After the huge success of Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Super Mario RPG late last year, Nintendo is leaving the mustachioed plumber behind to focus on the true icon of the Mushroom Kingdom: Princess Peach. While the Toads' regent was an integral part of the last two adventures released on Switch, it's high time for the sweetheart turned heroine to embark on her own quest. Despite the character's growing popularity through her video game appearances in recent years, and her major role in the Super Mario Bros. movie, it's been nearly 19 years since Peach last had a title starring her. The first and last one was in 2005's Super Princess Peach on Nintendo DS, a charming experience that left its mark on many players.
For her second appearance in an adventure dedicated to her, the princess isn't doing things by halves. With Princess Peach: Showtime, Nintendo seeks to prove that the Switch still has some guts and that the potential of its cult licenses is still far from being fully exploited. Whether in the main episode or in a spin-off, the Mario universe is always a source of great surprises and this new production is no exception. The charm and presence of the heroine are infused in this theatrical adventure that has the effect of a sweet and sparkling candy. It is with brilliance that this game finishes giving Princess Peach a character all her own and a sparkling personality that has continued to develop during her most recent appearances.
Reinventing the mythical princess
Princess Peach: Showtime shows itself to us with a clear objective: to present the character once and for all as a protagonist in her own right. No longer will the young woman be limited to the role of princess in distress and narrative spring for the adventures of the mustachioed plumber. The hours spent in the towers of Bowser's castle are far behind her and Peach is now flying on her own. Players will have noticed that the heroine's strong character has been developing for a few years now. After gaining her independence at the end of Super Mario Odyssey or leading the offensive in Super Mario Bros. The Movie, there is no longer any doubt about the character's new identity.
This reinvention of Peach's image takes its final form in Princess Peach: Showtime. Light years away from Super Princess Peach and its almost reductive principle (women "have too many emotions" so we make them superpowers, really?), this new adventure proves that the regent of the Mushroom Kingdom has nothing to envy her comrades. Thinking she's going to enjoy a pleasant outing at the Théâtre de l'Étincelle, Peach finds herself a prisoner in the building, possessed by a spirit seeking to ruin the magic of the performances. Without further ado, the princess improvises as a multi-talented star to help the little creatures in charge of the cultural venue. It doesn't take more than the short introduction to become attached to this Peach 2.0 and want to help her in her quest. The challenge of redefining the heroine is met from the very first moments of the game, where the wonder provided by the theatrical atmosphere is matched only by the simple fun produced by the gameplay.
Taking over the world of theater
While the choice of an adventure on stage was enough to evoke codes designed for a rather female audience, it is ultimately nothing. Firstly because the theatre: it’s for everyone. But also and above all because this universe of performance is an infinite source of diverse and varied settings. What happens on stage is only limited by the director’s imagination. And it’s clear when playing Princess Peach: Showtime that the developers wanted at all costs to make up for lost time with the character. The Théâtre des Étincelles therefore becomes the ideal place to bring to life the adventures that Peach has always deserved.
This is not just a play area, but an integral part of the gameplay and artistic direction. The level design is imbued with the rules of the stage to give birth to an adventure worthy of the name of a live show. Rotating platforms, moving sets, controlled lighting and even projection mapping transform the different levels into real plays in their own right. The title is divided into different rooms in which Peach will experience a new piece of history linked to one of her transformations. And where Princess Peach: Showtime is strong is that each micro-universe has its own specific and particularly identifiable staging. We then take a mischievous pleasure in becoming the star of multiple shows, at least until a small feeling of repetitiveness unfortunately sets in.
A game that wants to do everything and gets lost in it
Has Peach been deprived of incredible adventures for too long? Never mind, Nintendo offers us a summary of everything the princess could have done over the last few decades. With the help of Stella, the theater's guardian, our protagonist obtains the power to interact with the elements of the decor and restore the sparks of each show. This power also gives her the famous transformation ability allowing her to become the star of the show. Each outfit offers its own gameplay that allows the story of this mini-world to progress. Princess Peach: Showtime is therefore a kind of 10-in-1 game where each level offers a new experience. The idea is excellent but the execution is unfortunately a little less so. Once the initial discovery of each costume is over, revisiting these same powers can quickly become repetitive, despite a different narrative for each power's new act.
The more advanced floors of the Théâtre des Étincelles then seem less magical, if not for a few surprises that await the player at the end of each floor. It should also be noted that the gameplay of Princess Peach Showtime is as simple as its very principle. Except for the youngest players, no major obstacle will get in the way of the princess. But in a way, this is also what contributes to the charm of this title. This is a gentle and captivating adventure, as entertaining as the world of theater from which it is inspired. Completionists will however be delighted to discover that it is not so easy to collect all the rewards of each level. While it is extremely easy to complete each room, we found ourselves missing many hidden objects, prompting us to revisit the levels and take a closer look.
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