After some recent speculation and rumors, Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope has officially been revealed. The new tactical strategy game from Ubisoft is a follow-up to the 2017 hit, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle. It appears to bring back fan-favorite characters like Mario, Peach, Luigi, and Rabbid Peach, But also a new member is joining the crew of Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope; Rabbid Rosalina.
The newest entry into the Mario + Rabbids series looks to bring about some intriguing changes, including a whole new setting, a change-up to the gameplay, and more. However, the reveal of Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope came with the news of Rabbid Rosalina, and that could be a big deal. Fans of Nintendo could find out just how important this addition is even before they play this turn-based tactics game when it releases in 2022.
Rabbid Rosalina in Mario + Rabbids
One of the first things that players may notice in the exciting new trailer Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope is Rabbid Rosalina. She is bursting with a niche personality of her own, or perhaps lacking in said personality. Just like in the original Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, each Rabbid that is based on characters from the Mushroom Kingdom has a unique personality. Rabbid Mario is a bit fearless, adventurous, and even cocky. Rabbid Peach is rude and always on her phone. Rabbid Luigi is always friendly but easily frightened. Rabbid Rosalina is the newest addition to the crew, and she appears to be aloof with a knitted Luma plush by her side.
The addition of Rabbid Rosalina and her Luma plush is a very welcome one. The real Rosalina reads stories in the Super Mario Galaxy games to her Luma friends. In the cinematic reveal trailer of Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope, she is again reading a book with her Luma plush right next to her; this time looking rather bothered by the idea that she needs to jump into battle. Rabbid Rosalina almost seems like a teenager version of Rosalina, as she is irritated by anyone or anything getting in the way of her personal time.
On top of Rosalina being added to the game as a Rabbid character, there are Rabbid Lumas as well, which show up both in the cinematic trailer and in the first gameplay trailer of Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope. There also appears to be a mysterious black and green-haired new Rabbid as well. Between traveling through space and a new galaxy and having both Rabbid Rosalina and Rabbid Lumas, the game certainly has a Super Mario Galaxy vibe to it.
Possible Hints Towards Another Super Mario Galaxy
Years ago, Shigeru Miyamoto claimed that Super Mario Galaxy 3 was still a possibility. Since then, the Switch has launched, Super Mario Odyssey has been a smash hit, and Nintendo has launched a Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection that featured the original Super Mario Galaxy. There is still some optimism that the Galaxy games can come back, and Rabbid Rosalina gives a little bit of hope for that.
While Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope is of course being developed by Ubisoft, it will likely be influenced again by Nintendo. Many recall the director of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle Davide Soliani tearing up with Shigeru Miyamoto waxing poetic about him at E3 2017. Miyamoto helped oversee the project and had specific rules about weapons, how Mario and company would not be able to jump as they normally would, etc. So when it comes to the addition of Rabbid Rosalina, it could be that she simply is being added for fun, but it could also be that she is tangentially hinting at something more.
Rosalina has now become a staple of the Mushroom Kingdom crew. She is in series like Mario Kart, Super Mario Party, Super Smash Bros., and more. It makes perfect sense that Rosalina and Luma would be the next characters to add to Mario + Rabbids. However, there is a huge demand from fans for Super Mario Galaxy 3. Nintendo's E3 Showcase is in just a few days. It is plausible, even if it's a long shot, that another game in the Galaxy series could be announced during the show, whether that's a new Super Mario Galaxy, or the second game remastered. Rabbid Rosalina could have been requested to be added to Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope for this very reason.
Interestingly enough, Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope was leaked correctly yesterday, along with some other titles. Mario Galaxy 3 was not on that list. In fact, Nintendo is often very tight-lipped, and very few Nintendo-developed titles are leaked before they are revealed. Plenty of Nintendo fans would love to hear the announcement of another Super Mario Galaxy game during Nintendo's E3 Showcase in a couple of days.
Nintendo Continuing to Allow Third-Party Developers To Use its IP
Nintendo has been seemingly more open than ever to allow third parties to carefully and thoughtfully use its IP. The Mario + Rabbids games are just the latest example, and a very good one at that. Soon after its release, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle become the highest-selling third-party developed game for the Nintendo Switch, and it is still high on the list at around two million copies sold.
It makes all the sense in the world for Kingdom Battle to receive a sequel, especially with the Switch selling so well. However, on top of that, Nintendo is proving to be more trusting with its characters and IP. Rosalina has been in the hands of Nintendo for the most part so far, now Ubisoft has turned her into a bored and annoyed Rabbid, and it's both hilarious and wonderful.
Nintendo has also allowed Koei Tecmo and Omega Force to publish and develop the well-received Hyrule Warriors games, as well as Fire Emblem Warriors. Bandai Namco developed Pokkén Tournament. Even indie developer Brace Yourself Games was trusted with the Zelda IP to create Cadence of Hyrule. Rabbid Rosalina and Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope is the latest example of Nintendo trusting its beloved IP with third-party and even indie developers.
This is a great thing for Nintendo fans, and there is a chance that over the course of E3, there will be similar announcements for new titles. Whether it be a Star Fox spin-off created by Ubisoft Toronto, the developers behind Starlink: Battle for Atlas, or Team Cherry making the next 2D Metroid, Nintendo could have exciting announcements right around the corner.
Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope releases in 2022 for Nintendo Switch.