Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle: Switch Review
Hey guys! Let's dive into the wacky world of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle on the Nintendo Switch. This game is a delightful blend of the Mushroom Kingdom and the chaotic Rabbids universe, creating an experience that's both familiar and surprisingly fresh. If you're wondering whether this tactical adventure is worth your time, keep reading!
What is Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle?
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is a turn-based tactical role-playing game developed by Ubisoft in collaboration with Nintendo. Released in 2017, it combines the iconic characters and settings of the Mario franchise with the quirky, often zany Rabbids. The game's storyline involves a powerful invention that merges the Mario and Rabbids universes, leading to chaos and the need for a team of heroes to restore order. This unlikely alliance embarks on a quest to save the Mushroom Kingdom from the mischievous Rabbids who have been accidentally imbued with special powers, causing all sorts of mayhem and dimensional rifts.
The gameplay blends exploration with turn-based combat, requiring players to strategically position their characters, utilize special abilities, and coordinate attacks to defeat enemies. As players progress, they unlock new characters, each with unique skills and abilities, adding depth to the tactical gameplay. The game also features a lighthearted and humorous narrative, with plenty of slapstick comedy and amusing interactions between the Mario and Rabbids characters. Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle offers a refreshing twist on the turn-based strategy genre, appealing to both fans of Mario and newcomers looking for a fun and engaging gaming experience on the Nintendo Switch. What really sets this game apart is its accessibility. Even if you're not a strategy game expert, the game gradually introduces you to its mechanics, making it easy to pick up and play. But don't let that fool you – as you progress, the challenges become increasingly complex, requiring you to really think about your moves and utilize your team's abilities effectively.
Gameplay and Mechanics
The gameplay in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is a masterclass in accessible tactical strategy. Each battle takes place on a grid-based map, where you control a team of three characters. The core mechanics revolve around movement, attacking, and using special abilities. Characters can move within a certain range, take cover behind obstacles to reduce damage, and team jump to extend their movement range.
Attacking is straightforward, with each character having a primary weapon and a secondary ability. Mario, for instance, has his trusty blaster and can stomp on enemies, while Rabbid Peach is armed with a grenade launcher and can heal allies. What makes the combat engaging is the synergy between characters. You can combine their abilities to create devastating combos. For example, you might use Rabbid Mario to draw enemies closer, then have Mario unleash a powerful attack.
The game also introduces elements like elemental effects (fire, ice, etc.) that add another layer of strategy. Enemies can be vulnerable to certain elements, and exploiting these weaknesses is crucial for success. As you progress, you unlock new weapons and abilities, allowing you to customize your team to suit your play style. The skill tree for each character offers a range of options, from increasing damage output to improving movement abilities.
One of the standout features of the gameplay is the dynamic cover system. Half cover reduces damage, while full cover provides almost complete protection. Flanking enemies and destroying their cover are essential tactics. The game also encourages exploration outside of battles. Between fights, you'll navigate the environment, solving simple puzzles and uncovering hidden secrets. These puzzles often involve manipulating objects or using character abilities in creative ways. Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle strikes a perfect balance between accessibility and depth, making it an enjoyable experience for both newcomers and seasoned strategy fans.
Graphics and Sound
The visuals in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle are vibrant and charming, perfectly capturing the essence of both the Mario and Rabbids universes. The Mushroom Kingdom has been reimagined with a Rabbids twist, featuring familiar locations like Peach's Castle and the Spooky Trail, but with a healthy dose of chaotic humor. The character models are well-detailed, and the animations are expressive, bringing the personalities of Mario, the Rabbids, and their allies to life. The environments are colorful and varied, ranging from lush forests to icy landscapes, each with its own unique visual style.
On the Nintendo Switch, the game runs smoothly in both docked and handheld mode, maintaining a consistent frame rate. The user interface is clean and intuitive, making it easy to navigate menus and manage your team. The sound design is equally impressive. The soundtrack, composed by Grant Kirkhope (of Banjo-Kazooie fame), blends iconic Mario themes with original compositions, creating a whimsical and engaging audio experience. The sound effects are punchy and satisfying, adding weight to the combat and enhancing the overall sense of immersion. The Rabbids' gibberish is also surprisingly endearing, adding to the game's comedic charm. Overall, the graphics and sound in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle are top-notch, creating a visually and aurally appealing experience that complements the gameplay perfectly. From the detailed character models to the vibrant environments and catchy soundtrack, the game is a treat for the senses.
Story and Characters
The storyline of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is a delightful mix of familiar Mario tropes and zany Rabbids humor. The game begins with a powerful invention, the SupaMerge, which accidentally merges the Mario and Rabbids universes, creating dimensional rifts and causing chaos in the Mushroom Kingdom. This leads to the emergence of Rabbid versions of Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Yoshi, each with their own unique personalities and abilities. The story follows Mario and his unlikely team of Rabbid heroes as they embark on a quest to restore order to the Mushroom Kingdom and save it from the mischievous Rabbids who have been imbued with special powers.
The characters are a standout aspect of the game. Mario is his usual heroic self, while the Rabbids bring a much-needed dose of comedic relief. Rabbid Mario is arrogant and self-centered, Rabbid Luigi is cowardly but surprisingly effective, and Rabbid Peach is obsessed with selfies and social media. These characters play off each other perfectly, creating hilarious interactions and memorable moments. The game also features a cast of original characters, such as Beep-0, a helpful robot assistant who guides the team on their quest. Beep-0 provides useful information and adds to the game's lighthearted tone.
While the story is relatively simple, it serves as a perfect backdrop for the gameplay and character interactions. The narrative is filled with humorous cutscenes and witty dialogue, keeping players engaged and entertained throughout the adventure. Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle strikes a perfect balance between storytelling and gameplay, making it a memorable and enjoyable experience. The characters are well-developed, and their interactions are genuinely funny, adding depth and charm to the overall narrative.
Difficulty and Learning Curve
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle does an excellent job of easing players into its tactical gameplay. The early levels serve as a tutorial, introducing you to the basic mechanics of movement, attacking, and using special abilities. The difficulty gradually increases as you progress, with new enemy types and more complex level designs being introduced. What's great about the game is that it never feels overwhelming. Even if you're new to the strategy genre, you'll find the learning curve manageable.
The game also provides helpful tips and tutorials throughout, explaining the nuances of each mechanic. For example, you'll learn about the importance of cover, flanking enemies, and using team jumps to extend your movement range. As you unlock new characters and abilities, you'll have more options to experiment with, allowing you to customize your team to suit your play style. The game also features a range of difficulty options, allowing you to adjust the challenge to your liking. If you're finding a particular battle too difficult, you can lower the difficulty level to make it easier.
However, even on the normal difficulty, the game can be challenging at times. Some battles require careful planning and strategic thinking to overcome. You'll need to utilize your characters' abilities effectively, exploit enemy weaknesses, and make the most of the environment to succeed. Despite the challenge, the game is always fair. If you fail a battle, you can learn from your mistakes and try again with a new strategy. The sense of accomplishment you feel after overcoming a difficult challenge is incredibly rewarding. Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle strikes a perfect balance between accessibility and depth, making it an enjoyable experience for both newcomers and seasoned strategy fans.
Final Verdict
So, is Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle worth it on the Nintendo Switch? Absolutely! It's a unique and engaging tactical adventure that combines the best of the Mario and Rabbids universes. The gameplay is accessible yet deep, the graphics and sound are top-notch, and the story is charming and humorous. Whether you're a fan of strategy games or just looking for something different, this game is definitely worth checking out. Go get it now!