I’m a big fan of buffets, especially when I travel. Lots of choices means I get to try a little of everything without committing to one item.

Princess Peach

It’s not always ideal as sometimes I just end up with many disappointing things on my plate, however that is counterbalanced by the sheer variety of it. I also run the risk of having a meal that’s functional, passable, and not memorable. In many ways Princess Peach: Showtime! is like a buffet. Here’s why…

Princess Peach: Showtime!

Princess Peach: Showtime! invites players into a theatrical extravaganza where our favourite monarch must take centre stage to save the day from Madame Grape and her mischievous Sour Bunch. Across various levels, Peach assumes different personas, each with unique abilities, blending action, stealth, and puzzles.

From deducing as Detective Peach to wrangling foes as a family friendly Red Dead Redemption Cowgirl Peach, the gameplay offers a fair amount of variety to keep things fresh.

I really appreciate Nintendo releasing this game as it’s great for representation. No longer is Peach relegated to being a quintessential damsel in distress in need of rescuing – although 2017’s Super Mario Oddysey flipped this trope, and I appreciate her as a protagonist.

The game’s structure, set across floors in the Sparkle Theatre, presents a series of plays and boss encounters. It did feel a bit paint by numbers at times and felt a lot easier than recent Nintendo games, making me feel I wasn’t the target market (more on this below).

Visually, Princess Peach: Showtime! shines with its vibrant and charming art style, albeit constrained by the limitations of the Nintendo Switch. The theatrical theme permeates every aspect, from stage designs to transformation sequences, enhancing the overall immersion.

However, occasional frame rate issues were distracting, including slowdown on every loading screen.

Clocking in at around four to six hours, Princess Peach: Showtime! offers a relatively short but enjoyable romp through the theatre. Usually, I take a few weeks to review as I have a full-time job and a wife and kid who I love spending time with, but I wrapped this up in two days.

There wasn’t a lot of postgame content to enjoy so it’s more difficult to recommend from a value for money perspective, especially as it’s a full price title.

So, building on my reflections on the nature of the review process that I shared in my Super Mario Wonder review I remind myself that reviews are just opinions, and while I have some expertise and credibility due to my tenure as a reviewer combined with my experience as a gamer, it’s important to contextualise and recognise that this review is my point of view.

I’m fortunate that my fellow gamer, Ahmed Varachia reached out to me a few days ago and shared that his ten-year old daughter also played the game and would love to review it for Recharged.

I appreciate this because she appears to be the target market so her voice is very relevant if you’re considering Princess Peach: Showtime! for your younger kid.

Hello. My name is Zayna Varachia, and this is my first time reviewing a game. I’ll be reviewing Princess Peach: Showtime! I’m a big fan of Princess Peach.

So, what I see in the game is that Peach is not a normal princess, but rather playing other roles. I feel when playing this game is that Peach is finally the star of the show.

The difficulty was okay. It could have been little easier. However, most of the levels were easy.

The story is Princess Peach was invited to the sparkle theatre but the Grape and sour bunch took over. Now it’s up to Peach and the theatre’s guardian Stella to save the theatre.

My favourite boss was the purrjector cat, and my favourite outfit was the special dashing thief outfit, and my top 3 Peaches were detective, figure skating and dashing thief Peach. I think they should make a part two for this game.

What I didn’t like was that the game was short. I feel like it could be longer.

I think they can improve the game by adding co-op players (other Nintendo princesses). I also think they can add more princess Peaches.

In summary, I hope that if they make a part 2 they will include a Co-op mode and make a longer game.

I score Princess Peach Showtime 9/10. ~ Zayna Varachia, age 10

Thanks Zayna for your insightful review!

Princess Peach: Showtime! delivers a somewhat entertaining and charming experience, albeit with a shorter runtime and less challenging gameplay compared to other Nintendo offerings. It has the potential to be really great so I hope the developers keep working on the franchise.

6.6
Score

Pros

  • Varied gameplay with lots of mechanics
  • Charming art style

Cons

  • Game structure can feel formulaic at times
  • Occasional frame rate issues detract from the experience
  • Very easy and short
Graphics
8
Gameplay
6
Value for money
6

Final Verdict

Princess Peach: Showtime! is a fun game for beginners or those seeking a charming game to play for a few hours. Recommend downloading the demo and maybe waiting for a sale.