Mario + Rabbids director Davide Soliani announced on Wednesday that he has left the publi?sher's Milan studio after working for 25 years at the French company. Ubisoft, in response, wishes him all the best in his future career and says it's ??their "turn to cry this time."

"After 25 years, 11 of which [were] beautifully spent working with Nintendo on Mario+Rabbids along the company of our incredible community of players, I have decided to leave Ubisoft to embark on a new adventure," said Soliani on X. He says he can't tell us what he's doing next, but after the love and attention given to the Mario + Rabbids series, it would be bril??liant if he joins Nintendo in some shape or ??form.

If you can't remember who Soliani is, he is the director who sat in the E3 audience while Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto and his boss Yves Guillemot announced their unique collaboration. The camera changed to Soliani ?as Miyamoto praised the emotional developer.

"I said whatever you do, don't try to make a jump game or a Mario platformer; try to make a Mario game that has never been made before, and it's great," said Miyamoto ??during t?he reveal, recounting his conversations with Soliani.

Unfortunately, the sequel Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope didn't seem to perform well in 2022. "Despite excellent ratings and players�reception as well as an ambitious marketing plan, we were surprised by Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope's underperformance in the final weeks of 2022," said a Ubisoft financial report. It was later reported that the game went on to sell nearly three million copies, according to VGC, which seems admittedly impressive for a Mario spinoff.

"Kingdom Battle may have proven that a Mario and Rabbids crossover can work, and work well," read our review. "But Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope has cemented this as a franchise in my eyes, one that is worth playing if you’ve got any interest in lighthearted tactics with a Mario and Rabbid twist." Unfortunately, it seems likely the franchise won't continue unless the ongoing sales of the sequel impressed Ubisoft, which has bigger titles like Star Wars Outlaws just around the corner."

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Rayman fans are over the moon after the announcement that the limbless hero will be featured in the next Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope DLC. However, there might be more to look forward to. The game's director, Davide Soliani, teased a return to glory for the French platforming mascot Wednesday. He also confirmed there will be a secret message if you finish the DLC with a 100% completion rate. The prospects of the first Rayman game since 2013 might come to fruition.

According to fan community leader ItzalDrake from Rayman Together, Sparks of Hope director Davide Soliani sent a message to the character's fanbase just before the launch of the Phantom Show DLC:

"I hope that all the community and all Rayman players support us as much as pos?sible because I'm on a mission: my mission is to be able to bring Rayman back to the glory he deserves."

//twitter.com/Raym?anT??ogether/status/1694386555723342118

When was the last Rayman game released?

The limbless hero has been absent for a long time, which is strange as he was an important mascot for Ubisoft during the beginning of the studio's history. The last true game in the series was Rayman Legends, released back in 2013: a decade ago this month. If you want to go all the way back, the last 3D platforming adventure Rayman 3 came out in 2003. A fourth entry or even a follow-up ?to the 2D platforming subseries would be a dream for many fans of the series.

Soliani did not outright confirm a new game in the series, but as previ?ously mentioned, he has teased a secret hidden message for those who 100% complete the DLC. "I hope for your support and I hope you like it!" he concluded in his message to the fans.

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Give it a try

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope kind of came and went for a lot of ?folks, but it made a good impression all the same. Odds are you were either on the fence about it or just had a lot going on four months ago (I know most of us on staff did with all the games that were being dumped!), but now you'll have a chance to? check it out for free.

As of now, a demo is out on the Nintendo Switch eShop. The demo itself is fairly meaty, providing a glimpse of the intro to the game, as well as a chunk of the first area (Beacon Beach). This game still has life in it yet, as the Tower of Doom DLC is actually out today. More DLC is on the way too, including a Rayman add-on later this year.

If you do decide to pick it up as a result of the demo, you also have the benefit of post-launch patches, which have smoothed over some of the game's bigger glitches (including a progress-halting bug ??for 100% completion).

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjpbDzGz67U

Where to download the Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope demo

Head to this eShop listing page, and cl?ick the "download demo" ic?on below the title, and above the digital price text

The post A Mario + R??abbids Sparks of Hope demo is ou??t now on Switch appeared first on Destructoid.

Start the year off with new Switch games

The Nintendo ?eShop is celebrating the start of the year with some sales on Switch games. The new Year Sale is live right now, with decent cuts into a chunk of the Nintendo Switch's catalog.

This year's sale runs from January 5 to? January 15, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Purchases here goes towards Gold Points too, so it's easy to rack up some extra spending cash.

Some highlights of this sale are actually some surprisingly recent games. For those looking to dump many, many hours into the Nintendo Switch at the start of the year, you don't need to look much further than Persona 5 Royal. The massive RPG finally made its way to Nintendo Switch last year, and the 30% cut drops the price? tag down to $41.?99.

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is also on sale, albeit only for its Gold Edition. While the 22% cut takes it down to roughly $70, just a hair above the base game's price, it also include the Season Pass. And if you want a solid tactics game with some surprising and inventive takes on the genre, you can't really go wrong with Sparks of Hope.

Heck, even Sonic Frontiers is seeing a 30% price cut, and AI: The Somnium Files - nirvanA Initiative has?? also dropped by 30% fo??r the sale too. This is a solid way to catch up on some games you might have missed at the end of last year.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuTcBAkyNL4

The Switch sales carry on

My personal pick from the sale is Celeste, the incredible 2018 platformer which is dropped to a mere $5 for this sale. Seriously, if you haven't played Celeste, it is well worth your time.

Some other price cuts have been popping up on the eShop too, as noted by social media sales aggregator Wario64. So if you're still looking to get a slightly obscure 3DS game like Culdcept Revolt for a low, low price, now's the time to do so.

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It's running through November 9

A new My Nintendo Rabbids promotion is afoot, and it's currently live now through November 9, 2022 at 2AM ET.

As a bid to promote Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope (which is out later this month), it'll involve several figurines/plush toys, as well as more traditional collector's edition swag like lithographs and an art book. It'll work just like prior My Nintendo contests, where folks can spend 10 Platinum Points for?? an entry??, up to three entries.

As a reminder, if you want physical rewards, you can find our full Platinum Point guide here, which has been updated with details on weekly missions: bookmark it for when you need quick points for a reward. A handful of points is incredibly easy to get, as that’s basically just 15 minutes with Super Mario Run, or a quick sign-?on to the 3DS or Wii U 3Shop. Also remember that any shipments are?? bundled together, so you can pay a flat rate for multiple items instead of paying it each time. Just know that items go out of stock on My Nintendo frequently, and some are never restocked.

Here is what the My Nintendo Rabbids prize lot entails:

• Rabbid Mario Figurine
• Rabbid Peach Figurine
• Set of 3 lithographs
• Spark Plush
• Artbook
• Spark Phone Ring Holder
• Stickers Sheet

[Update: Here's a reminder that the contest ends on November 9 at 2AM ET. Effectively, unless you're a?? night ow?l, you have until tomorrow evening in most regions to put your Platinum Points up.]

The post This My Nintendo Rabbids Sparks of Hope prize pack is ?pretty cute appeared first on Destructoid.

Make sure you update

A Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope patch is out day one, and although it clocks in at just 130MB comparatively, it has a lot to address. Like, a lot!

Bille?d as a non-mandatory patch but "recommended," this one hits everything from framerate fixes, to individual and obscure bugs that could cause progression issues. It gets even more granular once you hit the battle bugs, like separate abilities not quite doing the damage they should: which is super hard to suss out on yo?ur own. Those are some of the worst bugs in a combat-focused game, as you could be inadvertently holding yourself back with some tactics through no fault of your own.

Beyond that you should have less crashes or "force quits" (as the patc?h notes call? them, when the game brings you back to the title screen) during certain circumstances. Or even "buttons pressed in quick succession!" Just take a look at the massive tome below!

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope patch exploration fixes

- Implemented various framerate fixes.
- Fixed an issue where Heroes could get stuck in a wall while in the tunnel under Woodrow’s house.
- Fixed an issue where at the end of the puzzle in the side quest “The Riddle of Barrendale Mesa� the game could soft-lock.
- Fixed an issue where you might not receive a reward and the quest would not clear from the quest log after completing the side quest “The Riddle of Barrendale Mesa�
- Fixed an issue where the L shaped connector would sometimes disappear from the third cirquit puzzle on Barrendale Mesa.
- Fixed an issue where NPCs wouldn’t always stop moving when the Heroes were nearby.
- Fixed an issue where Heroes could go out of bounds inside the Everbloom Tree in Terra Flora near the first Rabbid Pipe.
- Fixed an issue where Heroes could get stuck behind a tree and some rocks next to the Teleportation Flag near the Volcano entrance on Terra Flora.
- Fixed an issue where Heroes could get stuck and go out of bounds next to a Darkmess puddle on Terra Flora.
- Fixed an issue where Heroes could get stuck next to an Echo Memory inside the Sunrise Temple on Beacon Beach.
- Fixed an issue where the Armored Goomba on Beacon Beach would go missing in exploration if you lost the battle and abandoned it for later.
- Fixed an issue where the starbits would spawn very late after touching the Teleportation flag found after completing the “Icy Breath of Winter�battle on Pristine Peaks.
- Fixed an issue where you would hear continuous SFX of Rabbids laughing after exiting the second cave on Pristine Peaks.
- Fixed an issue with the silly fish respawn rate ?for the Victor challenge on Beacon Beach.

Battle bug fixes

- Fixed an issue where Rabbid Luigi’s upgraded Technique only applied weakness to physical damage instead of all damage.
- Fixed an issue where when Rabbid Peach’s Healing Jump healed an NPC ally, the game could sometimes freeze.
- Fixed an issue when the game could sometimes get stuck if Rabbid Peach’s Healing Jump happened on a Trampoline.
- Fixed an issue where sometimes the Bob-omb on the building in the “Explosive Situation�battle on Beacon Beach would spawn inside the roof of the building.
- Fixed an issue where goombas could get soft-locked if they pushed each other while exiting or entering a Rabbid pipe.
- Fixed an issue where the red and yellow spike marker wasn’t always correctly displayed when dashing multiple enemies, although the dash would damage the enemy.
- Fixed an issue where the big Goomba from “A Truly Ginormous Goomba�on Beacon Beach wasn’t dealing enough damage.
- Fixed an issue where players would receive an error message and a crash after inspecting Midnite with Beep-0 in the “Midnite Library�battle on Pristine Peaks.
- Fixed an issue where if a Lone Wolf was attacked with a Fire super effect and survived, it would continue to make noise for longer than intended.
- Fixed an issue in the “Hide n’Squeak�questline battle, where the game would crash if you activate the Spark Screech next to the Darkmess eggs.
- Fixed an issue where the game would sometimes crash when Bedrock jumps after the Heroes attack her in the “A Blast Through The Bedrock�battle on Palette Prime.
- Fixed an issue where Bedrock would sometimes go into T-Pose after jumping in the “A Blast Through The Bedrock�battle on Palette Prime.
- Fixed an issue where Darkmess Eyes could sometimes spawn out of reach for many heroes during the “One Angry Wiggler�battle on Terra Flora.
- Fixed an issue where if a Hero landed on a cauldron during the “Spout Forth�battle, they could get stuck there.
- Fixed an issue where breaking barrels in the “Foul Attraction�battle on Terra Flora could cause the game to crash.
- Fixed an issue where the battle during the “Quest For Courage�questline on Terra Flora could soft-lock if you threw a sphere from the cauldron out of bonds without having it explode.
- Fixed an issue where Electric Traps in the “A Foul Windmill Blows�battle on Barrendale Mesa would not display the damage they did appropriately.
- Fixed an issue where a Riptide could get stuck in a wall in the “The Desert Riptides�battle on Barrendale Mesa if it was pushed there with a Gust effect.
- Fixed an issue where an enemy that would chase heroes to retaliate after being attacked could cause the game to freeze.
- Fixed an issue with a platform in the “Magikoopa Mayhem�battle on Barrendale Mesa where Heroes could get stuck.
- Fixed an issue where if a Magnafowl uses its technique on one of Bowser’s summoned Mecha Koopas and they explode, the technique would keep going.
- Fixed several issues during the final battle.
- Fixed an issue where the game could crash when a barrel was broken in the “King of Darkmess�battle.
- Fixed an issue whe?re the game could soft-lock during the?? enemy turn in the “Deep, Dark Secret�battle.

General bug fixes

- Fixed an issue where the game would sometimes force a quit after opening the map following a battle.
- Fixed various issues that could cause the game to crash.
- Fixed an issue where the game would sometimes force a quit after pressing the Home button on any loading screen.
- Fixed an issue where the voices would sometimes continue and overlap the following cinematic if you skipped a cinematic by pressing A.
- Fixed issues where buttons pressed in quick succession wo?uld cause ?various problems.

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope patch User experience

- Fixed an issue where Rabbid Mario’s “I’m back!�was cut to “I’m�in the Prologue questline.
- Fixed a text display issue for Spanish-speaking players.
- Fixed an issue where VFX was not played correctly during the “A Foul Windmill Blows�battle.
- Fixed an issue where Spark voices were missing during the last phase of the prologue.
- Fixed an issue where SFX for the Red Coin Challenge on Beacon Beach was poorly equalized.
- Fixed an issue where SFX was missing when the Heroes used ladders.
- Fixed an issue where SFX was missing when a Squashette was summoned.
- Fixed an issue with some sequences of the Beacon Beach cinematic that were missing.
- Fixed an issue where ambient music would be too loud during exploration and combat on Barrendale Mesa.
- Fixed an issue where some NPC Rabbid voices were missing on Terra Flora, Barrendale Mesa, and Palette Prime.
- Fixed an issue wh??ere you could not h??ear audio in the Echo Memory menu.

The post This massive Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope patch is just bug?? fixes appeared first on Destructoid.

A spark of inspiration

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle was a fun surprise, mixing together some unexpected ingredients in Mario, Rabbids, and strategy for a good strategy game. And Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope d??oes?n't just repeat; it builds up into a delightful experience that feels all its own.

Sparks of Hope initially follows a similar formula to Kingdom Battle. Mario, Luigi, and Peach are hanging out with their Rabbid counterparts and floating helper Beep-O when a giant space monster attacks. The gang finds out that galaxy's at stake, as the evil Cursa is converting minions to her side to gain control of hybrid Rabbid-Luma creatures called Spa??rks.

The team sets off, with s?ome new tactics and weapons in tow. Those six, alongside newcomer Edge, Bowser, and Rabbid Rosalina, form the Sparks of Hope squad. It's a fun group that makes for an engaging campaign. 

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEAusFKB368

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope (Switch [reviewed])
Developer: Ubisoft Milan, Ubisoft Paris
Publisher: Ubisoft
Released: October 20, 2022
MSRP: $59.99

It's not a complex or nuanced narrative, but the humor is excellent, emphasized by the much more talkative Rabbids. Rabbid Mario is a particular favorite of mine now,? as his braggadocious take and occasional exclamations of "mamma mia!" kept him in the party for quite some time.

The tactical differences become apparent once Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope kicks into battle. Rather than a grid-based, XCOM-alike system, characters can free-roam within their set movement area, only stopping once they'v?e fired a shot. It's a bit tricky to get the hang of at first. But I quickly adapted and re?ally started to enjoy how active the combat felt in Sparks of Hope. 

Tools of the trade

Mechanics like the team jump to extend movement range and dash feel natural in this context, and it's easier to line up shots without having to lock in a specific? squar??e. I still encountered a few instances where the target lock got a little too finicky or character movement felt a bit awkward, but overall, the system works well, and gives Sparks of Hope a bit of its own tactical identity.

The big winner for me in Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hopes' battles is how customizable and individual each hero feels. Every character can be equipped with Sp?arks. These provide both a passive buff and an active ability; one might increase your chance to critically strike an enemy, and scare foes away from the user when activated. Many of the elemental Sparks ??let a character proc effects, like Burn or Freeze, with attacks or dashes.

On top of that, there are weapons. The party's arsenal feels extremely well-crafted in Sparks of Hope, with every fighter bringing a different specialization to the field. Bowser and P?each take a direct ??approach, for example, using massive weaponry to annihilate cover.

But maybe you want that cover to stay? up? Rabbid Peach can't hit an AoE, but she can reach past some cover with her triple-rocket burst. Or Rabbid Luigi can bounce his discus behind enemy lines to rico??chet int??o the foe.

Assessing the field

Building up even more, every character h??as several skill trees the player can upgrades through Skill Prisms. They all have options focusing on health, movement, weapons, and the party member's special ability. Luigi's overwatch ability can gain more charges and snipe moving foes through terrain, for instance. Edge's giant sword can be upgraded to spin in a wider pattern, and eke out more damage as it passes back and forth through more foes.

All of these el??ements combined make for a malleable party, easy to tailor to the occasion. I was surprised by how often I thought I'd found the most overpowered character, only to find t?hem lacking in some areas where others could excel. And to be clear, every character can work, too. The viability of most team comps felt great?, and aside from the need to have some heali?ng in prolonged battles, I felt remarkably free to craft my perfect party as I saw fit.

It's a testament to the design of Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope that I rarely fielded the same squad twice. I was always scouting the field, analyzing the enemies in play and tinkering with my lineup and Spark setup before every fight, and happily doing so. Figuring out perfect combos, like mixing ?Luigi's overwatch with?? a freezing on-hit attack Spark or using an invisibility Spark to sneak past foes and into the goal area, feels incredibly rewarding.

Battles, big and small

Battles are also just bite-sized enough to be compelling and exciting. Most overworld fights drop you right into the action, with a handful of enemies in a special configuration to take out. Event fights escalate things a bit more, adding special objectives or targets. In my review-in-progress, I mentioned one that required m??e to use wind tunnels to move a Bob-omb from one side of the map to the other. As the campaign goes on, it doesn't lose any of that creative spark.

Then there are the boss battles. There are only a few, but they are gauntlets. My main frustration is that, at least in some, the player isn't given a chance to?? reassess and regroup between stages. If you roll in with a strategy that isn't quite clicking, that usually means having to force it through, or restarting from the beginning. That can be frustrating when the fights themselves, especially some of the later ones, offer some exciting twists.

Those boss fights are where the music shines bright, though. And this is the part of the review where I have to acknowledge the work Yoko Shimomura, Grant Kirkhope, and Gareth Coker did on this OST. Sparks of Hope has some brilliant, big battle moments and pleasant overworlds that are all served?? well by their tunes.

Aside from tactical battles, there's actually a pretty enjoyable amount to do on the overworld. The Ubisoft team has done a good job at making each planet feel like its own area, with nooks a??nd crannies to explore, and worthwhile rewards for doing so. Many don't even require a battle. 

Some Planet Coins, the currency you can use to unlock weapon skins and other goodies on each planet, just involve some puzzle-solving or pseudo-platforming?? to ??pick up coins. And the actual lengthy side quests that recruit a new Spark are fun ventures. 

Even the areas in the overworld are fun to explore, though some can put a little strain on the Switch's hardware resources. And traversing the mini-map can ge??t a little frustrating, as the map interface's cursor seems to have trouble "latching" onto points of interest sometimes.

A new frontier

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is an enjoyable tactics game that is remarkably well-designed and executed. Its battles keep things fresh, always throwing new ideas and combinations at the player, while giving you enough tools to toy around with to feel like a master tactician when y?ou solve them.

Though the narrative itself is pretty thin, the charm is?? what carries this campaign through mission after mission. There were times where sequences dragged on, or I had to do some repetitive back-and-forth tasks to move an objective along. But those were fewer and farther between from th??e moments I was laughing at Rabbid Mario's antics, or gleefully setting up a continuous combo on a poor, unsuspecting Rabbid.

Kingdom Battle may have proven that a Mario and Rabbids crossover can work, and work well. But Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope has? cemented this as a franchise in my eyes, one that is worth playing if you've got any interest in lighthearted tactics with a Mario and Rabbid twist.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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It's a keychain for 400 Platinum

My Nintendo has been on a roll with first party goodies, as a Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope reward just arrived on the service.

Clocking in at 2" x 1 3/4" x 1/16" dimension-wise, it's a pretty standard keychain that's inline with a lot of prior My Nintendo offerings. It features the likeness of Spark from Sparks of Hope, and it'll run you 400 Platinum Points. ??While I'm generally not big on the Rabbids themselves, this ??version of Spark is really cute.

The Spark keychain follows suit with an effort to release at least one item on My Nintendo that ties into a first party game (or in this case, a game that deals with first party properties).  Recent tie-ins include a Splatoon 3 bag and sticker set, a Mario Strikers bag, and a Switch Sports cooling towel. All of the above are still available at the moment at the time of public?ation.

As a reminder, if you want physical rewards, you can find our full Platinum Point guide here, which has been updated with details on weekly missions: bookmark it for when you need quick points for a reward. A handful of points is incredibly easy to get, as that’s basically just 15 minutes with Super Mario Run, or a quick sign-on to the 3DS or Wii U 3Shop. Also remember that any shipments are bundled together, so you can pay a flat rate f?or multiple items instead of paying it each time. Just know that items go out of stock on My Nintendo frequently, and some are never restocked.

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Mario, Rabbids, and tactics mix well once again

The first Mario + Rabbids crossover was an interesting, surprising mix of ideas that you wouldn't presume would work together. But while Kingdom Battle laid out the groundwork, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope feels like it's e??xpanding the ideas and making something a bit more its?? own. And it's all the better for it.

It doesn't take long to get into the actual battles in Sparks of Hope. While the crew is loung??ing about at Peach's Castle, they're suddenly thrust into an interstellar conflict. The evil Cursa is vying for control of the galaxy. Meanwhile, Lumas are being turned Rabbid, making them into Sparks that need Mario and crew's help.

Mario, Luigi, and Peach all rejoin the starting roster, alongside their Rabbid counterparts. Down the line, more characters are recruitable, including Bowser and Rabbid Rosalina. All of the characters have new weapons that feel much more distinct than those in the previous game. The Rabbids also talk a lot more, ??maki?ng vocal quips during fights and chipping in during plot moments, and it's honestly a very welcome addition. Rabbid Mario cracks me up every time he chimes in.

A fresh approach

In battle, the difference between Sparks of Hope and its predecessor becomes much more apparent. The grid-based, XCOM-style approach to combat has been replaced with an action-oriented, circular free-movement system. With each turn, characters can roam around within their potential area of movement. They can dash, use special abilities??, and team jump off each other; their position only locks in place once they've fired a weapon.

Though it took me a few battles to get the hang of it, I've grown pretty fond of this system. It doesn't just break Sparks of Hope a little further from other?? tact?ics games but makes fights feel a bit more active.

These new options extend out to upgrades, as the whole team can invest their Skill Prisms into differen??t branches of a skill t?ree. A base option just focuses on health, but others dive into movement, special abilities, and weapon upgrades. 

There's a lot of room for "builds" here, as the way I upgrade my own version of Luigi or Rabbid Mario might differ from other players, depending on what they want out of the character. Some might prefer emphasizing a characte?r's ability to da?sh, adding more dashes per turn and putting effects on them. Or maybe they’ll veer into the weapon upgrades, making Rabbid Luigi's frisbee disc weapon bounce and hit more targets.

Further customization is possible by equipping Sparks to your roster. One Spark might make your attacks proc Burn for a turn. Mix that with Rabbid Luigi's bouncing disc, and now you can flush a bunch of enemies from cover all at once. Another Spark can make a character untargetable for a few turns, or unleash a toxic Ooze explosion in ??an area.

Listing all of these systems out at once can be a bit daunting, and Ubisoft has thankfully done a good job of grad??ually introducing concepts. Early battles in an area will often act as introductions to an idea, while later fights utilize them to create compelling combat puzzles. One level teaches the player about stone faces that can blow gusts of wind, sending anyone in their path tumbling. Then, a later level will construct a puzzle that requires getting a special objective from one side of the map ??to the other, primarily using these stone faces.

I've been really impressed at how, even when Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope can seem straightforward, it pushes the player into interesting tactical situations. The synergy between all the systems—weapons, upgrades, custom?ization through Sparks and skills—is what hums at t?he center of Sparks of Hope, and it's only emphasized by how much faster and more active the combat is.

A spark of something new

There have been s??o many levels where I’ve made risky dashes for an objective. Many ?times where I’ve read a map, took a look at the enemies and their characteristics, planned accordingly, and breezed through without a problem. And so many times when my plans fell apart, and I’ve had to adapt. 

While the battles can certainly get tough, they'r??e just the right amount of challenge. They pu?sh and punish, but I've only had to outright restart a battle a few times; most of the time, even losing a team member felt salvageable if I played right.

It helps that each character doesn't just feel distinct in the di?fferent paths they can take, but in the way they operate on the field. Luigi is an incredible sniper who can carry the crew early on, annihilating high-health foes. But when it comes to groups, his Rabbid counterpart functions a bit better, bouncing discs around and weakening enemies in a large area to mitigate damage.

Sparks even make the reliance on a healer a little less burdensome. In my time playing Kingdom Battle, I often felt forced to bring Rabbid Peach along for some healing. But different Sparks offer options for recovering health, letting the team be a little ??more diverse. And other characters offer alternatives, like Princess Peach's protecting shiel?ds.

Boss battles bring it all together, offering some tough, multi-stage brawls that can drag out and test your tactical abilities. The fights themselves are excellent but add in the incredible score from Yoko Shimomura, Grant Kirkhope, and Gareth Co??ker, and these climactic fights get a dramatic flair that works great.

Even outside of battles, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope has expanded the scope wider. Each major planet has a bunch of optional content to explore, from special event battles and secret zones to full side-quests for extra Sparks that often have their own storyline and quirk. There are a lot of ways Sparks of Hope keeps you pressing f?orward for more to do, and so far, most of it has been solid.

Still more to uncover

That said, there are a few odd hitches here or there. Performance is good in battles but struggles a bit when it comes to ov??erworld areas like the snow planet. I've noticed a few times where weapons are blocked by invisible barriers or characters struggle to see a target from behind cover. And the mini-map navigation can be extremely finicky, especially when trying to latch onto a flag for fast travel. Those are all nitpicks though, and nothing that's frustrated my overall time with the game too much.

I'm still working my way through the full Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope campaign, and I'm intrigued to see how things stay f??resh after the first three major areas. So far, I've been very impressed with how much variety and customization there is. I haven't really settled into a core team, instea?d feeling like there are good use cases for just about everyone in the squad.

There's still a bit more to see of this game, but Sparks of Hope has me locked in. Where Kingdom Battle felt like a surprise, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope feels like this Ubisoft team locking in their own brand of tactics. In a year bubbling over with tactics games, Sparks of Hope is pu??tting out an experience that feels fun, challenging, and co?nsistently engaging to keep blasting through.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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"We decided in the middle of production to focus on the solo experience"

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope multiplayer is not going to be a thing, based on a statement from lead producer Xavier Manzanares. I can hear the gasps or the collective sighs of relief ??now!

Speaking to Screenrant, Manza??nares explains why the team made this decision:

"We decided in the middle of production to focus on the solo experience. Because, actually as we brought many things from the original concept, we started to see how man??y elements it brought to the table, and to balance that, this revamped system, we wanted to f??ocus our attention on the solo aspect. So, it was really important for us and we decided to assume that the decision, in order to scope out dangers, where we could go many directions, but then it's unbalanced everywhere and it's a game that never ships. So, it was a decision we took during production."

Hearing "focus on the solo experience" having lived through the great 2010s wars of "put multiplayer in everything," this is music to my ears. I assume some of you would want a way to play even local multiplayer, but I'll take this win, from Ubisoft, no less. Also, the implication from Manzanares is that Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope multiplayer would have significantly delayed the arrival of the game, ?or possibly put it in jeopardy entirely.

Of course, this is directly juxtaposed to the multiplayer content that the original Mario + Rabbids game had, including co-op levels, a DLC co-op campaign, and a versus mode. Perhaps that could come as post-launch content one day to Sparks of Hope, but for now, the focus is solo play.

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Ubisoft is bending a cardinal Rabbids rule

Several big changes are in store for Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope. One notable change is not in its roster or tactical gameplay, but the characters themselves. The Rabbids in Sparks of Hope can talk.

Ubisoft's Rabbids are often portrayed as goofy, cartoon-ish animals who tend to simply speak in "bwahs" and exclamations, not explicit dialogue. Several outlets attended a preview event for Sparks of Hope and reported back that those Rabbids are talking.

Speaking to IGN, creative director Davide Soliani describes his early experience working with Kingdom Battle. At the time, he was given instruction that the Rabbids do not, under an?y circumstances, talk. "I had to gain trust from Ubisoft, not just Nintendo," Soliani told IGN. "And Ubisoft told me, 'Rabbids are not speaking.' That was a rule."

But after skirting the rules a bit to make the operatic Phantom fight in Kingdom Battle, the team got Ubisoft on board for more in Sparks of Hope. You can hear some of those voice lines in the battle gameplay below, shared by GameSpot.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=73J3wKz9Uig

"Everything we are ?doing, it's part of a process of evolution that will lead us somewhere else," said Soliani. "I think that as a team, we really love experimenting and we will keep doing it in the DLC."

Chasing Rabbids

This newfound chattiness seems like it's letting the Mario + Rabbids team add even more humor and comedy. Which, given how fun Kingdom Battle was, sounds like a solid idea for the follow-up.

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope carries forward the tactical crossover franchise, adding new characters to fight alongside. It's also got some great-looking battles, like the recently spotlighted train fight with a Wiggler.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gvFeYoxmQQ

Though initial reception to the idea of Mario and Rabbids joining forces was a bit wary, Kingdom Battle rea??lly proved itself. Evidently, even to Ubisoft. Now I'm really interested to see what the team does with the Rabbids' newfound chattiness.

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope hits Nintendo Switch on October 20.

The post The Rabbids can and will talk in Mario + Rabbi?d?s Sparks of Hope appeared first on Destructoid.

Bikes, assassins, and Rabbids, oh my

The September 2022 Ubisoft Forward was surprisingly filled with news, especially for Assassin's Creed fans. But even those who don't like to time-travel had something t?o see in Rabbids, BMX bi??kes, and mobile games.

Ubisoft laid out its short-term plans for several major franchises, before taking the back slice of the showcase to spotlight the big picture for Assassin's Creed. It's a pretty packed show, but we're here? to run down all the headlines for you.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvV4ZBx6_bo

Without further ado, let's get to it.

All the headlines from the September 2022 Ubisoft Forward

• Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope kicks off the stream, spotlighting more of its gameplay. The customization looks great, and the train battle looks like a really fun time. It's no surprise that, after a surprisingly solid first entry, this might be worth watching. But what is surprising is seeing that Rayman himself is part of the post-launch rollout for this game!

• Skull and Bones largely just shows off more gameplay. After a long, long development timeline, I'm just ready to see this thing out. I'm down to make a big boat and loot the high seas with some pals.
• Riders Republic brings BMX to its lineup of action sports, alongside an Area 51 locale. Please feel free to grind the rails, but keep away from the government secrets and aliens.
• The Division is still rolling out content, as we got a look at some new content for The Division 2 and a tease for two of its upcoming spin-off games. There is a lot of Division in the works.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6HnMx5mJ08

• Rainbow Six Mobile is getting a closed beta soon. Please be careful about your callouts in public spaces.
• Ubisoft and Netflix are partnering up for several mobile titles, including a sequel to 2014's Valiant Hearts, which is actually pretty rad! More reasons to check out that Netflix games app.
• Here's a tease for the next season of Mythic Quest. I dug the first season quite a bit more than I thought I would! Apparently it's tackling Web3 stuff, which might be a good laugh.
• Trackmania is coming to console and cloud platforms in 2023. Heck yes.
• The new Just Dance 2023 Edition arrives on November 22 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. One song highlight to note: "More" by K/DA. Sorry, I dig the fake League of Legends band.
• We break into the Assassin's Creed section of the show with the official reveal of Assassin's Creed Mirage, following Basim in the ninth century as he becomes part of the Hidden Ones. Also, the talented Sohreh Aghdashloo is lending her voice to Roshan, Basim's mentor. It looks neat!

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=x55lAlFtXmw

• Assassin's Creed gets some more content, with a mobile game on the way currently called Codename Jade. Valhalla is also getting a "last chapter" DLC, wrapping up Eivor's story.
• Ubisoft confirms there's a lot more going on with the world of Assassin's Creed Infinity, its hub for future Assassin's Creed experiences. One, Codename Red, heads to Feudal Japan. And another, in development at the Montreal office, is Codename Hexe. They also tease that the company is looking into standalone multiplayer options for Assassin's Creed. It will all fall under the Infinity banner, a unifying hub for AC's future.
• Here's the roadmap ahead for Assassin's Creed:

And that's all for today. Sure seems like a lot of Assassin's Creed is on the way. Let us know what you t?hink of it all down below!

The post Everything shown at today’s Assassin-packed Ubisoft Forward appeared first on Destructoid.

Including a boss battle

Ubisoft decided to open up their September 2022 Ubisoft Forward stream with Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope gameplay: seven minutes of it, to be exact.

The demo starts off in an overworld, showing off NPC interaction, light puzzles, and exploration. The team has a clear objective: get to the Wiggler train: which then triggers a boss battle with an enraged Wiggler. Light footage of Sparks was shown: equipment that can grant elemental damage, battlefield control, and enable abilities. Here's the demo description from Ubisoft: "Here comes the Wiggler! Join us in guiding you through a quick look at some gameplay and a new planet in one of the many exciting quests and dynamic battles that await you in Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope. Optimise,?? strategise, an?d remember to get help from the Sparks!"

The Ubisoft stream presenter said that ??it's "too early to reveal all the post-launch plans," but there was some info provided today. There's going to be "free DLC drops," the third of which will feature a new character. It's none other than Rayman! There will be Rayman DLC, described as a "new DLC adventure with the Rabbids."

We also ?got a look at the pre-order bonus called the Megabug Collection.

[gallery ids="343681,343679"]

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope gameplay footage:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=B506vC00vdk&list=PLBnrd5k2F2INdjLweJqlvK0OCRIJPg_O2??&index=8

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope Rayman DLC character teaser:

//ww?w.youtube.com/watch?v=_Xk05kMYOx0&list=PLBnrd5k2F2INdjLweJqlvK0OCRIJPg_O2&index=8

The post Here’s seven minutes of Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope gameplay, and a Rayman tease appeared first on Destructoid.

Some fantastic songwriters are on board for this adventure

When Mario and the Rabbids hit the battlefield this October, they'll have some solid tracks backing them. During today's Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope showcase, U??bisoft unveiled three well-known composers crafting the? tunes behind the battles.

Grant Kirkhope, the BAFTA-nominated composer, is back for the new Mario + Rabbids game. Joining him to contribute to the soundtrack are Gareth Coker and Yok?o Shimomura.

Coker accrued many accolades and recognition for his work on the Ori series. Shimomura, meanwhile, is a legendary name in the world of video game music with credits on everything from Final Fight and Live a Live to Kingdom Hearts and, particularly relevant, the Mario & Luigi RPG series. This trio of composers could mean very, very good things for the tunes of Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope.

A tactical approach

Alongside what looks like a stellar lineup for the music, we also got a look at some more gameplay of Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope. It's still a tactical adv?enture, mixing action and platforming with a turn-based strategy system.

A few new faces are joining the fray, including the sword-wielding Rabbid Edge, the Rabbid version of Rosalina, and the big lizard himself: Bowser. Bowser was shown in yesterday's Nintendo Direct Mini, but? today? we got a little more of a look at him and his, uh, Bowzooka?

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_NLXtKToHg

With a release date set for this October 20, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is entering a fairly busy fall. But this new adventure looks like a fun, interesting twist on the systems of the first. With even more composer star-power behind it, Sparks of Hope ?might be one for Switch owners to watch out for this ?fall.

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