Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope

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Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope
Boxart for Sparks of Hope.
Information
Developer(s)	Ubisoft Paris Ubisoft Milan
Publisher(s)	Ubisoft (NA, EU) Nintendo (JP)
Series	Mario Rabbids series
Release date	October 20, 2022 December 2, 2022
Genre(s)	Turn-based role-playing
Ratings	ESRB: Everyone 10+ PEGI: Seven years and older (ACD): G
Platform(s)	Nintendo Switch
Navigation
Predecessor	Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle (2017) - Donkey Kong Adventure DLC (2018)

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is the second crossover role-playing game that features characters in both the Mario and Raving Rabbids/Rayman franchises for the Nintendo Switch. It's the sequel to the 2017 role-playing game Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle. It was released on October 20, 2022.

Gameplay

The gameplay is similar to the first game although now, instead of grid-based movement in battle and only full movement outside of battle, you now have full movement all of the time, although in battles you're restricted to a certain radius and after you attack, you usually can't move (unless you have Rabbid Mario's No Limits skill unlocked, then you can move him after attacks). Now there is an Action Points system where you have a specified amount of them and doing actions depletes it. Now you can use special powers in battle via Sparks, which can give your moves Super Effects as well as other powers which are improved by levelling them up; and Items, which can be used to grant effects such as restoring HP or resetting attack cooldowns. Now, in the overworld, there are enemies which either roam around, stay in place, or follow a set path.

The Last Spark Hunter

Sparks of Hope will feature downloadable content of a side-story called The Last Spark Hunter.

Plot

Spoiler warning : Don't you even dare read the spoiler! Because if you do… Hoo hoo hoo hoo hoooooo… A horrible fate awaits you.

Cursa, a mysterious and malevolent entity seeks out energy to further its nefarious plans, plunging the galaxy into chaos. Twisting the planets with its evil influence, it's determined to consume all the energy of the Sparks, uncanny creatures formed by the fusion of Lumas & Rabbids, and destroy all who stand in its way. To bring order back to the galaxy and save the Sparks, Mario and friends team up with Rabbids heroes in a journey through mysterious and ever-surprising planets.

Darkmess in Mushroom Kingdom

Mario, Luigi, Peach, Rabbid Peach, Rabbid Mario, Rabbid Luigi and Beep-0 spend their time in the Mushroom Kingdom near Princess Peach's Castle. Mario finds Rabbid Mario's missing overalls. While the crew gathered in a meeting, Starburst and the Rabbid-fused Lumas rush to their aid to warn Mario's party about Cursa. As the dark stingray-like creature called the Darkmess Manta, approaches the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario's party dodges it with the exception of Rabbid Peach; she gets caught in the creature forcing Mario, Starburst and Beep-0 to rescue her with Peach's help in reaching it.

Mysterious encounter

"That vicious HORRIBLE monster is CURSA!!! We barely escaped it - now it won't stop chasing us!!"

—Starburst to Mario, Rabbid Peach and Beep-0

As Mario, Starburst and Beep-0 saves Rabbid Peach, they attempt to escape but they encounter a mysterious being named Cursa. It brainwashed the Goombas into attacking Mario's party. Defeating all Goombas, a WM ARC came to rescue Mario's party before Cursa does any harm. Cursa nearly grabs to the WM ARC, but they dodge its hand and took its leave.

Rabbid Lumas

Mario, Starburst, Beep-0 and Rabbid Peach reunited with Peach, Luigi, Rabbid Mario, Rabbid Luigi and a new robot named JEANIE. As Jeanie analyses Starburst, she took notice of how it appeared to be a fusion of a Rabbid and a Luma; this leads Peach questioning what lead to the events to them being fused as she does not believe Rosalina would allow it to happen. Starburst mentioned that Rosalina is in trouble because of Cursa. JEANIE stated that Cursa is "conquering the galaxy using a corruptive energy called Darkmess" and the epicenter of the activity is in its stronghold. However, from where they are currently, it would take a long time for the to travel to the stronghold. JEANIE comes up with a solution that using the purified energy of the Darkmess can help access Warp Tunnels making travels faster. Beep-0 came up with a name of the Rabbid-fused Lumas as "Rabbid Lumas"; majority rejected this idea and agreed with the name "Sparks". The crew proceeds to head to Beacon Beach, the first destination to go to the Stronghold.

"I NEED the energy of those creatures! Bring them to ME!"

—Cursa to the Spark Hunters

Meanwhile, Cursa commanded the Spark Hunters to find the Sparks and bring them to Cursa, needing the energy of the Sparks. They each depart to carry out their given orders.

Beacon Beach

JEANIE talking about the Darkmess Tentacle.

The crew travelled in the WM ARC to Beacon Beach which is in a rainy state. As they got off the WM ARC, Augie sprouted out of the water and attempt to attack Mario's party. Frightened, Augie told them to scram assuming they are coming to Beacon Beach to cause trouble. Beep-0 reassured him that they are not unruly tourists but heroes. Augie told Beep-0, Mario and Rabbid Peach about his issue with the lighthouse. JEANIE is aware with the Darkmess Tentacle that eliminating it will reverse the effects of the weather through purifying the Darkmess Energy to use it to create a Warp Tunnel. Augie requested them to save the village first which is currently in trouble. After the team managed to defeat the Bob-ombs that were keeping the residents trapped in their homes, one of the Rabbids releases a Spark named Twinkle, who heads out to the Sunrise Temple and causes it to rise from the sea and enters the structure. As Mario and the team enter, a mysterious Rabbid watches from above and is spotted by Augie, but she jumps down and shushes him and smiles to intimidate him, causing him to sink into the water before she enters. As the team catch up to Twinkle, it grew scared of them until they gently approach it leading it to realize that they want to help it, only for the Darkmess Tentacle to snag it and sends it into the Darkmess Dimension. After Cursa's minions were defeated, Twinkle appears to be fine, but is soon chased by the Stooges, with Rabbid Mario taking out two of them blocking the way with a single punch as they continue to pursue them. Twinkle is cornered and one of them tries to pounce on it but is soon slain by the Flying Blade which returns to its owner as she grabs it. She confidently walks out of the waterfall with a chuckle and wags her finger in disapproval, prompting the Stooges to attack her, but she fights back and managed to defeat all of them quickly as Mario's party watch in amazement. Once the mysterious Rabbid looks at Twinkle, it squeaks in fear of her, but she smiles and stabs the sword into the floor and kneels as she reaches out her hand. Twinkle approaches cautiously and curiously but once reaching her, the Giant Wildclaw arrives as they get ready to fight. After its defeat, Beep-0 lets the mysterious Rabbid know that they need Twinkle's assistance at the lighthouse, and they need the Purified Darkmess Crystals to travel to other planets and reach Cursa. As Twinkle departs, Augie emerges from the waterfall to congratulate them for saving Twinkle, but he becomes scared of the Rabbid he encountered earlier, calling her a Spark Hunter. She corrects him that she is not a Spark Hunter and introduces herself as Edge and prefers to be called this way when Beep-0 calls her Rabbid Edge. She agrees to join them and would grant them extra help in stopping Cursa. They head to the lighthouse and manage to destroy the Darkmess Tentacle there, restoring the sunlight to Beacon Beach. After that, Augie warns them about Cursa's ringleaders whom he calls the Spark Hunters, who came earlier and threatened the inhabitants if he did not hand over the Sparks and Mario's party promises to deal with them.

Pristine Peaks

With the two Purified Darkmess energy crystals on hand, Mario and crew travel to their next destination, the Pristine Peaks. Where it used to be a popular tourist spot in the galaxy. However, the infection of Darkmess Tentacles has caused the place to become a freezing wasteland. Upon landing, they encountered a Spark with the unusual ability to create massive sound waves, who then merged with Beep-0, giving him the ability and allowing them further into the glacier. Once the reach the mountain where the Darkmess Tentacle was and destroyed it to end the blizzard. Mario and his friends make snowmen, with Rabbid Mario making a muscular snowman with himself as the head, attempting to get Edge's attention, which fails. They find the Winter Palace where they would find the local warden with the storm over, but Edge warns that the real storm has begun. They free Captain Orion who is worried for the safety of a young girl that he knows is trapped in the palace. Once they make it through, they are greeted by the ghostlike Rabbid, whom Edge confirms is one of Cursa's Spark Hunters. After a few encounters with the blue haired Rabbid, they reach the Darkmess Tentacle where they find her again, but she takes notice of the approaching Edge, and they seem to have a friendly interaction until Edge shook her head, which upsets the ghost Rabbid. Edge reveals the ghost Rabbid's name, Midnite during their confrontation and Midnite confirms that she and Edge were once the best of friends, which shocks them, but Edge shuts down the conversation, as Midnite taunts her before heading to the Darkmess Tentacle. They follow Midnite and they find the missing girl Rabbid Rosalina looking through some books and she ends up noticing Midnite trapping Orion when he tried to reach her. After Midnite is defeated, Orion is freed and reunited with Rabbid Rosalina while Edge corners Midnite with her Flying Blade in hand, but she instead spares her life, which surprises and saddens Midnite as she leaves. Rabbid Rosalina apologizes to Captain Orion for wandering off on him as he encourages her to head out with the heroes. She tries to object as she only wants to leave if seeking Rosalina is involved, which Beep-0 confirms that they are seeking her, which she agrees to go with them.

Palette Prime

The team make their way to Palette Prime, where it was found that its forest is drained of color and life which makes it look more haunted due to a Darkmess Tentacle and the town named Paletteville, which is under attack by unseen attackers. They managed to free the forest of the Darkmess Tentacle that is affecting it, restoring its life back to it. Due to the bridge being destroyed, they use the shortcut through a tunnel of the basement in T.S. Woodrow's house in order to reach the town. They find of the houses destroyed and it was revealed to be due to the fight between Bowser and a large stone Rabbid. Bowser noticed Mario and his friends while the stone Rabbid noticed Edge, who smirks at her, and Bowser managed to headbutt his opponent but is quickly tossed into the Darkmess Tentacle. Edge asked if Bowser is a friend of theirs, but is asked the same question about the Rabbid, which she confirms that the magenta haired Rabbid is Bedrock and isn't a friend of hers, which Beep-0 replies that Bowser isn't a friend of theirs either due to his long history with his rivalry of Mario and kidnapping of Princess Peach, but they still head to the Darkmess Tentacle to help Bowser out anyway. After Bedrock is defeated, another Spark Hunter arrives and uses her tentacle like thorns to allow Bedrock to escape as she noticed Edge not returning the glare nor is she trying to stop them. Bowser destroys the Darkmess Tentacle and expects gratitude from them. He then explains that he is searching for Cursa, who has brainwashed his minions, and he wants them back. He does agree to put aside his differences with the team for the time being.

Terra Flora

As they travel to Terra Flora, JEANIE notifies the team that they are now in range of Cursa's Stronghold, which is revealed to be heavily protected by a barrier which prevents them from being able to access it. Beep-0 asks Edge if she knew a way, which surprises her as she asked why he's asking her, and Beep-0 explains that she knows the Spark Hunters somehow and she has something she isn't telling them. This angers Edge, who tells them that even if she did, they would not want her business to become theirs, forcing Beep-0 to back off the subject.

The Spark Hunters returned to the Darkmess Dimension where only Midnite and Bedrock were distraught over their failure and Cursa arrives and Daphne presents three Sparks to it, much to Midnite and Bedrock's jealousy and annoyance. After Cursa drains the Sparks, despite some resistance from its host, and nearly crushes Bedrock and Midnite for their failures to bring it any Sparks.

They arrive at Terra Flora, which is suffering under a drought that is threatening plant life and the Darkmess Tentacle is behind it. Bea explains that Mt. Spout has stopped erupting and has them inquire Sullivan's help in reaching Mt. Spout. They ride the train and end up having to deal with an angry Darkmess infected Wiggler, which they defeated and managed to make it. They head inside the mountain and manage to destroy the Darkmess Tentacle, allowing Mt. Spout to erupt water, restoring Terra Flora's plant life and most of the heroes, minus Rabbid Luigi and Rabbid Rosalina, were inside bubbles before they both fall. Bea is grateful for their help in restoring the planet's ecosystem and when asked about how to deal with the barrier at Cursa's Stronghold, and Bea tells them that Barrendale Mesa's warden Momma is the mechanic who can help create the shield breakers to deal with it.

Barrendale Mesa

They head to Barrendale Mesa where Beep-0 recounts the tale of how this place was once an abundance of resources until the Rabbids arrived and used up all of them before leaving themselves. JEANIE tells them that Momma is still on the planet running her business with machines and is also capable of making shield breakers that would help deal with the barrier at Cursa's Stronghold. This concerns Edge, who believes that the sneakiest and the dirtiest Spark Hunter will be awaiting them though Beep-0 states that they had given up since they haven't seen any in a while before catching on what Edge said about the devious Spark Hunter. Annoyed, Edge brushes it aside and that Momma should hope that they find her first. Due to the electric storm, JEANIE is unable to land the ship, so Beep-0 suggests freefalling to the surface which they did and the Rabbids (minus Edge) and Luigi land on a Rabbid balloon, only for Bowser to destroy it accidentally. Upon landing, they find Momma annoyed at them for dropping in that resulted in her balloon's destruction and could not help them create the shield breakers due to the storm that forced her to close it down. She instructs them to head to the malfunctioning windmill to get it fixed up. Sometime after the Heroes defend the windmill and managed to calm the storm, they receive a transmission from "Momma" who calls them back to the garage, but only Edge realized something wrong though she does not comment on it. Upon returning to the garage, "Momma" is revealed to be Daphne in disguise, and she traps the Heroes in the Darkmess Dimension and revealed that she was holding the real Momma hostage while taunting Edge, but they were able to defeat her and free Momma.

Cursa then appears to them and was about to attack them, but Rosalina's wand appears and does its magic and Cursa dissipates, revealing Rosalina, who then casts a spell to open the portal to bring the Heroes back to the real world before Cursa retakes control and Edge leads everyone through the portal while Mario carries Rabbid Rosalina through it. As the Heroes were in disbelief over what happened to Rosalina, Momma suggests looking through the Purified Darkmess Crystal. It is revealed that a fragment of the Megabug managed to survive after its defeat and floated aimlessly through space, merging with stellar debris, gaining sentience over time, becoming Cursa who then absorbs the energies of various worlds, and becomes drawn to the energy of the Lumas' joy as they play with the visiting Rabbids with Rosalina watching over them, and she does not take notice of the danger until it was too late. Rosalina managed to defend the Rabbids and the Lumas, but a force ends up flinging them far away, resulting in them merging with each other to become Sparks while Rosalina is merged with Cursa, allowing it to take full control of her, but with Rosalina fighting against the union, Cursa sought to drain the Sparks of their energy and created an army and the Spark Hunters to collect all of the Sparks to gain total power and destroy Rosalina's will. But Rosalina doesn't fear Cursa since she knows that she can count on the heroes to set things right again. Momma is able to install the Shield Breakers and wishes them luck as they depart.

Cursa's Stronghold

As the Heroes arrive, they use the Shield Breakers against the barrier, successfully destroying the barrier, revealing the Comet Observatory within, much to their shock at how Cursa would stoop so low as to attack it, considering it was the symbol of all hope. During their expedition, they encounter Darkmess Bowser, revealing that Cursa has inherited memories from the Megabug and due to the latter having corrupted Bowser, it used Bowser's likeness to create the clone. After defeating it, they encounter Darkmess Edge, much to their shock as JEANIE believes that it created this clone by itself while Edge tells everyone that it doesn't know what she's made of. Once they defeat the clone, Edge turned away from the group, much to their concern for her. Edge admits that she came to be because of Cursa and explains that she is not only a former member of the Spark Hunters, but also their former commander who was given an edge to be able to think and to lead, but she ends up seeing Cursa for the horrible monster it truly was and tried to warn the Spark Hunters, but they turned against her. As a result, she left and made it her mission to save as many Sparks as she possibly could. She never spoke up about her past since she believed that they don't have any reason to trust her and was about to leave in shame. Fortunately, the team comforts her that her actions have provided enough reasons to trust her while JEANIE tells her that she is part of their family now and doesn't have to keep any secrets from them, which Edge is grateful for before turning their attention to Cursa.

Once entering the Darkmess Dimension through the Comet Observatory's beacon, they confront Cursa and barely dodged its hand. They begin attacking the hands which posed a major threat to them attacking it directly. After destroying the hands, they begin attacking the broken star in its front where the drained Sparks were trapped and once they hit it enough times, the Sparks broke free as well as Rosalina herself breaking away from Cursa forever. But Cursa assumes its true form and Rosalina creates wand projections to amplify the power of her wand to strike directly at the monster three times. Cursa was weakened, but not out as it was furious enough to charge at the heroes in the last-ditch effort to kill them all, but the drained Sparks make use of the wand projector to turn themselves into a laser that severely cripples Cursa, allowing the Heroes to combine their attacks, with Rosalina merging them into a single arrow, to completely destroy Cursa forever.

Epilogue

Back at the Mushroom Kingdom, Rosalina is extremely grateful for saving the galaxy and herself, but as Beep-0 laments that they didn't save all of the Sparks, she explains that the energy that gives the Sparks life cannot be destroyed, but altered and uses her magic to restore them. She tells them that the Sparks are eternally grateful, and she offers her Rabbid counterpart to join her on the Comet Observatory with the Sparks, but as much as Rabbid Rosalina wanted that, she decides to stay with her new friends and considered them her family, even if they sometimes annoy her. When asking Edge on what she plans to do, Edge believes that her old friends are currently seeking a new profession and she too chooses to stay with the group. Rosalina thanks them one last time and hopes Bowser learned something about teamwork. Rabbid Mario, Rabbid Luigi, and Rabbid Peach were teasing Bowser and pulling on his hair and tail and Mario, who knows of Bowser's explosive temper, tries to stop them, only for Bowser to angrily breathe fire in retaliation as the rest of the team watches in amusement.

Spoiler ends here: You looked! Even if I told you not too!

DLC

The Tower of Doooom, The Last Spark Hunter, and Rayman in the Phantom Show

Playable characters

• Beep-0
• Mario
• Luigi
• Princess Peach
• Rabbid Mario
• Rabbid Luigi
• Rabbid Peach
• Rabbid Rosalina
• Edge
• Bowser
• Rayman (DLC)

Sparks

• Spark of Light
• Starburst
• Pyrogeddon
• Exosphere
• Vampdash
• Aquanox
• Ethering
• Reflector
• Toxiquake
• Glitter
• Pyrostar
• Zephyrquake
• Regenesis
• Electrogeddon
• Cryobolide
• Electroid
• Aquaquake
• Pulser
• Decibel

Non-playable characters

• Augie
• Captain Orion
• Cheep Cheep
• DJ Cheep Tuna
• Jeanie
• Moles
• Professor Backpack
• Rosalina
• Sullivan
• Toad
• Sweetlopek
• Salesbot 9.99+TX
• Toadette
• Manta
• Dryad
• Bea

Enemies

• Bob-omb
• Goomba
  • Armored Goomba
• Magikoopa
• Stooge
  • Sea Stooge
  • Flamin' Stooge
• Scoper
  • Lone Wolf
• Medician
  • Ghostly Walker
  • Depleter
  • Oozer
  • Spellraiser
• Squasher
  • Squashette
• Wildclaw
  • Deep Freeze
  • Magnafowl
  • Riptide

Bosses

• Giant Wildclaw
• Wiggler
• Midnite
• Bedrock
• Daphne
• Darkmess Bowser
• Darkmess Edge
• Cursa
• Kanya
• Phantom

Golden Pipe Bosses

• Giant Goomba
• Giant Squashette
• Giant Depleter
• Giant Magikoopa
• Giant Magnafowl

Locations

• Mushroom Kingdom
• Beacon Beach
• Pristine Peaks
• Palette Prime
• Terra Flora
• Barrendale Mesa
• Cursa's Stronghold
• Space Opera Network

Trivia

• This was the last Mario game to feature Charles Martinet as the voice of Mario & Luigi before it was announced in August 2023 that he would be stepping down from voicing characters in the franchise.

Gallery

To view Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope's image gallery, click here.

References

External links

• Ubisoft