Princess Peach Showtime is a spirited, if safe starring role for Nintendo’s iconic heroine

It’s fair to say that after nearly 40 years since her debut in the original Super Mario Bros., Princess Peach is well overdue a proper starring role.

Not including the more-than-a-bit-dated 2005 DS game Super Princess Peach – in which, for those not aware, she used her emotions as a superpower – Peach’s only main playable appearance outside of multiplayer spin-offs have been as part of selectable rosters in the likes of Mario Bros. 2, 3D World, and recent series 2D entries.

And virtually every other character on those Mario rosters has had their chance to shine. Luigi has the Luigi’s Mansion games, Toad has the Captain Toad spin-offs, and heck, even Yoshi – who started not as a character, but a power-up – has dozens of solo adventures. For most of Mario’s history, Peach has been the end-game objective rather than a character of her own.

Arguably, the perma-damsel-in-distress’s most heroic role came in last year’s Super Mario Bros. Movie, when Anya Taylor-Joy introduced a more empowered take on the role. Thankfully, it’s in this spirit that one of gaming’s most iconic female characters appears in her latest chance in the spotlight, Princess Peach Showtime.

The familiar cutesy aesthetic is very much present here, but in this performance, Peach is absolutely not playing the victim. Instead, she’s an ass-kicking, laser-blasting, puzzle-solving saviour who confidently takes on every challenge in front of her and comes out on top.

It’s perhaps unsurprisingly an adventure very much aimed at younger players, and as such 30-something Nintendo stalwarts might not get the challenge they’re looking for, but as we mentioned in our preview last month, Showtime is an experience that’s absolutely bursting with charm and personality – and that can take even the most simple collection of game mechanics a very long way indeed.

The entire game takes place inside a theatre which has been overtaken by the witch Madame Grape and her gang, The Sour Bunch, who have transformed each of its many plays into ghostly tragedies. With the help of the theatre guardian Stellar and her sparkle powers, Peach is out to return the venue to its former glory.

Players start in the theatre foyer, which acts as a sort of Mario 64-style hub world, and each door takes Peach to a different stage themed around a unique transformation. Initially, you’re limited to Peach’s primary means of interaction, Stella’s ribbon, which can transform the environment, rally the NPCs, and defeat baddies.

However, the stars of the show are the unique transformations around which the stages are themed. There are 10 transformations in total, each with its own unique, albeit quite simple, gameplay mechanics.

“Showtime is an experience that’s absolutely bursting with charm and personality – and that can take even the most simple collection of game mechanics a very long way indeed.”

Swordfighter Peach can slash through foes with her sword; Ninja Peach can hide using props and wall jump through scenery; Cowgirl Peach can lasso enemies and ride a horse; Patissiere Peach competes in cake-baking mini-games; Detective Peach questions locals and solves crimes; Mermaid Peach uses her voice to control sea creatures; Mighty Peach delivers powerful punches as a superhero; Kung Fu Peach performs button-timed combat; Figure Skater Peach performs quick-timed spins and jumps; and Dashing Thief Peach hacks and grapple hooks her way through locked bases.

Some of these transformations are better than others – Detective Peach can definitely be dull, for example, while we’d gladly play an entire Ninja Peach game – and their mechanics lack any significant depth, with many capable of being button-mashed through. However, it’s the sheer variety of themes and activities that make Showtime entertaining, and it’s because of this that the overall experience is better than the sum of its parts.

Aesthetically the game can be pleasing, even if it’s not the greatest technical achievement on Switch, with each level sticking closely to the idea that Peach is part of a stage show, with wooden scenery spinning to reveal the next scene and spotlights highlighting key actors.

For the most part, it doesn’t feel very much like a Mario game, with virtually all its enemy and NPC designs appearing for the first time, but the stage show theme creates a consistently welcoming atmosphere and, if we’re honest, has been a core part of Super Mario since the 80s (as has dressing in silly outfits).

Showtime’s developer has adopted a kitchen sink approach to this adventure, cramming in as many set pieces, boss fights and scenarios as possible into its 15-minute segments.

In truth, few of these are truly unique – Showtime feels like a mega mix of platforming tropes from the past three decades – but when it introduces them at such pace, and with such irresistible personality, it doesn’t really matter, especially for younger players, who the game is clearly aimed at (during the review period, my two young daughters were glued to the television until bedtime).

It’s also quite generous with its content. Each of the 10 transformations has three stages, with the second act adding a twist to the main scenario, such as Patissiere Peach having to bake cakes for baying hordes of enemies before they smash the walls down, and the third act tasking Peach with rescuing the Sparkla – the kidnapped actor behind each role.

In addition, there are ‘rehearsal’ stages, which challenge players to reach high scores by, for example, defeating 100 enemies as Swordfighter Peach without taking damage, as well as other unlockable secrets.

For those seeking additional depth, various collectibles can be found in each stage, including up to 10 Sparkle Gems, which are usually well hidden and unlikely to be uncovered during your first playthrough. The game’s various currencies can be used, among other things, to unlock new cosmetics, such as dresses for Peach and ribbons for Stella.

In truth, little here will provide meaningful challenge for experienced players, and there’s also little expectation that Showtime will win any awards for its innovation. However, I found it impossible not to be charmed by Princess Peach’s package—the transformations, the wonderful animation, and the fun, cinematic flair on every kung fu kick and perfectly baked cake.

It’s a simply wholesome experience stuffed full of variety and simple-but-fun mechanics. Showtime likely won’t be as fondly remembered as Nintendo’s biggest hitters, but it does finally give Princess Peach the charismatic starring role she deserves. At the very least, that’s worth celebrating.