It’s no secret that the Nintendo Switch is home to a great number of incredible tactics games, with the hybrid nature of the console making it a perfect fit for the genre. October 20 marks the one-year anniversary of one of those titles:Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, the sequel to one of the Switch’s surprise early hits inMario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle.Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hopebuilds on the foundation laid by its predecessor to provide players with a well-balanced tactics experience, all while adding some new mechanics into the fold that other genre titles should take note of.
A year out from its initial release,Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hopestill feels different from many tactics games. WhileKingdom Battleadhered closely to the grid-based map layouts and traditionaltactics gameplay championed by titles likeXCOM: Enemy WithinandXCOM 2,Sparks of Hopegives players more freedom in their movement by abandoning grids and opting instead for a circular radius. This, when paired with its ease of gameplay, makes for a great entry point for anyone getting into tactics-based games.
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Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope Eases Newcomers Into the Tactics Genre
Tactics games have had a bit of a heyday on Nintendo hardware since the release ofFire Emblem: Awakeningon the 3DS. With the newfound mainstream success of Nintendo’s long-running tactics franchise, the genre has seen a renaissance on the Nintendo Switch, whichMario + Rabbids Kingdom Battlecashed in on during the early days of the hardware’s lifecycle.Kingdom Battlewas a fun title that successfully merged the charm and accessibility of theMariofranchise with tried-and-true quality tactical gameplay, but its sequel does everything the original did and more, specifically with regard to how the game handles difficulty.
Kingdom Battlewas definitely more approachable thanXCOM 2as an entry point for newcomers, but it did feature some difficulty spikes even on its normal difficulty.Sparks of Hopeis immediately more balancedtoward a forgiving experience, with even its normal difficulty being entirely approachable by newcomers. And, with a diverse and effective squad of heroes,Sparks of Hopeacquaints newcomers with practically every traditional class archetype to help enlighten the utility and situational value of each.
Sparks of Hope’s Non-Battle Activities Offer a Well-Rounded Experience
Beyond its tactics gameplay during battles,Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hopeintroduces a significant amount of unique gameplay mechanics into the experience that not only set it apart from its predecessor but fromother games in the tactics genreas a whole. In each of the game’s worlds, players can complete side missions, enter large interior spaces containing their own missions and objectives, engage in some light platforming, and even solve environmental puzzles.Sparks of Hopeis arguably as much a 3DMariogame as it is a tactics game.
Like its lower skill floor and approachable difficulty,Sparks of Hope’s unique gameplay featureshelp to make it an appealing starting point for anyone with a Switch who is interested in tactics games but has never taken the plunge into what is, admittedly, an occasionally intimidating genre. This is not to say that the game doesn’t present a significant challenge for veterans, because the game’s highest difficulty setting can quickly humble even the most seasoned tactics fans. One year out,Sparks of Hopeserves as a gameplay foundation for an eventual threequel and a great entry point for those looking to get into tactic-based games.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hopeis available now for Nintendo Switch.
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