‘Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle’ for Switch adds competitive mode in free update

By Gabe Gurwin December 7, 2017

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle: Versus Trailer | Ubisoft [US]

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle currently features a great single-player mode as well as cooperative challenges, but Ubisoft isn’t stopping there. On Friday, December 8, the game will add a competitive mode — and it’s absolutely free for all players.

“‘Versus’ challenges players to handpick their three-hero squads and use every attack and technique available to them to claim victory across small, surprise-filled maps,” Ubisoft’s Mikel Reparaz said in an announcement on the UbiBlog.

Because the characters you choose haven’t been enhanced with weapons and abilities acquired during a campaign run, the Versus mode will let you choose three pre-upgraded characters. In addition to the standard equipment, you can also pick options suited to a particular element, Such as melee attacks. Contrary to the story mode, you’re free to have a team of only Rabbids or only Mario characters.

But your actions will be much more limited than in the story mode. With only three actions per turn, you’ll have to plan your moves carefully, as a character who leaves his position might not be able to return before the enemy team has a chance to strike. Teams can get the competitive advantage over their opponents by finding special power-up blocks, which provide bonuses such as extra turns, on each map. The full matches won’t last particularly long, but you can increase the number of turns in case you want to have an endurance match.

“And just to be sure that things heat up near the end, there’s the ‘Showtime,’ option, which kicks in as the match nears its end and turns regular items into super items, while also opening up new ways to get around the map, like pipes or trampolines,” Reparaz said. “If one team is on the ropes, these are a potential lifeline that can yank them back into the lead.”

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle caught us by surprise when it launched in August, as it managed to mix the charm of both Mario and the Rabbids with strategic gameplay similar to X-COM. It’s available now exclusively for Nintendo Switch, and it shouldn’t be overlooked when shopping for gifts this holiday season.

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Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…

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As a crossover between Crypt of the Necrodancer and The Legend of Zelda, the game begins with NecroDancer protagonist Cadence being whisked away to Hyrule. She quickly inspires Link or Zelda to explore the world and fight back against Octavo, who put Hyrule’s king to sleep with a magical Lute. Those who prefer the more minimalist stories of earlier games in the series will enjoy how quickly the game gets players to the rhythmic action. People begging Nintendo to make Zelda playable in Tears of the Kingdom will also appreciate that they can play most of the game as her if they want.

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Does Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope have multiplayer?

Bowser standing ahead of Mario and friends.

Mario games are typically single-player experiences, with the main exceptions being spinoff games. Essentially all of Mario's sports games, for example, allow gamers to team up or face off with friends and family. Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle was a unique take in that it put Mario and friends, plus their Rabbid counterparts, into a turn-based tactics game. Even so, despite it being very uncommon for the genre, it also included a co-op mode called the Buddy Dome.

With the sequel out and offering a brand new tactical adventure with even more Mario and Rabbid characters, worlds, and combat tactics, many are curious if any sort of multiplayer is included in Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope. The first game required you to complete some of the single-player to unlock these extra challenges, but is that the case here? Before you gather up your team to play Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope together, here's what you need to know about whether it has multiplayer or not.

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Mario Rabbids Sparks of Hope

The title of Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope has a double meaning. On the one hand, you and your team are the "sparks of hope" against the evil Cursa, but Sparks are also a key plot and gameplay component. These cute star creatures are the Rabbid form of Lumas and are very powerful. While you will have a clear narrative reason to want to rescue as many of these cute little creatures as possible, the benefit you get for having them in battle is arguably even greater.

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