I’m not sure what was weirder, seeing Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto and Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot brandishing guns on stage at Ubisoft’s E3 Press Conference, or seeing Mario wield the same futuristic weaponry in the trailer for Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle.
While I chew over that question, let’s look at what we finally know for sure about the worst-kept-secret in all of gaming. Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is a turn-based tactical RPG that takes place on the battlefields of the Mushroom Kingdom. Players will attempt to outflank the enemy and deliver a victorious blast using advanced “combat tactics” and a “cover system”:
Mario and his friends will use hundreds of never-before-seen weapons to strategically take out enemies in true Rabbids style – with the occasional well-timed misfire. Players will use turn-based combat to strategically move their heroes across the battlefield to gain higher ground, utilize the pipe system and destructible environments, and receive a friendly boost from their teammates to get into their optimal firing position. Utilizing combat tactics and the cover system, players will explore the four unique worlds with their team of heroes defeating foes, gathering collectibles and solving puzzles along their quest.
In the main campaign for Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, players will form a team of three unique characters, customizing their abilities via each character’s dedicated skill tree to form the perfect trio. In the game’s additional co-op challenges, players team up with a friend in local multiplayer, where they’ll play three levels of difficulty, taking on adversaries as a team. Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle will take advantage of the ability of Nintendo Switch to be played anywhere, anytime and is fully functioning on the go for both solo and co-op players.
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle will be available exclusively for the Switch on August 29. Players will be able to pick up the game-only Standard Edition, or opt for the more opulent Collector’s Edition, which will include the game, a Rabbid Mario figurine by Ubicollectibles, a set of collector cards, and a soundtrack CD. And everyone who pre-orders the game will receive a code to download an exclusive set of eight in-game weapons with unique stats.
Finally, Ubisoft also released a behind-the-scenes video with the developers of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, and you can find it after the break.
