Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle had quite a rollercoaster ride before its announcement at E3 2017 — low quality leaked assets, showing Mario shooting a gun alongside Rabbids, were not well received. Yet when the game appeared days later at Ubisoft's show, the script was well and truly flipped - it looked fantastic and its blend of tactical turn-based shooting was a smart combination of genre staples and fresh ideas. The final game was truly excellent, and was topped up with a rather good Donkey Kong-themed add-on adventure, too.
It's among the Switch's top-tier titles, and in a strange case of déjà vu its sequel was also leaked ahead of time, amazingly, by Nintendo. Today during the Ubisoft Forward event we saw the formal reveal for Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, along with some footage. The gameplay and roster looks pretty familiar, no complaints from us, but the setting is quite a departure. You go on a galactic journey to save 'Sparks', and it looks like we'll get to explore a whole load of planets and interesting locations.
The Sparks themselves are Luma x Rabbid, which is pretty crazy, and Rabbid Rosalina was revealed as a new character. In battles it looks like the Sparks will help Mario and company to carry out special moves, too. Also, Mario now dual-wields.
You can check out the reveal trailer at the top of this article, and Ubisoft also shared a gameplay trailer, which we have to say looks pretty tasty! Check that out below:
This sequel is planned for release in 2022, and no doubt more will be revealed in the coming months.
Are you excited about Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope coming to Switch?
Comments (122)
Looks awesome.
Rabbid Luna is so cursed lol
We're getting Rabbid Rosalina, aren't we?...
few seconds later
...Yup.
Also, PLEASE fix any glitches this game may have, because the original had quite a few, some of them where I was forced to restart the level or whatever.
Then there was that atrocious mess that World 3 caused. >.<
I want this. But I also feel that Ubisoft games go on sale so much, that there's no point buying it at launch
Getting it, no question. First was brilliant.
Looks really good, just need to compete the first one but it'd getting ridiculously hard
Switch Pro CONFIRMED!!!!!
Will there be no grid when you fight this time? Looked like Mario could roam around freely
Day 1. This official reveal saved an otherwise pretty mundane Ubisoft show.
looks good. will be purchasing
First game is still one of the Switch's finest. Will be getting this.
@stinky_t Was thinking the same, I got the complete edition of the first with all dlc for less than £30 without waiting too long. Standard practice for Ubisoft.
Rabbid Rosalina will be the next big star of this series.
Game of the event. (Man that was a slog to get through)
@Joeynator3000 Rabid Rosalina made me think of her biting and scratching me in bed, not of her cloned by an ugly furry.
In fact, if I wanted to see her in a "bunny" costume I would head to reddit
Game looks great! Highlight of the show...concerned that it looks less turn based though. Could have just been the footage.
Probably the only game I cared about for the entire event lol
I'll nab it if I have the time. No real rush to get it, but glad that it's official!
Was hoping that the last one was an announcement for Rayman to be in Smash.
Day one for me! The previous game and the dlc were both awesome, and this game already looks even better!
Overall a very good showcase from Ubisoft btw. World of difference from the one they had end of last year. Even though there were not many new announcements, it was a showcase of games they are working on. Quick learners, well done, Ubi!
This was the only thing I cared about, it wasn't bad but its a ok start to e3.
i hope they fix the voice of Rabbid Peace
it's to high
This looks great! I never cared for the first one, but the overworld and 'revamped' combat looks great! We can only hope the rest of E3 is of this quality!
My brother is gonna be happy about this.
Noticed the changes of Rabbids voices from old style DAAAAH...! into more different each other. The different voices told their gender.
The gameplay looked like they made use of some pretty smart art design. The rocks and other landscape assets are so low-poly that they're practically impressionistic, but it fits well with the art style.
Just love Rabbid Rosalina, hopefully Rosalina hereself will also be playable in this version! ^__^
This and the Avatar game announcement saved one of the most boring directs I've seen
Anyways, this game is a day one for me
@JohnnyC how near to release was that? I got it digitally last year for about £20/£25 maybe?
@Ulysses Don't forget it's a Pre-Alpha footage
one of the few bright spots of the show for me. day one buy for me
Who said this was for Switch…?
I hate the Rabbid Lumas, but I LOVE the moody rabbid Rosalina. Look beautiful too, I wonder how open movement will be different from grids this time around
Rabbid Rosalina is perfect.
EDIT: It looks like maybe Yoshi and Rabbid Yoshi got cut. They showed up so late in the game last time anyway.
Still waiting for the first one to be on sale at 9.99
I love this. I cannot wait for this title bigger and better thank you Nintendo and Ubisoft. I will also say the Avitar game and the rainbow six monster game looked very good and the skate board game looked good too. over all a 7 out of ten for the over all show. But Mario Rabbids was the big winner. splatoon3 and Mario rabbits and pokemon in 2022 the switch owns this year and they will own 2022 as well.
I can’t wait for next year to get this game!
I might get this but I might want to get the first Mario + Rabbids game
Well. The game looks decent, at least. But Yoshi's omission hurts too much for me to pick it up at launch for full price.
This just HAD to happen. I overlooked the first one at release (but got the physical gold edition at the price of the DLC, which is a good trade off). I loved every second of it, and that's hardly an overstatement actually. The DLC was great and very different from the main game as well as familiar. I hope they manage to surprise us like they did with the DK DLC, with other Nintendo characters.
Looks like the combat is no longer grid-based anymore too, which is a pretty big change.
As much as I wish that Ubisoft were doing an official Star Fox game that learned from their attempt at Starlink. This looks great too. Might be a pick up this time. I've always wanted to give the Mario and Rabbids Kingdom Battle a try but not own them. So maybe a demo of this one would convince me. I just recently got into tactical RPG's with Fire Emblem. So we'll see.
I loved the first game. I’m definitely buying this day one.
Looks amazing. Can’t wait
@GinMiguel the original goes on sale for as low as £6 I've seen. Definitely worth the plunge on that price, it's the game that got me into the genre
Fiiiiinally. It looks like it might run significantly better than the first one too.
@stinky_t Can't remember, within 12 months I think. If you consider Assassin's Creed is their flagship brand, you can get Valhalla new on PS5 for £30 after 6 months on release.
This looks so good and hopefully is the first of many great things to be announced for the switch over E3. The rest of the presentation was pretty dull though, 55 minutes of my life I won't get back. Also, not sure who told all of the presenters to stress every word they said with their hands in such an unnatural way. Made them look odd (apart from the Rabbids makers to be fair who came over well)
@Aurumonado True, too late really. By the time they'd been introduced I was happily used to the other characters and never really experimented with the Yoshis
Oke!! Def. Interested in this one!
Did i just saw mario walking/fighting freely and without a gun? 👍🏻👍🏻
Im kinda hyped about this game.
Apparently it's getting a full Polish version, which probably means some other languages Nintendo is neglecting as well! See Nintendo, we exist!
Okay when i type bunny rosalina on bing, why do i end up at a Hentai P site 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Best game at E3 so far. This game is a real looker, and I love the Mario Galaxy vibe it had with the space setting and rabbid versions of Rosalina and Luma.
Super excited to play this!
@HotGoomba
Well, at least its voice was not old style Rabbids. 😜
Listen to Rabbids voices from the trailer.
@JohnnyC wow, that low already? I'm surprised, but also not as surprised as I probably should be.
No interest in Ubisoft games.
So Hyped for this!
So, I didn't play the last one. Don't worry, I heard all the good things, I'm not putting it down, lower the pitchforks. But I am familiar with the Rabbids choke holding the Rayman series down for years until they finally split the two franchises firmly and generally I never want to see their mugs ever again. So the crossover element of this still baffles me a bit, because what's being gained by the Rabbids' addition as cast members? If anything I'd just want to bench them outside where necessary.
Mario in realistic sci-fi and duel-wielding guns akimbo is also going to never not be generally weird and off-putting. The guns being toy ray gun vacuum cleaners helps but it's still a hard sell of a setting even knowing the game's better qualities.
I think it's a bit like selling a newcomer on Kingdom Hearts these days that only knows modern post-renaissance Disney.
@SmaggTheSmug brazilian portuguese in this game?
Physical game cover is awesome
This. Game. Looks. Awesome.
@sixrings no it hasnt seriously you guys are going to get burned pretty badly wen pro doesnt happen.
Cant wait hope they bring back phantom boss again to see more epic mario roast.
The trailer looks pretty cool, however, I'm still on the fence, as far as getting this game goes.
I hope Donkey Kong and Rabbid Cranky make a comeback. I'm looking forward to this one!
Removing the grid is an interesting gameplay choice. Looking forward to this.
@Yosher Your avatar look really angry about it ^^
Looks great. Day one for me and my youngest boy, he loves the first one. Great gameplay and a great sense of humour.
Can't wait to hear more. I haven't beat Kingdom Battle yet, but i'm definitely play more next week for sure.
The goth rabbid is my favorite. She looks so cool!
This looks great. Played both campaigns in the first game and loved it. I got the first one for Christmas when it came out and will likely be asking for this one for Christmas 2022! I agree with others that I hope DK makes an appearance.
@JR150
Wait, the Gothic Rabbids was a female ??
My son also saw this and said he needs to go back and finish the first one.
First one blew me away with how fun it was, got it because it was on sale and had no expectations. It became a top 5-10 game all time for me. I cannot wait for this to come out
and it looks fantastic?
dude, you saw just a glimpse of some runs through some environments and some fightning moves and that was even from the pre alpha version ....what was fantastic about it?
Love it. Best switch game hands down.
Does anyone think that the Rabbids at minute 2:24 have a real Geno look to them. That would be a pretty great addition and he would fit well into the Mario + Rabbids gameplay style.
Yeah, this looks great.
Nice cinematic. I really love how Rabbid Rosalina is all "whatever" lol. I skipped the first entry but will consider this one if the gameplay sways me.
This is a must. If you haven’t played the first Mario rabbids then you should. Ubi always is putting it on sale for 15 usd. Awesome game.
Bought my Switch for the first game.An absolute masterpiece so obviously will be buying this Day One!Hope it's double the length of the original.
I think this is so wonderful, it's everything I could have imagined for a sequel to one of my very favorite Switch games. The teaser that released this morning didn't mention Rabbid Mario, but I'm so happy he was in the trailer!
I want more details in the direct but maybe we won't see it?
Hyped! Well, e3 has at least one game I’m looking forward too.
Best part of the whole Ubisoft presentation, and I'm not just saying that because I only own a Switch. Why in the world is the Switch not included in that snowboarding game though?
I really like the first game. With the exception of Nintendo and capcom Ubisoft is my 3rd place game company. I’m a huge fan of assassins creed 3 ,fenyx, and Rayman origins and ledgends.
The graphics are amazing I always found it weird tho that in newer Nintendo games you can actually see the fabric of the denim and cloth and the stitching on Mario and Luigi hats but Ubisoft goes a more gloss route, it’s the only thing off putting about the graphics to me .
@GrailUK Lol it probably is.
Still own and haven't played the first one. Will probably wait 2 years to buy this one for $20 with the DLC too since Ubisoft games actually go on sale.
Played the first one and it was definitely a surprise with how much I enjoyed it.
I see no need for more of the same.
Goodness. What an awesome announcement. I knew it was coming and yet watching the trailers still made me smile ear to ear.
I wish more Nintendo announcements still made me do that...
Great Ubi presentation and it's great to have E3 back! Ubi does what nintendont.... Making switch games! Not every game in the presentation is one I'll buy, but all of it looked quality. This was of course the highlight, and a big surprise!
@Ryu_Niiyama They said there was a new action element, but still highlighted it's a strategy game. Maybe a shift to RTS from TBS, but I'm not too worried. The director has proven he knows how to do strategy games extremely well. A bit too well. The last act was brutal!
@UltimateOtaku91 Yeah, late game plays like Fire Emblem on steroids....I really lost interest by that point ....
@Joeynator3000 what was thworld3 mess? I never finished world 3... The battle complexity and amount of restarts started getting aggravating and I moved on.
This is it folks. The moment we were waiting for...
@NEStalgia Once you get to these, rising platforms maze thing, there's this massive graphical bug. I can't really describe it to you, objects are flickering in and out constantly, some of them are big enough to block the camera. Not only that, exiting the game doesn't get rid of it once it starts, because it affects the title screen as well. So I had to close the game out entirely to end it...
NintendoLife, make this game come out now.😠
; p
For a second there i went "Hold up master hand!?"
@Joeynator3000 wow, that's some glitch! Then again it's Snowdrop, so it actually shouldn't be slightly surprising. That sort of problem is typical for that engine. But it's surprising Nintendo didn't make it go through Mario Club testing as part of the terms. Otoh 12.03 did and it didn't help.
@redpanda0310 that makes two of us! Which makes me wonder if it was intentional...
Ubisoft was like “We’ll make galaxy 3 for y’all”
Let's hope they don't bring back this dumb backstory from the first game eyesroll
@NEStalgia Snowdrop?...I forget world names, but yeah I'm talking about the haunted place. lol
the producer of the game on IGN said the grid battle system is gone. so it is NOT THE same. it is going to be more like DIFINITY ORIGINAL SIN . MORE free roaming. get your facts straight before publishing a story NL. this is going to be a great game.
@Anti-Matter
Given the long eyelashes, eye shadow, and the fact that Rabbid Mario seems to be in love with her at first sight, she appears to be a bad girl goth type of sorts.
Hey Ubisoft. How about "The Dog Island" for Switch?
@Joe-b
Ooh...
I want The Dog Island for Switch / PS5. 😃
I know with with 3 Switch systems in this house...2 of us would get Dog Island on day 1.
Was that big red guy a Rabbid Emboar?
@NoLife if the turn based worked something like quest 64, that would be really cool.
@Joeynator3000 LOL Snowdrop is the Ubisoft engine the game uses Mario+Rabbits, Starlink, The Division, the upcoming Avatar game, South Park use Snowdrop. Assassin's Creed, Watch Dogs, Fenyx, Farcry, Riders Republic, and most other Ubi games run on the Anvil engine.
Snowdrop has always been a mess. Well, so has Anvil but it's getting better. That Avatar game pushing Snowdrop to the limits is terrifying.
@NEStalgia
I have never heard Snowdrop engine.
I thought only Unreal, Unity, Frostbite, Orochi, etc are the game engines.
@NEStalgia Oh, that you were talking about World 3 when you said that, didn't know anything about the engine, so, yeah. xD
The rest of the game is mostly fine, but yeah that part of the world caused some major glitch, I have no idea how that slipped through testing.
tanabe is crying over all the original ideas and characters in this game
I'm excited for this game! It should be at least as fun as the first one. I just hope they double the frame rate so it runs smoothly at 60 or 120fps : ) (the trailer looks pretty choppy, worse than Kingdom Battle)
OMG OMG SQUEEEE. Probably some of the best news at an E3 in recent years, at least for me. Here's hoping we don't have to wait years.
@tntswitchfan68 Wow. That's awesome, then. Divinity's combat system is so incredibly good imo - the perfect blend of turned based and tactical-styled battling - probably the most fun I've had in an RPG tbh. If that's what they're looking at for inspiration, then that's great.
@Joeynator3000 quite sad that you only point out a few hick ups and forget to mention how awesome game was overall. The game was a masterpiece and I can't remember to have any glitches. Bought it day one.
Really looking forward to a new one! But I also want a raving Rabbids game on switch...
This looks really good, and the first one is a great game. Boring Ubisoft show overall, but this is a real plus.
@Anti-Matter Yeah, most of the big studios have proprietary engines they use. You mentioned EA's Frostbite, and we have Ubis Anvil and Snowdrop (and they use Unity for some smaller projects.) Everything Nintendo is some custom engine without a name. Bethesda used to use Gamebryo for Elder Scrolls, but that was really clunky. Now they use Creation which is a branch off Gamebryo they customize internally with some of idTech (formerly Quake Engine.) Valve uses their own Source engine which itself is a branch from Quake (idTech1). Capcom has used a few, but now they're settling on RE Engine, originally made for Resident Evil but that's the engine that debuted on switch for MH Rise. There's quite a few proprietary engines used by the bigger studios!
@Andy_Witmyer Thanks for telling me. I am excited too.
@mazzel My first moments literally involved a glitch where I had to restart the level...
I liked the game, but yeah it has tons of bugs and even some frequent crashes. What's worse is that Ubisoft never fixed them.
So yeah, I'm keeping my eye on the sequel, but...those glitches and crashes were quite annoying and constantly ruined my mood to play the first game.
@Joeynator3000 Strange, I really cannot remember having this kind of issues with this game...
@Mr-Fuggles777 I’ve clearly stumbled across the wrong comments section 😳 lol
AWESOME! I love Kingdom Battle, So a sequel is goona be amazing!
rabbids are one of those things that should have never been in more than one game.
its sad that these unsightly children of the noid and a minion have not been put to rest yet.
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