MARIO + RABBIDS: SPARKS OF HOPE

Ubisoft hasn’t run the tightest of ships lately, but it must have been particularly galling that it kept the lid on one of its most exciting announcements only for Nintendo to jump the gun. We’re muddling our metaphors a bit there, but that’s apropos for the followup to a game that delighted in shaking up the Mushroom Kingdom order. Ubisoft Milan is breaking free from the original’s grids, offering greater freedom of movement and more strategic possibilities, with realtime factors exemplified by explosive Bob-ombs, and the Sparks (Rabbid-Luma hybrids) supplying elemental attacks. The world between combat arenas is more open, with shortform battles kicked off by bumping into enemies in the field, puzzle elements and mysteries to uncover. If Rabbid Peach was the original’s surprise star, we’re betting on the sleepy-eyed Rabbid Rosalina being Sparks Of Hope’s comedic breakout.