Some Nintendo fans got an unexpected surprise this week when their pre-ordered copy ofMario + Rabbids Sparks of Hopearrived in the mail days ahead of the game’s official launch of October 20th. The follow-up to 2017’sMario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle,Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hopefeatures some exciting new additions to the mascot-based tactical strategy game. Excitement for the game’s release reached new highs after aMario + Rabbids Sparks of Hopecinematic launch trailerpremiered earlier this month.
The originalMario + Rabbids Kingdom Battlewas a 2017 turn-based tactical strategy game developed by Ubisoft that brought together characters from theMariofranchise and Ubisoft’s own mischievous Rabbids. Taking gameplay cues from turn-based classics, theMario + Rabbidsgames give players control of characters from theSuper Mario Bros.andRabbidsfranchises 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 Hopecarries over the original’s tight gameplay while adding new characters, locations, weapons, and a story rumored to feature anevil version of Rosalina fromSuper Mario Galaxy.
RELATED:Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope Won’t Have Multiplayer
In a post on r/NintendoSwitch, Reddit user Renster12 shared a picture of their copy ofMario + Rabbids Sparks of Hopethat 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 thatMario + Rabbids Sparks of Hopedoesn’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 recentresignation of Ubisoft’s CCO, leading some gamers to be wary of the company’s new releases.
The success of theMario + Rabbidsgames 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, andMario + Rabbids Sparks of Hopelooks set to further refine this winning formula when it releases on October 20th.
Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hopeis scheduled to release on October 20 for Nintendo Switch.Click here to navigate to the store page.
