Sparking hope with Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
Amy Flower
STACK Senior Editor
The Mushroom Kingdom and Rabbids. A match you’d never expect, yet it worked once. So, what to do? Have another go and change things up in an even better adventure! Introducing Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope.
When it was announced that the notoriously protective Nintendo were allowing their first family to have a playdate with Ubisoft’s bonkers rabbit-like things in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, it met with a collective “BWAH?” That it then became evident that it would be an XCOM-styled strategy game, it met with an even bigger “BWAH?” Then people played it, and those quizzical BWAHs became BWAHs of contentment.
Rules can be broken for the good.
While that game plopped the Rabbids into the Mushroom Kingdom, complete with Ubi’s wild things doing all sorts of Mario and friends cosplay, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope takes things interstellar. Not surprisingly, this lends it distinct Super Mario Galaxy vibes, not least of all in those titular Sparks, which are Lumas that have somehow been genetically mixed up with Rabbids. As to how that actually happened, erm, BWAH?
The story kicks off with a mega-manta ray descending upon the Mushy Kingdom, abducting Rabbid Peach. Mario, being the heroic type that he always is, then launches headlong into a rescue mission. It soon unfolds that an intergalactic meanie named Cursa is behind these strange goings-on. But that’s just a peek at what’s to come, as she’s determined to spread her “Darkmess” throughout the galaxy, all in her pursuit of the energy that those rascally little Sparks contain. So, once rescuing our social media loving Rabbid Peach (as an aside, Rabbids speak now? Nope, we don’t dig it) one bit) it’s off to save the entire universe, by travelling to various worlds to liberate Sparks, and obliterate Cursa and her hunter minions once and for all.
As for the game? It’s once again a turn-based strategy battle with cute characters, but the gameplay has been changed up. While Kingdom Battle eased an audience who probably normally wouldn’t go within the vaguest sniff of a strategy game into the concept, now that it’s been acceptably grasped it’s time for Ubisoft’s clever folk to play with convention more. As such, instead of being confined to squares, our heroes have a range of freedom to move within the confines of their, erm, range. It adds another level of strategy in where you plop your fighters, for if you leave ’em out in the open they’ll likely end up intergalactic toast.
The aim is still basically the same though. You have a field of baddies in front of you, and your mission is to despatch them as effectively as possible without any of your squad getting zotted to death themselves. Some require clearance of all nefarious types, others can be more strategically traversed when the aim is “simply” to, like that legendary chicken, get to the other side.
Once graduating from the perfectly balanced introductory levels, you end up selecting a team of three heroes from an initial selection of nine. Each of these can be bolstered in almost exhaustive ways, from cosying them up with Sparks of various abilities that you rescue upon your travels, to RPG-styled skill tree traipsing. This is where strategy really kicks in - when to use? What to use?
Once again there are collectibles aplenty, from weapon-bulging treasure chests to coins and more, plus occasional puzzle quests that require a bit of noggin nuance to work out. These, naturally, yield even more treasure. Yay!
"In a case of two for two, Ubisoft have again really nailed things visually and sonically with Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope."
As well as main quests to take on in your travels, side quests abound, and once you gain the ability to leave one planet to liberate another, you can always pop back later for a touch of bonus stuff mop up.
Some may still argue that it’s a strange genre to hit up for a game that boasts not only one kid-friendly franchise but two, but the acceptance heavy lifting really has been done by Kingdom Battles. The only possible issue is that with its gorgeous cartoon artwork, those not in the know may think this the perfect pressie for the six-year-old child in their orbit. Unless these kids are patient, cluey types it isn’t, but older kids – and adults who haven’t lost that beautiful spark of childlike wonder – are in for a serious treat here.
In a case of two for two, Ubisoft have again really nailed things visually and sonically with Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope. When it comes to creating Nintendo quality look and feel you might even say that they have, once again, really raised the BWAH!
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