of stars required, but you need enough stars to unlock the second floor of the castle and access the mirror room.

**Q: Is it possible to unlock Luigi in the original Super Mario 64?**
A: No, Luigi is not a playable character in the original Super Mario 64 for the Nintendo 64. He is only playable in Super Mario 64 DS.

**Q: Can I switch between characters at any time after unlocking them?**
A: Yes, after unlocking Yoshi, Luigi, and Wario, you can switch between them at any time by using character switch blocks found throughout the game or by pausing the game and selecting a character.