Zero Punctuation Season 11 Episode 36 Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle

Zero Punctuation season 11 episode 36 takes a look at Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle, a game that is a crossover between Nintendo's Mario series and Ubisoft's Rabbids franchise.

The episode opens with series host Yahtzee Croshaw praising the game's graphics, which he describes as "bright and cartoony, but not in a way that makes me want to punch everyone involved in the face." He also notes that the game's music is suitably catchy and upbeat.

Yahtzee then goes on to talk about the game's story, which involves Mario and his friends teaming up with the Rabbids to save the Mushroom Kingdom from an evil force. He describes the storyline as "about as shallow as a puddle in a drought," but notes that this isn't necessarily a bad thing, as the game's focus is on gameplay rather than narrative.

Speaking of gameplay, Yahtzee delves into the heart of the game. He notes that the game is a turn-based strategy game in the vein of XCOM, with players controlling a team of characters and taking turns moving and attacking their opponents. He praises the game's level design, which he says is "fun and varied," and notes that the game introduces new mechanics gradually, so as not to overwhelm the player.

Yahtzee also talks about the game's combat system, which he says "borrows liberally from XCOM." He notes that the game has a cover system, with characters being able to hide behind walls and other objects to avoid enemy fire. He also mentions that the game has a skill tree system, which allows players to customize their characters with different abilities and upgrades. He praises the game's skill tree, saying that it offers "enough variety to keep things interesting."

One area where Yahtzee finds fault with the game is in its AI. He notes that the enemies in the game often behave predictably and tend to attack the same character repeatedly. He also notes that the game doesn't offer much in the way of challenge, even on the highest difficulty setting.

Yahtzee also has some criticisms of the game's presentation. He notes that while the game's graphics and music are great, the game is light on story and character development, which he says is "a problem if you're looking for something deeper." He also notes that the game's humor, while occasionally amusing, can be hit or miss.

Overall, Yahtzee seems to enjoy Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle. He praises the game's gameplay and level design, and he finds the game's graphics and music to be enjoyable. However, he does note some flaws in the game's AI and presentation, and he feels that the game could offer more challenge. Nonetheless, he says that the game is "a fun, light-hearted strategy game that is well worth a look."