Initial release date: March 22, 2024
Developer:Â Good-Feel
License:Â proprietary license
Genres: Action-adventure game, Fighting game
Platform:Â Nintendo Switch
Publishers: Nintendo, Nintendo of America Inc.
Engine:Â Unreal Engine 4
Princess Peach: Get set, everybody! isn’t going to blow the Switch off, but it’s a decent enough platformer with lots of creative ideas and well-executed gameplay. While there aren’t many major surprises, the presentation and range of skills make for an enjoyable experience.
Back in 2006, I was a huge fan of Super Princess Peach since it presented the standard Mario formula in a fresh way. I thought it was long overdue for a new Peach-led platformer, thus Princess Peach: Showtime! captivated me from the moment it was announced. Everything about this is light and airy, yet it’s neither groundbreaking or new.
The primary system of Showtime! centers on Peach assuming roles from plays and performances that are happening at the theater where the game is located. These can be more exotic, like a bakery and mermaid, or more combat-focused, like a ninja or martial arts instructor. One of the main advantages of the game is that each stage and goal differs based on the job.
In certain levels, you have to defeat adversaries while navigating pretty typical and easy platforming stages; in other levels, you have to decorate cakes, sing to control fish, and solve simple puzzles. The title’s greatest strength is probably its range of objectives, which offer you a surprisingly varied and engaging experience in between the mediocre platforming segments. Like in a simpler Kirby game, using all the special powers can be entertaining for a short while. They also only get a few stages apiece, so they don’t grow too old too soon.
You fight bosses while rescuing actors and theater patrons as you finish stages. There are some rather unique ideas in a handful of the boss fights, and none of them are overly repetitive. More incentive to collect coins than in typical Mario games, the ability to use coins earned in stages to unlock new clothing styles for Peach and her ribbon buddy Stella, adds a little extra enjoyment to a gameplay experience.
The Showtime! visual aesthetic! is another highlight, with Peach’s character-specific outfits looking especially good. I particularly enjoyed the theatrical/stage show aesthetic that each level employed because I love theater so much. It’s evident that a great deal of imagination was used to figure out how to depict these imaginative scenarios as though they were happening on a live stage. This game stands out from other Mario games thanks to its endearing look.
One problem with Showtime! thing appears to be become increasingly typical over time is its frame rate. The frame rate fluctuates a lot during the game, mostly at the load screens, and never seems to be really steady throughout. The sooner a sequel to the Switch is released, the better, as I’d really like to play these more recent Nintendo games at more fluid and steady frame rates.
Review Overview
Gameplay – 65%
Story – 60%
Aesthetics – 75%
Content – 62%
Accessibility – 80%
Value – 68%
Overall Rating – 68%
Ok
Summary: Princess Peach: Get set, everybody! is a perfectly good platformer that has a lot of entertaining ideas scattered among some rather typical platforming stages. Though the game’s technical performance and somewhat monotonous nature make it more of a neat experiment than a must-play, the presentation and many classifications for Peach make it stand out.