The graphics are phenomonal. It makes you feel that you are in the rooms you are playing in. They just surprised me. Enough said. The graphics are the best I've ever seen. (I only own nine Xbox games though)

The controls can be mastered in 15 minutes. It's not like some other games that buttons do multiple things at different points inthe game. Each button does one action throughout the entire game.

The gameplay is what I focus buying games on, and this is why I bought it. You control a young man named Zeke Holloway. You must first turn on the lights in the room. You need skill to figure out the puzzles to get to the light though. They are extremely hard. Once you've turned the lights on, you must locate souls hidden in objects such as chairs, tables, and plants. Then you must suck them into your special lantern. This isn't hard because the objects the souls are in are pulsing in and out. Then you have to Find the next room to open and repeat the process. You have to do the same thing in each room, but the rooms and puzzles are so different, you just won't get bored. There is actually some fighting in this game. You shoot light from your lantern to kill ghosts, spiders, and more. Although the game is rated T for violence, parents this game is suitable for all. The violence really isn't violent.

To sum it up, I love this game. It really makes your mind work hard. If you don't like strategy, this game isn't for you. This game is packed with fun. I recommend renting this game before you buy it, because it appeals to some, and some won't like it. This is the best game I have ever played, and it was a good choice for me.

Possibly my favorite game for the Xbox (Rating: 0.00)
Review : This game is terrific. Apart from one or two graphic anomalies (no game is perfect) and two significant omissions from the documentation, the only negative thing I can say is that it's too short (about 17 hours on easy level). It's beautiful, fun, funny, and just a great experience. This is one of my favorite games for the Xbox.

(The important omissions are that you can strafe (step sideways) and back up without turning, each by holding the left trigger and moving the left thumbstick; and, you get 100 souls each time you get a gem, so you can open two doors marked 170 when you've only collected 70. Those two tidbits might be in the documentation, but I didn't catch them when I quickly read through, and they're important.)

I found this game to have just the right mix of goofiness, scariness, and challenging obstacles to be fun. Most of the time, you're trying to solve puzzles and get past/around/over/through things, but sometimes you have to shoot your way through monsters and evil spirits. However, the shooting isn't really the point: the threats are mostly just part of the atmosphere, and your arsenal consists of just one "weapon" with a few upgrades along the way.

The graphics are awesome, the sound just right (except for the pause music which will drive you insane if you listen to it too long), and the game play smooth. If you like platform- and puzzle-style games with a little goofiness, a little fear, a good dose of the supernatural, and lots of puzzles, this game is the game for you.

And by the way, my family played through on the easy level all together, and the scary stuff wasn't too much for my four-year-old... as long as we kept reminding her it wasn't real, just a drawing. Yet for adults, a couple of images are too creepy or disconcerting to laugh off completely or easily forget.

I just wish it was twice as long. For the price, I'd expect more than 25 or 30 areas. But it's so much fun, we're already playing through it again on the next higher skill level...

9.4 out of 10.

EXCELLENT......WORTH EVERY PENNY (Rating: 5.00)
Review : I rented this game first to see if I would like it. Becouse I have found that most video games that are movie related don't measure up well. In this case I am very wrong! Once I started playing, it was not long before I was hooked on the challenge of the game and the very interesting puzzles you solve to complete your task in each room. It gets harder and more challenging as you progress. You will not be disapointed with this purchase.

It becomes a chore after a while (Rating: 2.00)
Review : At first, it's fun finding ways to get to that light switch and light up a room and yadda yadda, yadda. Sure, when it's fun, creative puzzles that take a few moments. However, after a while it just ranks up there with doing your math homework and eating your broccoli. A heinous chore. Some of the puzzles in Haunted Mansion were just frusterating, and not in the fun way. More like a half hour ordeal when your not fighting any monsters, just figuring out which way to point some frigging mirrors.

In the end, if you have a Game Cube or have a friend who does, rent Luigis Mansion. Same principal, but a lot more fun. The ghosts are tougher to catch, but you don't have to deal with those ridiculous little puzzles. Otherwise, leave the Ghost Busting to Bill Murray and Dan Akroyd.

Fun, but not 11th Hour (Rating: 4.00)
Review : I was hoping for a game like 11th Hour or Fools Errand. This game is more arcade like, but the puzzles are fun. Turns out I'm liking the game more and more as I play it. I do get tired of shooting the ghosts that come at you from all driections, I've got plenty of shooters to do that.
The basics of the game are that you are hired by the good ghosts of the mansion to get rid of the evil spirtis. You go from room to room solving puzzles in order to capture free spriits that allow you to gain access to other parts of the mansion. Along the way evil spirits and creatures attempt to do you harm.
The graphics and sound are very well done. Its easy to just pickup and play a room, save and go do other things, or you can sit for a few hours and work the game.
Definitely worth a rent, but good puzzle games are so few and far between, give it a purchase so we can all enjoy more titles in the future.