Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope Review: Charming Combat

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle made history when it debuted in 2017, bringing members of Nintendo's beloved Mushroom Kingdom to the zany world of Ubisoft's bunny-like Rabbids.

The result was a fantastic combination of two successful, established franchises, one that both enthralled and challenged players. It was an application we'd never seen for the Mario gang, tempered by the silliness of the Rabbids for a fun yet surprisingly cohesive tale that gripped you from the opening moments of the game.

Now, the Mario gang and the Rabbids have returned for Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, the continuation of what will hopefully be a lengthy partnership between these two blockbuster brands. It's had some time in the oven ahead of its debut, and the result is an even tastier treat that's been cooked to perfection.

Sparks of Hope is one of the best strategy games you'll find on the Nintendo Switch, and the product of a solid partnership between Ubisoft and Nintendo that's brought us something truly special. It's a magical journey with action, laughs and characters that feel right at home on Nintendo's handheld.

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope Review: Story

The Mario gang and the Rabbids always have a good time when they're together now, after the initial weirdness of meeting in the first game. But there's always got to be some drama, right? Sparks of Hope kicks off after a huge manta ray attacks Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and their Rabbid friends.

The ray-like being, Cursa, has one objective: spread the strange black goo known as Darkmess throughout the entire universe in a bid to collect the energy of Sparks, Super Mario Galaxy-like Lumas, which can help her carry out her bidding.

Mario and the gang can't let this slide, so they must travel from planet to planet to put an end to Cursa's nefarious plans and rescue the poor Sparks. That's where you come in.

You've got to complete turn-based battles and participate in a surprisingly meaty story to restore peace to the universe and make sure Cursa doesn't get what she wants. It's a fun story that wouldn't feel out of place in a "normal" Mario game.

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope Review: Gameplay

Sparks of Hope is split into a variety of main missions for characters to explore in addition to wide expanses to poke around in. While the game is propelled along, of course, by completing main missions, there are side quests available as well to collect Planet Coins. These may be used to purchase useful items or open up additional areas ripe for exploration.

There are also plenty of puzzles that must be solved out in the overworld, many of which will require you to flip a switch or scan the environment to find a certain hint or item. The puzzles can be somewhat simple near the beginning of the game, but they do tend to become more complex near the end of the game. They may put your noggin to the test, and there are some mandatory puzzles that are required to be solved to progress, but nothing too difficult that it drags the game down.

There's plenty to do when you aren't on the battlefield, but of course that's where Sparks of Hope truly shines. Luckily, the game isn't completely dominated by battles as such that it feels like there's nothing to do if you aren't clashing with the numerous bad guys who want to take you out.

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope Review: Combat

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle went out on a limb to introduce something new to fans when it debuted, so it makes sense that it was keen to be a bit more strict with its rules. This time around, there's more freedom inside and outside of battle. Not only can players move about in the overworld to explore, speak with other characters and complete objectives in a wider capacity, but that freedom has expanded to battles as well.

The first Mario + Rabbids game had players restricted to the grid system that combat was built around, much like similar strategy games. You'd move a certain number of squares and end your turn. In Sparks of Hope, you can choose your actions for each character, and move about as you see fit within reason.

You can perform a number of actions during battle, including jumps, communicating with other team members and more. It's still very much a turn-based affair, but there's a much more freeform vibe to all of it that gives you more of an opportunity to get in, clear out each area of enemies and go for the goal.

That means you get to become a more active participant in combat. Your movement range is denoted by a patch of highlighted terrain, and you can use all of your action points as you see fit. Once you attack with a weapon, you can no longer move, but you can perform any last actions left. Your character will also take cover or protect themselves by getting up against a wall if their turn is ending.

The sense of movement with this new system is nothing short of awesome. You may, in the same turn, slide tackle an enemy, perform a massive jump and pepper bad guys with Mario's guns. It's too cool to see these familiar characters performing such interesting actions, and you tend to forget there are restrictions on movement at all. It feels much more like the kinetic world of a 3D Mario platformer than an XCOM or Fire Emblem, and that's by design. It works beautifully here.

The addition of the titular Sparks change up things considerably, too. There are over 30 to collect, and each imbue characters with different abilities. You can equip them on any character, and there are options that allow you to drop meteors, shock enemies and many other fun abilities that make battle even more exciting. You can mix them and match them as you see fit, upgrade them and shuffle them around through characters as it makes sense throughout the game. They're a flexible and versatile way to elevate each battle and ensure all characters have a meaningful role in combat.

Between Sparks and the dynamic way combat takes place, Sparks of Hope has a robust and frenetic battle system that's well worth the time investment. When you pull off a victory it never ceases to feel exciting, and seeing the Nintendo characters working side by side with their Rabbid counterparts is a special treat.

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope: Verdict

Sparks of Hope is an inventive, exciting, and fast-paced strategy game with a lush, colorful world, fun characters and plenty to discover. It's lighthearted and silly, but that never keeps it from being captivating. It's a good time to be had by all, from hardcore strategy fans to those looking to have fun with Mario and company. Most of all, it's the natural evolution of the Mario + Rabbids series that proves that most all things improve with time, even zany little bunnies.

Score: 9/10

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope releases on Nintendo Switch on October 20, 2022.