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Critically, you can move a character as much as you like within certain boundaries without using a turn, which makes lining up abilities less stressful. It's less contemplative, and feels like a more natural fit for a console controller. Gone are the movement grids, which have been replaced with a fully analogue traversal system. Sparks of Hope radically reworks the first title's combat. It's all about the gameplay enhancements with this one, which are substantial.
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Gameplay is solid, but it comes at a cost: Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope lacks the same level of visual accomplishment as its predecessor. Tech-wise, we're looking at another outing for Ubisoft's Snowdrop game engine, the toolset best-known for powering The Division and its sequel. Now, finally, the sequel is here, promising a substantially expanded scope alongside a reworked, more flexible combat system. It was made by Ubisoft, but had all of the polish you'd expect from a Nintendo first-party title - and arrived just a few months after the Switch debuted. This Switch-exclusive title combined X-COM style tactical gameplay with beautiful graphics and animation.
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Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle was a genuine delight when it launched some five years ago.
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