Editor’s Note: Welcome to our twenty-five most anticipated games of 2012. After culminating a comprehensive list of the confirmed games for next year, the MediaKick team voted on the games they are most looking forward to for next year, and after processing the results through a methodical algorithm we’re here to bring you the results. Taking a closer look at both what we know so far and why the team are excited for each game, we’ll have an article at midday everyday until Christmas – when we’ll reveal our most anticipated game of 2012.

Nintendo’s E3 2011 press conference was a little hard to swallow. On the one hand, we had some rather exciting prospects for the handheld released earlier in the year, but on the other hand we had the lacklustre explanation on just what Nintendo Wii U is. There was one announcement however that was a genuine surprise. We all knew that Mario, Zelda, Starfox and Kid Icarus would feature in this year’s conference, but I don’t think anyone expected a sequel to the under-appreciated Nintendo GameCube launch title – Luigi’s Mansion.

It is May 2002, and like any new Nintendo console there was a plumber based launch title for the GameCube; but this one was in green overalls with a vacuum cleaner rather than red overalls trying to save a princess. We all criticise Nintendo for not trying something new with a franchise, but here the exact opposite was true. People got on their high horse because it wasn’t the game they expected. In a way, this game was far ahead of its time, yet wasn’t well received commercially because it wasn’t a Mario game. It was a huge shame, as the game featured core ideas that are inspired by Ghostbusters of all things. Then there was the lonesome, unfriendly atmosphere that somehow retained a child friendly look. Not scary in the slightest for the rest of us, but it certainly packed more atmosphere than other survival horror games of recent times. Nintendo are often criticised for relying too much on the usual suspects of late, so to showcase this game for their new 3D handheld was a shock.

If Super Mario 3D Land got one thing completely right, it was the use of 3D technology. This revelation has made the prospect even more enticing to me, as a spooky mansion with ghosts literally jumping out of the screen certainly gives off the right vibes. We don’t know a lot about the game other than the fact it exists, it is on the 3DS, and that it features similar gameplay elements to the original.

While I see the potential of this title to have a real impact on the Nintendo 3DS library, I’m not as excited as Igor, who from the sounds of things, not only owned the original at launch, but appreciated it for what it was, rather than despise it for what it wasn’t.

“I remember May ’02, the launch of the Nintendo GameCube, like it was yesterday. Luigi’s Mansion linked a hilarious plot with fun adventure mechanics that the Nintendo 3DS can expand upon with 3D technology. Luigi’s Mansion 2 has been a long-awaited sequel in my book as it was an absolute delight to watch Luigi’s amusing emotions come to life thanks to the colourful and entertaining ghosts in the game. Slowly the 3DS builds its portfolio and Luigi’s Mansion 2 looks to be a worthy addition to any gamer’s catalogue.”

A decade after the GameCube launch title hit stores, Luigi is looking to outshine his brother. For me though, there is certainly an interesting consequence to this announcement. I have put the original up on my LoveFilm rental queue just to remind myself as to why this game made me buy a GameCube in the first place. Sure, it would be Nintendo favourites battling it out in pugilistic madness in Super Smash Bros Melee that would come to define the non-Mario centric bits of system, but curiosity inspired early adopters to take a walk into the haunted mansion. Whether Luigi will usurp his brother’s throne for once is anyone’s guess, but the timing couldn’t be better.