Some Nintendo fans got an unexpected surprise this week when their pre-ordered copy of Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope arrived in the mail days ahead of the game’s official launch of October 20th. The follow-up to 2017's Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope features some exciting new additions to the mascot-based tactical strategy game. Excitement for the game’s release reached new highs after a Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope cinematic launch trailer premiered earlier this month.
The original Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle was a 2017 turn-based tactical strategy game developed by Ubisoft that brought together characters from the Mario franchise and Ubisoft’s own mischievous Rabbids. Taking gameplay cues from turn-based classics, the Mario + Rabbids games give players control of characters from the Super Mario Bros. and Rabbids franchises as they engage in tactical battles using a variety of whimsical weapons and abilities. Despite this seemingly bizarre premise, the game won over both critics and fans with its light-hearted, comedic tone and solid tactical gameplay. Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope carries over the original’s tight gameplay while adding new characters, locations, weapons, and a story rumored to feature an evil version of Rosalina from Super Mario Galaxy.
In a post on r/NintendoSwitch, Reddit user Renster12 shared a picture of their copy of Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope that was delivered 2 days early, with several other posters noting that they had also received their pre-ordered copy ahead of the game’s scheduled release date. Responses to the post mainly consisted of other users congratulating Renster12on their luck, with some gamers expressing disappointment that they had to wait longer to get their hands on a copy of the eagerly anticipated release. Gamers who had held off on pre-ordering due to not wanting to create an account with yet another online service were likely relieved when it was announced in September that Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope doesn’t require an Ubisoft Connect account.
Although response to Renster12’s good fortune was generally positive, some users expressed their hesitation to purchase the game after Ubisoft’s recent history of releasing titles featuring serious bugs and sometimes lackluster gameplay. This perceived drop in quality levels has resulted in some major departures from the publisher in recent months, including the recent resignation of Ubisoft’s CCO, leading some gamers to be wary of the company's new releases.
The success of the Mario + Rabbids games shows how sometimes the most unexpected titles can end up being the most enjoyable ones. By bringing the colorful world of Mario and Rabbids to turn-based strategy Ubisoft managed to breathe new life into a genre that had grown stale in recent years, and Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope looks set to further refine this winning formula when it releases on October 20th.
Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope is scheduled to release on October 20 for Nintendo Switch. Click here to navigate to the store page.