Title: Mario + Rabbids Kingdom battle
What system is it for? Nintendo Switch
Type of game: Turn based strategy
Rating: E for Everybody
By: Ubisoft
My total hours of game play: "120 hours or more"
In the name of honesty, I want to share with you that this game was a first for me in so many ways. Mario and Rabbids was the first Nintendo Switch game I ever played, it's my first turn based strategy game, the first Mario game I've beaten and the first game I have ever gotten 100% on! So this game holds a special place in my heart, however, I intend to review this game as objectively as I can.
What's it about?
The Mushroom Kingdom is turned upside down when a Rabbid (Spawny) gets his hands on a device that can combine two objects into one and he's running around the kingdom changing things left and right! You get to play as Beep-o a Rhumba like being assisting Mario and his friends, Rabbids and familiar friends alike, correct what has been done and restore the Mushroom Kingdom to it's rightful state! This journey takes you on an adventure through four worlds, each containing mine levels and one secret level.
What I thought:
I thought a lot! One of the first things I found that I wasn't too fond of was that Mario can not be removed from your team, though you can choose the other two members in your party from any characters that have been unlocked. While this wasn't as frustrating at the beginning of the game, the further into the game, the more I wished that I could switch him out for another team member who may gave had a set of skills better suited for the battle I was on.
I also wished that I had more control over the camera angles. While wondering through the Mushroom Kingdom, there will be times that you will be able to control the camera, and then there are times when you can not. This may not have been so annoying if it wasn't for the points in the game in which the angles were awkward, sometimes to the point that it as hard to even see what you were doing. I can't tell you the amount of times I tried to adjust the camera only to realize I couldn't at that time.
Personally, I also had a hard time getting used to controlling Beep-o rather Mario and it was not abnormal for me to lose Beep-o behind some of the larger characters, causing me to take a little bit longer to get where I was going.
Finally, I could have done without all of the tedious puzzles that seemed to be lurking around every corner in the 4th world.
However, I was glad that this was my first experience with turn based strategy games. I enjoyed the story line and thought it was enhanced by Beep-o's sarcastic, if not at times snarky, commentating through out the game.
I also liked that the path was often lined with coins, directing you to the story based course and allowing you to know where you have been when going back through levels you've already ran through, which was especially helpful while searching for all of the extra goodies in worlds three and four as they tended to be a little more of a maze then the first two worlds. Yet, I also really liked that there are a number of hidden chests, some obvious and on the well traveled path, while others were hidden more discreetly and took some searching to find, arguably some of the most difficult goodies to find being the secret worlds that were not only hidden but required acquired skills only obtained after the completion of the world.
Some of my favorite parts of the game were that each old friend was balanced by a rabbid who had a similar skill set and that each couple had strengths focused in different battle skill sets, allowing each player to choose a team that complements their individual play style or that is better equipped to adequately, if not perfectly, complete the battle at hand. This not only enhances replayablity, it also offers a more welcome game play to a larger variety of players and leaves each individual player to experience a unique experience.
I liked that there were parts that I found challenging but that my eight year old who had never played this type of game, either, is able to pick it up and play as well. Its easy to accept challenges to enhance my experience and heighten the challenge level while my daughter focuses more on just making it through each batter and stays on the storyline path, even though it means that she will miss a number of chests, including some that offer orbs which one can use to upgrade each character as they find the most useful (while also having the ability to clear the upgrades and reassign them if the player decides they want to focus on a another set of skills instead).
While everyone has their favorite team members, I have to say that mine was the Peaches (both rabbid and Princess) and the Yoshis (again, both rabbid and the fun little friend we've known for years). As the Peaches were the healers of the group, I often found them to be a necessity and I just really enjoyed Yoshi's skill set. It added a renewed sense of excitement and fun for meas I made my way through the later part of the game.
My favorite worlds were the third and the fourth. I just loved their look! They gave a very different feel to the game while I kind of felt like the first two worlds felt very similar and traditional, admittedly enhanced by the many nods and references to past Mario games, there was just something about the design of the third and fourth worlds that really appealed to me. Of course these levels are not without flaws, but they were fun and I thought that their appearance was a big part of that.
I think that part of my enjoyment of the final two worlds was influenced by their bosses. I found the boss for the third world to be unique, entertaining and fun! And the final boss not just looked really cool, but he also mixed up the battle sequence, avoiding a redundant feel to the fight.
Finally, I'd like to just acknowledge how refreshing it was to not have to rescue a poor, helpless, defensive Princess Peach again! Not only that, but Peach is arguably one of the strongest playable characters!
What would I rate this?
I would rate this game a....
4 out of 5 hidden chests
I could go on and on about this game, but I had to cut myself off at some point.So, are there any significant points I missed? Do you agree or disagree with my thoughts? Be sure to let me know in the comments!
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