Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
	Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
Published by	Ubisoft
Developed by	Ubisoft Milan, Ubisoft Paris
Directed by	{{{directed by}}}
Produced by	{{{produced by}}}
Designed by	{{{designed by}}}
Programmed by	{{{programmed by}}}
Art by	{{{art by}}}
Written by	{{{written by}}}
Soundtrack by	Grant Kirkhope, Gareth Coker, Yoko Shimomura
Release date	October 20, 2022
Genre	Tactical role-playing
Gameplay mode	Single-player
Languages	{{{languages}}}
Platforms	Nintendo Switch
Ratings	{{{ratings}}}
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Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope is a Rabbids and Mario game for the Nintendo Switch. It is the sequel to Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, and was released on October 20 2022.

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Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope won Best Sim/Strategy Game at the Game Awards 2022.^[1]

Plot

After the events of the previous game, Mario and his friends are enjoying a peaceful day at Princess Peach's Castle when a Spark falls from the sky, pursued by a gigantic manta ray. The manta ray spreads Darkmess, a dark matter, across the land and kidnaps Rabbid Peach. Mario and Beep-0 set out to save her, and with the help of their new ship, the WM ARC, and its AI, JEANIE, they learn about Cursa's plan to corrupt the galaxy with Darkmess. The heroes embark on an interstellar journey to stop Cursa.

They travel to five Darkmess-contaminated planets and cleanse them, recruiting new teammates along the way, including Edge, Rabbid Rosalina, and even Bowser. The party defeats Cursa's Spark Hunters and eventually confronts Cursa, who turns out to be a creature created from the last fragment of the Megabug. Cursa seeks to consume the Sparks' energy and take over the galaxy.

In the final battle, the heroes rescue the captured Rosalina, learn the full story behind Cursa's origins, and fight Darkmess versions of Bowser and Edge. With teamwork and Rosalina's help, they defeat Cursa and save the galaxy. Back in the Mushroom Kingdom, the team celebrates their victory, and Rabbid Rosalina and Edge decide to stay with the group. The post-credits scene reveals that JEANIE, the onboard AI, has developed emotions over the course of the journey.

Gameplay

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is a strategy turn-based game, similar to its predecessor. The overworld exploration is more open-world, with quests available as players explore planets. Combat introduces real-time elements, like characters gliding and Stone Masks affecting the battlefield. Each hero has one weapon and one technique, and Sparks provide active and passive abilities that can be changed between battles. RPG elements are added with character experience and leveling up, increasing their strength. Skill Prisms are obtained through leveling up, enhancing the gameplay experience.

Characters

In the main game, there are nine playable characters. Six characters from the previous game return, while Yoshi, Rabbid Yoshi, Donkey Kong, and Rabbid Cranky are absent. Three new characters are introduced, including Bowser, who was a boss in the previous game. The player creates a party to travel and fight battles, and Mario is no longer required to be in the party at all times. The party can have up to three active members, and certain boss battles may require using four characters, including specific ones from the nine available.

Rayman in the Phantom Show

Main article: Rayman in the Phantom Show

On September 10 2022, it was announced at Ubisoft Forward 2022 that Rayman will feature in a DLC for the game, the last of a series of three. A teaser was published for the occasion, and on June 12 2023, a subsequent teaser was revealed at Ubisoft Forward 2023.

On August 1st 2023, a new trailer was published, revealing the title of the DLC to be Rayman in the Phantom Show and its release date as August 30 2023.

The announcement of Rayman's inclusion in the upcoming DLC
Rayman's new design
The cover for the DLC
Rayman posing with his plunger blaster
Another pose of Rayman with his plunger blaster

In this adventure, Rayman will team up with Rabbid Peach and Rabbid Mario. The Phantom, an enemy previously featured in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, now works as a studio director for the Space Opera Network, and needs their help as the studio's TV ratings hit a new low.

Rayman's helicopter ability will allow for vertical exploration of the TV studio sets, and he will also be able to use the plunger blaster introduced in Rayman Raving Rabbids.

David Gasman will reprise his role as the voice actor for Rayman, while the soundtrack will composed by Christophe Héral, also the composer of the Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends soundtracks, and Grant Kirkhope.