After almost twenty years, Princess Peach returns as a protagonist of a Mario Franchise spin-off in a casual platformer aimed at young audiences. Although its price is high for the amount of content, and it has a surprising scarcity of mustaches, the game fulfills the goals for which it was designed.
Story
The naivety of the characters makes for a simple plot, but it does a good job of moving the game forward. The narrative is easy to understand for audiences of all ages, and it is quick and effective when introducing a new quest, scene, or set of characters.
The story, however, serves the gameplay mechanics (instead of having the same hierarchy) and acts only as an excuse to have us play various mini-games with different versions of Peach. This means there were no secondary plots, memorable characters, comedy, drama, or intrigue.
Although a platformer like this is understandably focused on gameplay rather than on a storyline, the addition of more famous characters from Mario's world could have made it more compelling and engaging.
Score: 3/5
Gameplay
For a game that uses just two buttons most of the time, the developers did a great job at making each version of Peach feel unique and fun. The movements are smooth and responsive, the level stages remain fresh, and don't overuse any of the mechanics.
The game incorporates several genres, using basic elements of stealth, combat, puzzling, and platforming. While it feels like having only a spoonful of each ice cream flavor instead of eating a whole bucket, it was kind on the palate.
I had fun with Detective Peach, which I liked the most because it brought me back to the old days when I was playing dialogue-based adventure games like Grim Fandango and Monkey Island. The only downside to this style of gameplay is that, to keep it simple enough for children, it lacks depth or any sense of progression.
Score: 4/5
Visual Design
The setting of Princess Peach: Showtime! is delightful, immersive, and perfectly integrated with the story and gameplay. The theater theme was a great choice and impressed me every time the background rotated 180 degrees around Peach to introduce a "change of scene," faithful to the illusion that everything is happening on top of a stage.
The clever character and scene design support the theme. I loved how some NPCs have puppet strings as if they were rigged to a fly system; the backdrops and props often look flat, as if they were made of cardboard or plywood. As a cherry on top, a round of applause sounds every time you finish a stage, adding meaning to every time Peach changes of costume and unlocks a new set of abilities.
The graphics are pleasing, with a cute, whimsical aesthetic, and the costume design and animations of every version of Peach are spot on. Although it would have been great to have the chance to wear the costumes outside of their corresponding plays (unlocking them permanently), I can see why it wasn't done like this because it would have undermined the plot.
Score: 5/5
Related: Peach shows off her cowboy and ninja skills in Princess Peach Showtime trailer
Sound & Music
For a game published by Nintendo, I was expecting more in the music composition department. Although there's nothing inherently wrong about it, and the songs aren't bad enough to stand out, they are often bland, repetitive, and generic. The retro midi-style sound is the best part of it, but the game lacked any memorable or catchy songs as other Nintendo titles have.
Most melodies felt directionless, and the balance between instruments was uneven. While the Switch may not be renowned for its sound quality, other games do a better job of perfecting the sound mix. In addition, at times, I felt like turning off the music: the loops were short (or the song felt all the same) and began to wear down my patience.
There's much room for improvement here, and it feels like a missed opportunity since better songs could have added more charm and originality to each theater play.
Score 2/5
Verdict - Simple fun for younger players
While the game doesn't innovate or stand out in any particular area, and it can be too easy for experienced gamers, it has an appealing aesthetic and provides enjoyable, light-hearted mini-games. It is great for introducing young players to different genres of games while keeping them engaged with the easy-to-grasp, cute story. The graphics don't disappoint, and the theater concept was a great addition.
If you are a veteran gamer looking for a challenge, you'd be getting more for your buck elsewhere since the content is too short and too easy to keep you entertained for long. The game has an expected 5 to 6 hours of gameplay for casual players and only 8 to 10 for completionists. And still, you may find few incentives to replay the levels, apart from your superego telling you you'd be a loser if you fail to collect all stars for every stage.
A free copy of the game was provided to PGG by the publisher for review purposes.
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Published: Mar 29, 2024 08:35 am