Summary
Despite being one of the most iconic princesses in gaming, Princess Peach has only ever been the star of two games:Super Princess Peachand nowPrincess Peach: Showtime. While both of these titles share some similarities as platformers within theMariouniverse,Super Princess PeachandPrincess Peach: Showtimedepict two very different adventures for the princess. The result is two games that showcase different sides of Princess Peach, and it is evident throughPrincess Peach: Showtime’s gameplay that the game builds off of the foundation established bySuper Princess Peach.
Peach’s first starring role came in the form ofSuper Princess Peach, released for the Nintendo DS in 2006. This title followed many of the traditional conventions of aMarioplatformer, with the added twist of Peach’s companion, an umbrella named Perry, and the power of her vibe abilities. Nearly 20 years later, Peach finally returns to the spotlight with a starring role inPrincess Peach: Showtimein an adventure that is a seemingly drastic departure from her previous outing but is one that still incorporates some underlying mechanics of the mainlineMarioseries andSuper Princess Peach.
How Princess Peach: Showtime’s Mechanics Improve Upon Super Princess Peach’s
The core gameplay ofSuper Princess Peachfollows a fairly standard formula forMarioplatformers, but adds in the twist of Peach’s vibe powers that allow her to traverse levels, solve puzzles, and deal with the enemies players encounter. There are four vibe powers that Peach can utilize: Joy, Rage, Gloom, and Calm, each needing enough energy inPeach’s Vibe Gaugebefore they can be activated. In addition to her vibe abilities, Peach’s companion Perry is able to transform into different tools to aid the princess, including a boat, a submarine, and even a laser.
Given its release on the Nintendo DS,Super Princess Peachwas able to make use of the handheld’s touchscreen to activate the vibe abilities. Conversely,Princess Peach: Showtimedoesn’t do much to take advantage of the Switch’s unique hardware capabilities.
Compared to these powers inSuper Princess Peach,Princess Peach: Showtimegives the princess a wider range of abilities due to the many transformations she has access to within the stages of Sparkle Theater. WhilePeach has access to 10 primary transformations, including Swordfighter, Cowgirl, Patissiere, Ninja, Detective, Dashing Thief, Kung Fu, Figure Skater, Mermaid, and Mighty Peach, each of these transformations is limited to their specific stages. However, it’s clear there is some level of inspiration drawn fromSuper Princess Peach’s vibe abilities in these transformations, as they each offer a unique way of interacting with their specific levels.
Princess Peach: Showtime Sees Peach in a Brand-New Context
One of the most apparent differences betweenSuper Princess PeachandPrincess Peach: Showtimeis the context that the two games are set within.Super Princess Peachfollows the fairly standard Mario series when it comes to its level themes, featuring environments based on grasslands, forests, volcanoes, beaches, and eventually, Bowser’s Castle. Meanwhile,Princess Peach: Showtimecommits to its theater aesthetic, with each level taking place within a uniquely-themed play, creating distinct yet cohesive worlds that stand out from the rest of the Mario franchise in their designs.
WhileSuper Princess Peachsticks to the standardMarioenemies and bosses fans of the series are already familiar with,Princess Peach: Showtimeshakes things up by introducing new NPC allies inSparkle Theater’s resident Theets, as well as Grape and the Sour Bunch as the game’s original villains. It’s also important to note that whileSuper Princess Peach’s plot involves Bowser kidnapping Mario and Luigi, the bros are nowhere to be found inPrincess Peach: Showtime. These deviations fromSuper Princess Peachand theMariofranchise as a whole allow Peach to develop her own identity in a stand-alone title.
