Some creative mash-ups end up working so well they seem obvious in hindsight.  And then there are those that still don't make sense afterward, even if the end result is far greater than the some of the respective parts.  I don't know what is the bigger surprise, that Mario Plus Rabbids: Kingdom Battle even exists, or that it is easily among my favorite games this year.



When I first heard about the collaboration between the Mario and Rabbid franchises, I assumed some kind of platformer, or perhaps a variation on a party game or even a sports theme.  After all, both IPs have those type of games in their history and let's be honest; both are known for milking franchises.

About the last thing I would have thought would happen would be to put arm-cannons on our heroes and plop them into a Mushroom Kingdom meets XCOM via turn-based strategy game.  Nothing in either game universe has a precedent for this.  Some purists may have had a tough time accepting Link and company or the Fire Emblem cast in a Dynasty Warriors game.  For those folks, minds are going to be blown after seeing modern strategy staples like the move/attack grid, classic "overwatch" attack, and cover mechanics with Yoshi and a Rabbid dressed like Princess Peach.  I'm still wondering if I actually ate the wrong mushroom in real life.

It seems weird that there would even be a perceived clash of properties considering how surreal and offbeat these two fictional universes already are, not to mention loaded with their own inconsistencies between games in their respective franchises.  Even the most recent Zelda game followed some and rewrote other rules of its own franchise.  Perhaps it isn't as surprising to see our beloved former-plumber shoot apart cover in front of a deranged rabbit-like creature while Luigi pilots a lethal explosive drone behind it.  And yet there's a sentence that still feels like fan-fiction.



Despite a bit of lowbrow humor, the zany Rabbids invading the cartoony Mushroom Kingdom feels like a more natural fit than may be expected.  After a little admittedly forced narrative to set things up, the story quickly carries our heroes from one tactical battle to the next with a mild bit of exploration and simple puzzle solving to hold it all together.  The offbeat setting results in an even more vibrant and colorful Mushroom Kingdom than usual, with goofy and effective animations for characters and backgrounds.  There's no mistaking the graphics and sound for a true Mario experience interwoven with a heavy Rabbids flair. 

Despite Nintendo quality presentation, the whole experiment would still certainly flounder if the tactical combat, i.e. the meat of the experience, ended up too simple or lackluster.  Thankfully here is where the game pulls off its greatest trick; the turn-based action is near perfect.  Starting with an efficient team of three heroes from an eventual roster of eight, each character has lots of weapon elements and tools as well as character upgrade options, and mobility options are perhaps the star of the show.  Mario Plus Rabbids: Kingdom Battle does a satisfying job of distilling an intimidating genre to the best core elements while still offering genuine tactics, options, and variability.  While obviously starting small, in short order the game develops its ten-to-fifteen minute battles into head-scratching tests of thought and skill.  Even better, the difficulty balance is pleasantly robust, offering a decent challenge in the campaign.  The Bosses and Midbosses generally require new tactics, extra challenges open up for upgrades and other rewards, and the younger and tactically-challenged have an option for an "easy mode" for each battle.  It's very tough to make these kind of games just right for beginners and experts, but Ubisoft should be complimented for how well Mario Plus Rabbids caters to a broad spectrum of player skills. 

In fact, the greatest criticism of the gameplay itself comes down to a very "Nintendo" way of adding luck into the mix.  In most tactics games of this ilk, the likelihood of hitting a character in cover is the result of a complicated algorithm consisting of many combined factors.  In Mario Plus Rabbids, you get three; out-in-the-open 100% hit, in-total-cover 0%, and then... half cover at 50%.  That last one is the issue, since unless you successfully flank (most maps do allow it) you will at times have to depend on a flip of the coin either way, with no sure-fire way to up the risk/reward.  Thankfully, the game does mitigate this by usually making partial cover destructible (even tossing coins in as a reward) and since very few battles go on too long, a quick restart in the menu means you don't miss much when resetting to try again.  In fact, anyone who's missed a 90% headshot that cost a valuable unit in the recent XCOM games may prefer Mario's method.


The only other real complaint I've heard is one of the more comical consistencies found when reading about this game.  Many critics and gamers started with the same type of comments; "despite hating the Rabbids," or "I've never liked the Rabbids, but..." or "Even if like me, you can't stand the Rabbids,..."  If a review has a "cons" or "negatives" list, the fact that this game features Rabbids is frequently listed, as if their very presence is understood as a strike against it.  Yet the maligned oddball critters never seem to keep praise from being heaped upon this title.

Personally, despite not typically caring for The Three Stooges-like comedy, I have to admit to enjoying the Rabbids since their debut on the Wii.  It's probably strange that I completely understand why Rabbids so readily and easily annoy folks and yet I find a ton of amusement from their oddball antics.  I can't be alone, given their cross-media success and plethora of games and cultural presence. I still find them in the "plus" column, but if you can't stand them, I get it. 

And yet, much like the aforementioned critics have said, I highly recommend this game!  Despite the source material the game features genuine challenge and a myriad of options while trimming the experience to the best elements of modern turn-based strategy games.  In fact, by focusing on a three-character party, a huge emphasis on movement options (including pipes and hopping on friendly characters), and character advancement trees that can be reset at the press of a button, Mario Plus Rabbids is not just a perfect introduction to the genre but also a great addition to longtime fans with tons of tactical games under their belt.  It is rare to find a strategy game that feels worthwhile for newcomers and experts, but this one really goes out of its way to be both, with enough that is familiar and yet tweaked to keep things fresh.

Toss in bright and vibrant art, the Switch's portable nature, and battles that rarely go past ten to fifteen minutes, and Mario Plus Rabbids is the easiest recommendation I could give to those even remotely interested.  In a game full of surprises, that is the best one of all.

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