Princess Peach: Showtime!

Last updated

Princess Peach: Showtime!
Peachshowtime.png
Game icon showing Peach in her various transformations
Developer(s) Good-Feel [1]
Publisher(s) Nintendo
Director(s) Etsunobu Ebisu [1]
Engine Unreal Engine 4
Platform(s) Nintendo Switch
ReleaseMarch 22, 2024
Genre(s) Action-adventure
Mode(s) Single-player

Princess Peach: Showtime! [lower-alpha 1] is a 2024 action-adventure game developed by Good-Feel and published by Nintendo. The game was released for the Nintendo Switch on March 22, 2024, to mixed to positive reviews. It is the first game to feature Princess Peach as the main protagonist since Super Princess Peach (2005).

Contents

Gameplay

The player controls Princess Peach and has the ability to interact with objects and characters with the help of a sentient ribbon named Stella. By standing on a circular platform, Peach will gain special abilities to fit each play's setting. [2] Peach's transformations include Swordfighter Peach, Detective Peach, Patissier Peach, Kung Fu Peach, Ninja Peach, Cowgirl Peach, Figure Skater Peach, Dashing Thief Peach, Mermaid Peach, and Mighty Peach, each with unique abilities. [3] [4] [5]

Plot

One of Princess Peach's Toads receives a flyer advertising plays at the Sparkle Theater. Intrigued, Peach decides to attend the theater, accompanied by two of her Toads. As they arrive, a wicked sorceress named Grape and her minions, the Sour Bunch, invade and take over the theater, trapping many visitors inside the building, including Peach, who loses her crown during the commotion. Peach then meets Stella, the Sparkle Theater's guardian, and agrees to help her restore the theater. Making their way throughout all of the different plays, Peach and Stella work to rescue the Sparklas, who are the stars of all of the theater's plays.

After rescuing all of the Sparklas from the Sour Bunch, Peach assumes the form of Radiant Peach and confronts Grape at the theater's bottom floor, where the latter is eventually reduced to nothing more than her mask. However, Grape regains power and transforms into a giant version of herself, destroying the theater in the process. With support from the Theets, Peach and Stella resume battling Grape and eventually defeat her before restoring the theater to its original state. During the credits sequence, Peach performs with the Sparklas and reunites with the Toads, who give her crown back.

Development

During the June 21, 2023 Nintendo Direct, Nintendo announced a new game centered around Princess Peach was in development and would be released for the Switch in 2024. [6] The September 14, 2023 Direct revealed more details about the game, including its title, Peach's sidekick Stella, the first few transformations, the main villains Grape and the Sour Bunch, and a release date of March 22, 2024. [7] [8] The game uses the Unreal Engine 4 game engine. [9]

On October 12, 2023, news outlets noted that the game's box art and key artwork had been changed to give Peach angrier facial expressions, which have been compared to her appearance in The Super Mario Bros. Movie . [10] [11]

The game's development company was not officially revealed until March 21, 2024, when it was discovered via credits that Good-Feel was the developer and that the game was directed by Etsunobu Ebisu. [1] Good-Feel's involvement with the game was leaked from its demo code two weeks prior. [12] [13]

Reception

Princess Peach: Showtime! received "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic. [14]

IGN 's Logan Plant gave the game a 7 out of 10, praising its variety with the stage play, story, costumes, and music, while also praising its bosses as "strong suits." However, he criticized the completion aspect, commenting that the length of the levels were rather long due to the cutscenes. Plant also raised concerns about the graphics and framerate, saying that Peach's model was rather "blurry" at times, and found that the loading screens also lagged slightly. In the end, he applauded the game for putting more emphasis on Peach and enjoyed the genres available. [21]

GamesRadar+ 's Dustin Bailey also liked the variety in stage design, praising one of the levels as "the type of mystery the player would be solving in the vein of a classic point-and-click adventure game." He complained that the game did not have much appeal, however. [20]

On the more negative side, The Guardian disliked the game's repetition, calling it "paper-thin". They also admitted that the depth of the game was rather "shallow", and saying that some of the game's ideas felt like they were "prototypes which escaped Nintendo headquarters." Their more positive notes included the ice-skating levels and kung-fu vignette adding appeal. [25]

Notes

  1. ↑ Japanese: プリンセスピーチ Showtime!, Hepburn: Purinsesu Pīchi Shōtaimu!

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mario</span> Video game character

Mario is a character from the Mario franchise. Created by the Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, he is the mascot of the video game company Nintendo. Mario is an Italian plumber who resides in the Mushroom Kingdom with his younger twin brother, Luigi. Their adventures generally center on rescuing Princess Peach from the villain Bowser while using power-ups that give them different abilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Princess Peach</span> Video game character

Princess Peach is a character in Nintendo's Mario franchise. She was created by Shigeru Miyamoto and introduced in the 1985 original Super Mario Bros. game as Princess Toadstool. She is the princess regnant and head of state of the Mushroom Kingdom, where she resides in her castle along with Toads. Since her debut, she has appeared in the majority of Mario video games as the main female character and the romantic interest of Mario. She has been voiced by Samantha Kelly since 2007.

<i>Paper Mario</i> (video game) 2000 video game

Paper Mario is a 2000 role-playing game developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64 home video game console. Paper Mario is the first game in the Paper Mario series. First released in Japan in 2000 and then internationally in 2001, Paper Mario was later re-released for Nintendo's Wii Virtual Console in July 2007, the Wii U Virtual Console in April 2015, and the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack on December 10, 2021.

<i>Super Mario Sunshine</i> 2002 video game

Super Mario Sunshine is a 2002 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. It is the second 3D game in the Super Mario series, following Super Mario 64 (1996). The game was directed by Yoshiaki Koizumi and Kenta Usui, produced by series creators Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka, written by Makoto Wada, and scored by Koji Kondo and Shinobu Tanaka.

<i>A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia</i> 1989 NES video game

A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia is a puzzle-platform game developed by Imagineering and published by Absolute Entertainment for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The video game was released in North America in 1989, in Europe by Nintendo in 1991 and in Japan by Jaleco in 1991. A Boy and His Blob follows an unnamed male protagonist and his shapeshifting blob friend on their adventure to save the planet of Blobolonia from the clutches of an evil emperor.

<i>Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga</i> 2003 video game

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga is a 2003 role-playing game developed by AlphaDream and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance. It was re-released for the Wii U's Virtual Console in 2014, Nintendo Switch Online Service in 2023, and remade for the Nintendo 3DS as Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions in 2017. In the game, Mario and Luigi travel to the Beanbean Kingdom in order to combat Cackletta and Fawful, who stole Princess Peach's voice for the purpose of harnessing the power of a special artifact called the Beanstar.

<i>Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door</i> 2004 video game

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is a 2004 role-playing game developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. The Thousand-Year Door is the second game in the Paper Mario series following Paper Mario, and is part of the larger Mario franchise. In the game, when Mario and Princess Peach get involved in the search for a mystic treasure that holds great fortune, Peach is kidnapped by an alien group called the X-Nauts; Mario sets out to find the treasure and save the princess.

<i>Super Princess Peach</i> 2005 video game

Super Princess Peach is a 2005 platform game developed by Tose and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS. It was released in Japan in October 2005 and worldwide the following year. Super Princess Peach is the first game to feature Princess Peach as the main protagonist on a dedicated video game console and the second overall after Princess Toadstool's Castle Run released in 1990 on the Nelsonic Game Watch.

<i>Super Mario</i> Video game series

Super Mario is a platform game series created by Nintendo starring their mascot, Mario. It is the central series of the greater Mario franchise. At least one Super Mario game has been released for every major Nintendo video game console. However, there have also been a number of Super Mario video games released on non-Nintendo gaming platforms. There are more than 20 games in the series.

<i>New Super Mario Bros. Wii</i> 2009 video game

New Super Mario Bros. Wii is a 2009 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii. A follow-up to New Super Mario Bros., it was first released in Australia, North America, and Europe in November 2009, followed by Japan a month later. A high-definition port for the Nvidia Shield TV was released in China in December 2017. Like other side-scrolling Super Mario games, the player controls Mario as he travels eight worlds and fights Bowser's henchmen to rescue Princess Peach. New Super Mario Bros. Wii was the first Super Mario game to feature simultaneous cooperative multiplayer gameplay; up to four people can play in cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes, taking control of Mario as well as Luigi and one of two multicolored Toads. The game also introduced "Super Guide", which allows the player to watch a computer-controlled character complete a level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toad (Nintendo)</span> Fictional character in Nintendos Mario franchise

Toad, known in Japan as Kinopio, is a fictional character who primarily appears in Nintendo's Mario franchise. A humanoid with a mushroom-like head, Toad was created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, and is portrayed as a citizen of the Mushroom Kingdom and is one of Princess Peach's most loyal attendants, constantly working on her behalf. Toad is usually seen as a non-player character who provides assistance to Mario and his friends in most games, but there are times when Toad takes center stage and appears as a protagonist, as seen in Super Mario Bros. 2, Wario's Woods and Super Mario 3D World.

<i>New Super Mario Bros. U</i> 2012 video game

New Super Mario Bros. U is a 2012 platform game developed and published by Nintendo as a launch title for the Wii U. The game is a sequel to New Super Mario Bros. Wii and is the first entry in the Super Mario series to feature high-definition graphics.

<i>Super Mario 3D World</i> 2013 video game

Super Mario 3D World is a 2013 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii U. It is the sixth original 3D platform game in the Super Mario series and the sequel to Super Mario 3D Land (2011) for the Nintendo 3DS.

<i>Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker</i> 2014 video game

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a 2014 action puzzle video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii U. The game was re-released for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS in 2018 with additional content. It is a spin-off of the Super Mario series and a part of the larger Mario franchise. The game stars Captain Toad and Toadette as they complete levels, defeat enemies and save each other from the antagonist Wingo. Each level is contained within a miniature diorama-like environment that requires puzzle-solving and platforming challenges to complete. The player also uses the Wii U GamePad to rotate the camera and reveal new information and interact with the environment.

<i>Super Mario Odyssey</i> 2017 video game

Super Mario Odyssey is a 2017 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. An entry in the Super Mario series, it follows Mario and his new ally Cappy—a sentient hat that allows Mario to control other characters and objects—as they journey across various kingdoms to save Princess Peach from Mario's nemesis Bowser's plans of forced marriage. In contrast to the linear gameplay of prior entries, the game returns to the primarily open-ended, 3D platform gameplay featured in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine.

Paper Mario is a video game series and part of the Mario franchise, developed by Intelligent Systems and produced by Nintendo. It combines elements from the role-playing, action-adventure, and puzzle genres. Players control a paper cutout version of Mario, usually with allies, on a quest to defeat the antagonist, primarily Bowser. The series consists of six games and one spin-off; the first, Paper Mario (2000), was released for the Nintendo 64, and the most recent, Paper Mario: The Origami King (2020), for the Nintendo Switch.

<i>Paper Mario: The Origami King</i> 2020 video game

Paper Mario: The Origami King is a 2020 role-playing game developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch console. It is the sixth game in the Paper Mario series, which is part of the larger Mario franchise. The story follows Mario and his friends as he sets out on a journey to prevent the Mushroom Kingdom from being transformed into origami. To do so, Mario must free Princess Peach's castle from five decorative streamers that extend across the kingdom.

<i>The Super Mario Bros. Movie</i> 2023 American animated film

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a 2023 American animated adventure comedy film based on Nintendo's Mario video game franchise. Produced by Universal Pictures, Illumination, and Nintendo, and distributed by Universal, it was directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic and written by Matthew Fogel. The ensemble voice cast includes Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen, and Fred Armisen. The film features an origin story for the brothers Mario and Luigi, Italian-American plumbers who are separated after being transported to a fantasy world and become entangled in a battle between the Mushroom Kingdom, led by Princess Peach, and the Koopas, led by Bowser.

<i>Super Mario Bros. Wonder</i> 2023 video game

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a 2023 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It is the first traditional side-scrolling Super Mario game since New Super Mario Bros. U (2012). The player controls Mario, Luigi, and their friends as they attempt to stop Bowser, who plots to take over a new land known as the Flower Kingdom after using the magical Wonder Flower to fuse himself with the kingdom's castle.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Robinson, Andy (March 21, 2024). "Princess Peach Showtime is Goemon designer's first directorial role in over 25 years". Video Games Chronicle . Archived from the original on March 21, 2024.
  2. ↑ Princess Peach: Showtime! - Official Announcement Trailer - IGN, September 14, 2023, archived from the original on January 23, 2024, retrieved March 7, 2024
  3. ↑ Hoban, Brie (September 14, 2023). "Princess Peach Showtime: Every Transformation Confirmed So Far". Game Rant. Archived from the original on September 18, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  4. ↑ Princess Peach: Showtime! - Official Transformation Trailer - IGN, January 23, 2024, archived from the original on January 28, 2024, retrieved March 7, 2024
  5. ↑ Princess Peach: Showtime! - Official Transformation Trailer #2 - IGN, February 14, 2024, retrieved March 7, 2024
  6. ↑ Moogan, Logan (June 21, 2023). "New Princess Peach Game Announced for Nintendo Switch". ComicBook.com . Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  7. ↑ LeBlanc, Wesley (September 14, 2023). "Princess Peach Showtime Hits Switch This March". Game Informer . Archived from the original on September 14, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  8. ↑ Yin-Poole, Wesley (September 14, 2023). "Nintendo Announces Princess Peach Showtime!, Due Out on Switch in 2024". IGN . Archived from the original on September 14, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Princess Peach showtime appears to use Unreal Engine". My Nintendo News. February 13, 2024. Archived from the original on February 14, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  10. ↑ Dinsdale, Ryan (October 12, 2023). "Princess Peach Box Art Updated to Look a Little More Like She Does in the Super Mario Bros. Movie". IGN . Archived from the original on December 17, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  11. ↑ Bellingham, Hope (October 12, 2023). "Peach chooses violence in the new Princess Peach: Showtime box art". GamesRadar+ . Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  12. ↑ Norman, Jim (March 7, 2024). "Princess Peach: Showtime! Developer Seemingly Revealed In Demo's Code". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  13. ↑ Phillips, Tom (March 8, 2024). "Nintendo says to wait for Princess Peach: Showtime's credits to find out which developer made it". Eurogamer.net. Archived from the original on March 10, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  14. 1 2 "Princess Peach: Showtime! for Switch Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on March 22, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  15. ↑ Carter, Chris (March 21, 2024). "Review: Princess Peach: Showtime". Destructoid . Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  16. ↑ Colantonio, Giovanni (March 21, 2024). "Princess Peach: Showtime! review: Peach's solo adventure is a fine first act". Digital Trends . Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  17. ↑ Bardhan, Ashley (March 21, 2024). "Princess Peach: Showtime! review - the damsel in distress becomes an RPG queen". Eurogamer . Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  18. ↑ Hilliard, Kyle (March 21, 2024). "Princess Peach: Showtime Review - Unassuming Encore". Game Informer . Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  19. ↑ Watts, Steve (March 21, 2024). "Princess Peach Showtime Review - Drama Teacher". GameSpot . Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  20. 1 2 Bailey, Dustin (March 21, 2024). "Princess Peach: Showtime review: "A charming little morsel of a game"". GamesRadar+ . Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  21. 1 2 Plant, Logan (March 21, 2024). "Princess Peach: Showtime! Review". IGN . Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  22. ↑ O'Reilly, PJ (March 21, 2024). "Princess Peach: Showtime! Review (Switch)". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  23. ↑ Shutler, Ali (March 21, 2024). "'Princess Peach: Showtime!' review: leaves the audience wanting more". NME . Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  24. ↑ Mejia, Ozzie (March 21, 2024). "Princess Peach: Showtime! review: One woman show". Shacknews . Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  25. 1 2 Regan, Tom (March 22, 2024). "Princess Peach: Showtime review – a paper-thin performance". The Guardian . Archived from the original on March 22, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  26. ↑ Robinson, Andy (March 21, 2024). "Review: Princess Peach Showtime is a spirited, if safe starring role for Nintendo's iconic heroine". Video Games Chronicle . Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  27. ↑ Raynor, Kelsey (March 21, 2024). "Princess Peach: Showtime review – Nintendo's leading lady is anything but asleep at the Switch". VG247 . Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.