When Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle was first leaked to the public before its reveal, many were skeptical that it would be anything good. The Rabbids were not well-liked by many and a strategy RPG crossover with Mario seemed like a weird choice of game to make. And yet the result was such a success critically and commercially that a sequel seemed inevitable and has arrived in the form of Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope.
Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope had a lot to live up to and managed to show right away that it would not live in Kingdom Battle’s shadow but would surpass its predecessor in many ways. Whereas Kingdom Battle was far closer to the XCOM formula than many expected, Sparks of Hope varies things up both in terms of what to equip and how to battle. Unlike the first game’s grid-based mechanic for movement, Sparks of Hope allows a free range of movement along the battlefield allowing you much more freedom in when and where you position for battle, with your characters only being locked in once they fire at an enemy.
Sparks of Hope takes a much different approach to the overworld than Sparks of Hope by forgoing the linear nature of that game and going for a more open exploration approach. Battles will now happen when you encounter enemies in the overworld, instead of designated fight sections in the previous game, while having some quest battles that you need to seek out. You are also able to carry out actions in real-time all throughout your turn and can make a number of changes along the way.
The result is an experience that feels more like a spiritual sequel to Kingdom Battle while carrying on the story. And the story is told wonderfully here with the Rabbids and Beep-O being explored far more, with the former characters now speaking and having limited voice acting, and the latter having very detailed voice-acted lines. The way the characters are portrayed now feels far more reminiscent of the early Paper Mario games, and the battle encounters also call that game to mind.
While Kingdom Battle struggled with the weapons system, Sparks of Hope finds an interesting solution with the titular Sparks. The Sparks are Rabbid versions of the Lumas and once collected, will be equipable by party characters and will allow a number of abilities and have their own method of levelling up. In addition, damage and effectiveness are now tied to level progression and the skill tree that lets you customize the characters, giving you far more control than before.
Another aspect of the game that is a welcome change is the party system. Kingdom Battle required a Mario character and a Rabbid and Mario had to be there. Now, with the exception of some specific side quests, you are able to pick any party lineup you want, such as an all-Rabbid team or an all-Mario team, which is far more accommodating to some playstyles. There are a small number of side quests which must be undertaken with two preselected characters, forcing you to try a different combat style you may not have considered before. In addition, if you come to an area with a required character for story reasons (not side quests), that character will now be added to your team instead of replacing another character, breaking the team limit. That said, the game will make fights more difficult to compensate for this, so it is not a game-breaker.
In terms of story, no spoilers will be given here, but Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope fully expands on the story of Kingdom Battle while exploring further ramifications. The Rabbids now have a translator to explain the aforementioned talking Rabbids, and several unique characters are present. It is hard not to keep comparing Mario + Rabbids to the early Paper Mario games, but Sparks of Hope truly feels like a worthy successor to those games and is something those who dislike the new Paper Mario games should definitely check out.
Visually Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope is a gorgeous game whether docked or in handheld mode and the environments are extremely detailed, highlighting even the minor aspects of areas. The different worlds you visit are all varied and manage to give the game a much grander feel than before, giving the game a feeling like you are seeing something unexpected at times. That said, as good as the visuals are, the music from composers Grant Kirkhope, Gareth Coker and Yoko Shimomura is nothing short of spectacular. From exploring the overworld to random battles to epic story encounters to major story moments, the soundtrack lives up to the reputation of Mario RPGs having amazing music and stands among the best of any Mario RPG.
There are some minor issues, such as a few technical hiccups every now and then, and sometimes the music briefly cuts out. Aside from that, however, Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope is not just an amazing crossover, but one of the best Mario RPGs ever made (which is quite a feat). This is everything fans of the first game wanted in a sequel and then some, and we are left wanting more, which is where the upcoming DLC will enter the picture, bringing in characters such as Rayman who were wanted in the first game.
If you like Strategy RPGs, Mario RPGs, and especially the first two Paper Mario games, Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope is for you. Everyone who worked on the game at Ubisoft Milan should take a bow for the amazing work done to improve what was already a great experience. This is a highly recommended experience for anyone with a Nintendo Switch.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
Images provided by Ubisoft.