I do not care how old I get, I will always play any new Mario game on Nintendo’s main consoles and I will also likely play any game featuring Mario characters. I loved Luigi’s Mansion. I played the hell out of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker. I also enjoyed earlier games like Yoshi’s Story, Yoshi’s New Island, Yoshi’s Wolly World, and Yoshi’s Crafted World. The newest addition to the Mario character lineup is my most recent guilty pleasure, Princess Peach: Showtime. Yep, you heard me right, I absolutely love the new Princess Peach game.
If you’ve played one Mario title, then you likely understand the gameplay loop for Princess Peach: Showtime, but I’m happy to break the title down for the uninitiated. The game features the new villain Madame Grape, who has taken over the Sparkle Theater with her Sour Bunch and Princess Peach, with the help of a ribbon named Stella, must put a stop to her shenanigans. Peach will unlock new powers and abilities along the way and you can also customize her look.
The controls for the game are simple enough. They replicate the vast majority of your standard Mario controls with the new features seamlessly slotted in alongside them. Peach has a standard attack and her magical attack, but as you progress through the levels, you also unlock different suits that come with different abilities. Each level has a theme — space, spies, cowgirl, and the like. As Peach progresses in the level, Stella gains new powers that allow her to transform Peach into the perfect outfit for dealing with that level’s baddies. For instance, the very first level features Peach as a swordfighter and the second level features Peach as a ninja. Each of these outfits endows Peach with a special skill unique to that outfit.
Of course, powerups are only one part of any Mario title. The variation in level themes and the progression by which you unlock them are another part and Princess Peach: Showtime excels in this arena, too. My wife and I love to playfully argue over who gets to play which themed level because there are so many great ideas within this title. The first floor of the Sparkle Theater alone contains the swordfighter, ninja, cowgirl, and pastry chef outfits. The second floor features the swordfighter (again), dashing thief, figure skater, and detective outfits. This barely scratches the surface of your abilities.
As is usual, Peach has to not only defeat the level itself but there are also ten stars in each level that Peach must collect by accomplishing different tasks and finding different secret hidden areas. As always, you can return to get stars you missed in your first playthrough later in the game. Some stars will require you to come back as you might not possess the skills needed to obtain it at the time. This is all standard Mario fare.
The game should take you about a solid weekend of constant playing to beat but that doesn’t mean there aren’t incentives to return. Mario always offers up a replayability factor and Peach is no different. Wether it’s boss challenges or Theet hide and seek, Peach has something for fans who have already beaten the game and there are rumors of DLC content coming in the future. Time will tell if we get that, but this game is complete enough without any DLC.
I was pretty excited when I learned Peach was getting her own game and Nintendo did not disappoint with the title. Nintendo has built a loyal following over the years by ensuring that every title they release can stand on its own and Peach is no different. For those wondering if characters like Peach, Toad or Yoshi could play the starring role in a successful title, I think Nintendo has answered those questions with a resounding yes.
It doesn’t matter if you’re an adult playing with their children, an adult enjoying the game alone, or a child stepping into the Mario franchise like their parents, Princess Peach: Showtime is a title you’ll enjoy. It’s a great entry point for parents looking to get their kids into the Mario franchise. The game isn’t too difficult but it also offers up enough of a challenge to keep even the best gamers entertained. It’s like I said at the start: I will always play Mario games, even if they star Peach.
BSO Rating: 9-of-10