Princess Peach: Showtime – A Dual Perspective Review

Recently, Parenthood360 received a copy of Princess Peach: Showtime for the Nintendo Switch. It’s a notable occasion as this marks Princess Peach’s debut in a mainstream game, allowing her to step into the limelight outside the shadows of Mario and Luigi. Surprisingly, even Toad has had his own game with Captain Toad many years ago. This is also the first time I’ve had the opportunity to review a game alongside my 7-year-old daughter, Aurora. Previously, Aurora and I have enjoyed a few kids’ games, with her being a big fan of Mario Kart. Naturally, Princess Peach is her go-to character. So, you can imagine her excitement when this game arrived.

For this review, I aim to provide insights from both my perspective and through the eyes of a child. Many of Nintendo’s games are designed with children in mind—bright, funny, and often easy to pick up and play. However, we’re all aware that completing a Nintendo game, even for adults, may require some assistance. Have you ever completed collecting all the gold coins in Super Mario, or unlock all the secret areas? I certainly haven’t.

Princess Peach: Showtime begins with Peach attending a theatre with some toad friends when a new antagonist, Madam Grape, emerges to spoil the show. It’s refreshing to encounter a new villain rather than the usual King Koopa (Browser). With the aid of a new friend (no spoilers here), Peach embarks on her journey, gaining her first powers as Swordfighter Peach. With a sword in hand, Peach navigates through the level, learning various sword moves along the way. It’s straightforward and very easy for Aurora to play. I could tell she was enjoying it, evident by her enthusiastic cheers each time she slashed with the sword. She managed to progress through the level to the end boss, although after a couple of attempts, she handed the controller to me as she struggled with how to defeat him. It was relatively basic for me, but being new to games, she gave up too quickly—a typical parental concern 😊.

The next level featured Patisserie Peach, donning a chef outfit. Aurora was enamoured with the bright colours and the background filled with cakes and treats. However, this level felt more like the timed mini-games in Mario Party. One involved button bashing, while the other required decorating a cake quickly. Aurora struggled, wanting the cake to look perfect, particularly with the button bashing, which took several attempts to get the rhythm right. I, too, struggled to achieve the top 3 stars for that mini-game. It’s all about practice.

The final level we explored before this initial review was Ninja Peach. This level introduced some creative ideas on how she sneaks through the level underwater, through bushes, and by walls. It was my favourite level thus far, and Aurora didn’t struggle with the changing concepts. Throughout the game, Princess Peach acquires another 7 outfits, each covering 3 different levels and coming back later in the game. Aurora’s favourite was Cowgirl Peach.

Each level offers 10 stars to collect and a hidden bow, providing replay value akin to other Mario games, encouraging players to strive for 100% completion. Despite not collecting all the coins on our first playthroughs, we revisited the levels to do so. Additionally, there’s a shop after every level where coins can be used to purchase different patterned dresses for Peach. While the cosmetic choices aren’t extensive, they were enough to keep Aurora engaged and eager to buy a new dress each time.

As an adult, I found this game to be good fun and much easier than many other Mario games. It’s a great game for someone new to the Nintendo Switch or gaming in general. Despite encountering a couple of frustrations, Aurora genuinely enjoyed the game and has been eager to continue playing, which speaks volumes.

Aurora rates this game 8/10!!

I rate this game 7/10.