Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle was a remarkable strategy game with one major flaw, but its sequel, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, seems to have corrected it. Sparks of Hope aspires to improve upon core areas of its predecessor by offering a wider roster of characters and allowing free movement rather than a rigid grid system. In addition, one less noticeable change that will have a major impact on the game appeared in its most recent Nintendo Direct trailer: The developers of Sparks of Hope have removed Mario as a required party member.
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle was awesome according to many, praised for its seemingly impractical blend of wacky humor and thought-provoking strategy. The game melded two entirely separate franchises and created something altogether unique. However, within this mixture came the title's largest problem. Players were forced to use Mario as the leader of their party at all times, and one slot had to be filled by a Rabbid, leaving very little room for customization. Being forced to use Mario in a squadron of three meant players had much less freedom to flex their favorites. This became especially restrictive given that Kingdom Battle's strategy encouraged players to choose one of the two healers in the game, Peach or Rabbid Peach, essentially limiting them to choose only one out of a roster of eight characters.
In Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope's initial trailer, it was made clear that players could swap Mario out as the party leader, allowing characters like Rabbid Peach and Rabbid Luigi to lead the traversal of the overworld. This raised the question: if Mario's role could be altered, could he be removed from a player's lineup entirely? The latest Nintendo Direct seemed to answer that question by showing the sword-wielding Rabbid, Edge, leading the party in exploration, with Peach and Rabbid Luigi following suit. Then, another trailer was released showcasing a team of Bowser, Rabbid Mario, and Peach fighting a battle together without the titular protagonist, confirming that Mario will not be a mandatory party member in the sequel.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope Offers More Strategic Character Mixing
Mario serving as an optional addition to the party compliments Sparks of Hope's larger cast, which adds Rabbid Rosalina, the unnamed spiky-haired Rabbid, and Bowser to the mix. Players can now choose between their ideal characters to represent their team. The change also opens up a ton of possibilities for party optimization. Without having to build a team around Mario, players will be able to experiment with their lineup more. For instance, they could potentially run the short-ranged powerhouse Rabbid Mario as a glass cannon, with Rabbid Peach and Peach ing him through healing. This decision emphasizes the tactical aspects of the game, which the developers said was a priority in a recent Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope interview with Screen Rant.
It remains to be seen whether or not Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope developers will go one step further by removing the Rabbid requirement and avoid necessitating a Mario character as well. This would give players complete control of their party, allowing those who dislike the Rabbids to focus on the Mario characters, and for others to create outrageous all-Rabbid combinations. Whichever the case, it's clear there will be more maneuverability within Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope's structure, earning the anticipated title added promise.
Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope will be released for Nintendo Switch on October 20, 2022.
Source: Nintendo/Youtube, MarioRabbids/Twitter
