STAR POWER

Why Ubisoft's stellar sequel is breaking all the rules - with a little help from a Nintendo classic

- CHRIS SCHILLING

Fifteen years ago, Nintendo decided it was time Mario left the Mushroom Kingdom behind – at least for a while – and sent its beloved mascot into space. We needn’t remind you of the result. Now, Ubisoft is looking to repeat the trick with its turn-based strategy sequel, although as in 2017’s Kingdom Battle, the plumber has some rambunctious company. “In Kingdom Battle, we were in a twisted version of the Mushroom Kingdom, so we thought: how can we expand the universe?” associate producer Cristina Nava begins. The answer: by going into the universe. “Once we decided, ‘OK, we want to journey through the planets’, it came quite easily to use some Galaxy elements. Of course, it’s not a Galaxy game, but there are for sure Galaxy vibes.”

EDGE OF GLORY

While most characters are equipped with projectile weapons, newcomer Edge is armed with a sword. She, too, remains shrouded in mystery – and when we press Soliani for more details, he responds with a line we couldn’t possibly have anticipated. “I don’t know how much you know about Sergio Leone,” he begins, before going on to reference Leone’s quote about Clint Eastwood having two expressions: ‘with hat and no hat’. “To me, Edge is the female Rabbids version of Clint Eastwood,” he laughs, “but the two expressions are ‘with and without sword’.” Nava, meanwhile, only hints that “she has her own specific motivations in wanting to save the galaxy and the Sparks”. Oh well. Great name, anyway.