While Mario holds the prestigious title of Nintendo’s mascot, the company has consistently showcased a variety of characters alongside him. Over the years, several beloved figures like Luigi, Yoshi, and even Captain Toad have taken the lead in their own games. Yet, Princess Peach, a pivotal figure in the Mario universe, has had limited solo outings. The last time she graced the spotlight was in 2005 with Super Princess Peach on the Nintendo DS. Now, nearly two decades later, she returns to the forefront in Princess Peach: Showtime! With the Nintendo Switch nearing the end of its lifecycle and a plethora of stellar Mario titles already available, the question arises: does this game stand out as another must-play?
Princess Peach: Showtime! whisks players away from the iconic Mushroom Kingdom to the enchanting Sparkle Theater, home to a unique species called Theets, who engage in various theatrical performances. Shortly after Peach arrives, the theater falls under siege by the villainous Madame Grape and her Sour Bunch, who threaten to ruin the grand plays by imprisoning the leading actors. Aided by Stella, the guardian of Sparkle Theater, Princess Peach embarks on a quest to prevent Madame Grape’s fiendish plans. While the central narrative isn’t intricate, it is enriched by each play featuring its own self-contained story. Peach must don the lead role in each performance, becoming the hero and facing off against the Sour Bunch as the antagonists. Each play’s story is straightforward yet effectively embodies its specific genre, providing a delightful variety of experiences.
The gameplay mechanics in Princess Peach: Showtime! are notably diverse, making it hard to categorize the game into a single genre. In true Mario fashion, the game is organized into stages, each representing a concise and linear adventure with the ultimate goal of reaching the end. However, the manner in which Peach achieves this objective varies greatly based on her current outfit. Beyond her classic princess gown, Peach has access to ten different outfits, each transforming gameplay in unique ways that go beyond typical platforming elements.
For instance, playing as Swordfighter Peach introduces a fast-paced hack-and-slash model, where you defeat hordes of enemies with swift moves. In contrast, Ninja Peach emphasizes stealth mechanics, requiring players to use grass cover to sneak up on foes before striking. Detective Peach turns the gameplay on its head, promoting exploration for clues rather than direct combat. While there are overlaps between the ensembles (for instance, both Ninja Peach and Cowgirl Peach feature on-rails side-scrolling segments), the overall variety is quite impressive. Unfortunately, this variety sometimes results in mechanics feeling less fully realized, leading to some repetitive moments; many combat-focused characters often share similar control schemes, and the short duration of stages limits the chance for deeper exploration of each ensemble’s unique gameplay mechanics.
It’s only natural to have personal preferences for which gameplay styles resonate the most. For instance, I found Figure Skater Peach rather cumbersome; whether this was an intentional design choice or not, it detracted from the enjoyment of her stages. Additionally, there could have been a clearer distinction between Swordfighter Peach and Kung Fu Peach, both of which lean heavily into combat. Fixed camera angles can also create awkward moments in side-scrolling stages when free movement is possible. Thankfully, Princess Peach: Showtime! maintains an accessible difficulty level. Despite occasional control quirks, Peach has five hearts for leeway, and a generous invincibility window upon taking damage. Health pickups appear frequently, ensuring that players can navigate through stages without excessive frustration. Losing all your hearts simply sends you back to the previous checkpoint, with only a small penalty of ten coins, making it likely that you’ll gather more than enough coins for multiple attempts as you progress.
However, challenges do exist for those eager to achieve 100% completion. Each stage is home to several Sparkle Gems, many of which are easily collectible or awarded for stage completion. Others, however, are cleverly hidden, requiring quick reflexes to obtain. Some Sparkle Gems can only be gathered within a limited time frame, making it easy to overlook them during fast-paced side-scrolling sequences. Unless players are particularly vigilant, acquiring all of them on the first playthrough can be a daunting task, providing an extra layer of challenge and replay value for seasoned gamers.
After completing the four stages on a given floor—available to tackle in any order—players will face the boss of that floor. These boss encounters echo mechanics from classic Mario platformers, requiring players to learn attack patterns and identify weak points to defeat them, growing more challenging as the game progresses. Sparkle Gems are necessary to unlock the doors leading to these bosses, but the number required is minimal, allowing most players to gather them through normal gameplay without needing to repeat stages. Clearing a boss unlocks the next floor and new stages to experience. The game features robust content, as each ensemble encompasses three unique stages. Although players must seek out the outfit in the first stage, the subsequent stages seamlessly continue the adventure, allowing for more extended play with each costume’s abilities.
Princess Peach: Showtime! is not a lengthy experience; a skilled player can anticipate completing the game in around ten hours. However, with the game’s multitude of varied gameplay styles, it may take longer for those less familiar with its mechanics. Collecting all Sparkle Gems and seeking out the Ribbon in each stage can also add hours to your playtime. Gathering enough coins to acquire cosmetic dresses from the theater shop might necessitate replaying stages multiple times, and additional content becomes accessible upon completing the game, extending its longevity even further.
The visual aesthetics of Princess Peach: Showtime! truly shine. The game includes ten unique performances, each with a distinctive presentation style. The backdrops and objects serve as intricate set designs, delivering a quirky, charming atmosphere reminiscent of titles like Paper Mario or Yoshi’s Woolly World, where larger-than-life cardboard cutouts create immersive layers in each stage. One highlight is how Princess Peach animates and interacts with her environment based on her costume; each outfit feels noticeably different. For example, Swordfighter Peach employs swift blade strikes, while the punches of Kung Fu Peach feel genuinely impactful. Even the floor bosses boast unique, imaginative designs that align with the theater theme, differentiating them from typical enemies encountered throughout the game.
While the gameplay is generally smooth, it’s worth noting that loading times can be lengthy, and players may encounter noticeable lag during loading or transition sequences, which is surprising for a Nintendo title. This doesn’t impede actual gameplay, but it can be distracting when navigating between stages. When played in handheld mode, there’s a notable blur in scenery and character models, potentially indicating that the game is pushing the limits of the Switch hardware. Although the colors pop vibrantly on an OLED screen, the lack of visual clarity is more evident in handheld mode and less so in docked mode. It’s unfortunate that the graphical fidelity doesn’t quite measure up to recent first-party releases like Super Mario Bros. Wonder.
Sound design within Princess Peach: Showtime! reflects the diverse themes of its stages, featuring music tracks that, while similar, effectively capture the essence of each play. For instance, the Ninja Peach levels are complemented by traditional Japanese instrumentation, while Mighty Peach levels evoke the soundscape of a classic superhero flick. Unfortunately, the voice acting feels a bit lacking, limited to only a few lines and clips, which can seem somewhat out of place in the more text-centric stages, particularly in sections with Detective Peach, though this lack of depth is not uncommon in Mario games.
While Princess Peach: Showtime! may lack in terms of depth and intricate challenges, it more than compensates with its variety and charm, making it an ideal starting point for younger audiences and newcomers to its gameplay mechanics. Its captivating visual style is slightly marred by limited performance during loading screens, which could benefit from optimization in future updates. Although it may not achieve the refined gameplay experience of more polished titles, the broad range of gameplay styles in Princess Peach: Showtime! makes it an approachable and enjoyable addition to the franchise.
8/10
A review copy of Princess Peach: Showtime! was provided by Nintendo UK.