'Princess Peach: Showtime!': Stylish, fun Nintendo game lets Peach sparkle in spotlight

Princess Peach is taking center stage.

"Princess Peach: Showtime," out now for Nintendo Switch, focuses on the fair princess, who has come to the theater to catch a show and ends up catching bad guys instead. But it's not the usual setting or antagonists: there's not a Bowser or Koopaling in sight.

Sparkle Theater, in which the entire game is set, has been invaded by new villain Grape and henchman, the Sour Bunch. Peach is joined by new friend Stella, a Sparkle sprite who watches over the theater, and they must enter each stage play, solving puzzles, defeating enemies and helping take the theater back.

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And the best part — Peach becomes part of the plays, with a variety of costumes, weapons and scene-specific mechanics. She transforms into a swordfighter, ninja, detective, baker, mermaid, cowgirl and more. (I think my favorite is Detective Peach).

You collect Sparkle gems and coins as you conquer each stage, advancing through levels of the theater.

The game is mostly a side-scroller, with some acts in limited 3D. "Showtime" is very reminiscent of the gameplay in "Super Mario Odyssey" (2017) along with the vibrant visuals of "Super Mario Bros. Wonder" (2023). Though the stakes are significantly lower, of course.

It's easy to be wary of the story: yes, it's an upgrade from a forever damsel in distress. But last year, Peach was in charge and saving two whole worlds in the "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," and now, she's saving… a cinema? She had more to do as an optional character in "Super Mario Bros. Wonder."

But things have come a long way for the Mushroom Kingdom monarch since "Super Princess Peach," one of the first games to focus on Princess Peach as a main character, in particular on console. The game, in which Peach journeys to Vibe Island and fights enemies with her feelings (yes, really, she had an emotion meter!), was released in 2006 in North America for Nintendo DS. It was enjoyable, but the premise was a bit disappointing for a Peach debut. Before that, there was a Nelsonic Watch Game, "Princess Toadstool's Castle Run" (1990).

Don't let the simple-sounding setup keep you from checking out this charming game.

"Your efforts are adorable," Grape says to Peach at one point in the game, and it's true. The whole show is adorable. It's fun to experience the varied game styles across the different stages, which keeps the game fresh.

Many Mario-related games are straightforward, and this one is no different. The game starts out easy, then becomes more challenging as you advance through the stages. And like most Mario games, the first area is essentially a tutorial, with plenty of instruction and hints. After that, you're kind of on your own, but there's help along the way if you need it. After all, younger players are drawn to these games.

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"'Princess Peach: Showtime!' was created to be enjoyed by a broad range of players of various ages and skill levels," Nintendo said in a statement. "Because of its two-button control scheme and variety of gameplay types, we believe there’s something here for everyone to enjoy."

A determined player could probably complete the entire game in about 10 hours, but what's the rush? Come for the transformations, stay for the sparkle.

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"Princess Peach: Showtime!" is available now for Nintendo Switch in stores or the Nintendo eShop. If you're looking to go the digital route, the file size is about 4.6 GB.