If I have to think back to the gaming icons of my childhood, popular characters like Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach are always the first to jump to mind. Sure, gaming has spawned multiple recognisable characters over the years, but Nintendo’s characters always stand out and take me back to my childhood.
So when Nintendo announced Princess Peach: Showtime! a game that would see Princess Peach finally get the entire spotlight, just on her, and see everyone’s favourite kidnap victim get to be a superhero, save the world from an alien invasion, saddle up as a cowboy in the Rootin’ Tootin’ West, or even strap on some skates and give Disney On Ice a run for its money, I was instantly excited.
Princess Peach: Showtime! never tries to be anything more than it is: a short, light-hearted joyride and soft introduction to the leading lady of Nintendo for younger games. It’s a perfect for children and the young at heart.
The game takes place in the Mushroom Kingdom’s very own Sparkle Theater. This time around, there won’t be any Goombas or Koopas, and instead, the big bads will be antagonist Grape and her wicked Sour Bunch.
While it might seem weird to see a Mario game without a flagpole or mushroom, getting to know Princess Peach outside of being kidnapped by Bowser all the time is refreshing.
The game also embraces its theme, and every level has that proper stage play look and feel, from backgrounds that look hand-built to enemies with puppet strings and even a spotlight always shining on Princess Peach – as it should.
Now, I’d be remiss not to reiterate that Princess Peach: Showtime! is a game clearly made with a younger audience in mind, but that doesn’t mean that an experienced gamer can’t also enjoy it casually.
To ensure the game is as accessible as possible, everything from the puzzles to combat and everything in between is kept super streamlined and simple. For the most part, the entire game can be played with only two buttons.
But instead of feeling watered down and disappointing because of the more simplified approach, Princess Peach: Showtime! gives younger games a chance to experience various types of established video game genres in a straightforward and easy-to-grasp way.
In fact, the only thing I didn’t like about Princess Peach: Showtime! is the device it runs on. While much of the discussion online around the Nintendo Switch is pretty much focused on wishing, praying, and begging for newer hardware, Princess Peach: Showtime! showcases just how needed it really is.
The graphics, while beautiful, are not always the shining gems they could and should be. Peach and the other characters are often blurry, and some levels, especially those with lots of action, seem visually dated.
This never feels like a deal breaker, but it really does show that we’re officially due for an upgrade – much like how Peach was due for her time in the light.
