Nintendo continues to be one of the top developers in the video game business because of their beloved, enduring intellectual properties. The crown jewel of their work is the Super Mario franchise. There are close to 50 entries in the expansive Super Mario series, introducing a robust roster of characters. At this point, many are as popular as Mario himself. Princess Peach has almost been around for as long as Mario, and she’s quickly approaching her 40th anniversary. She's been a valuable Super Mario character ever since her first appearance in ‘85’s Super Mario Bros., when she was just a non-playable character who was referred to as Princess Toadstool. Princess Peach has experienced an incredible evolution since her video game debut, yet she’s still routinely overlooked.
Nintendo has worked hard to spread the love between Mario’s many allies, whether it’s with a whole series of Wario-centric micro-game compilations, Captain Toad’s Treasure Tracker, or their ambitious “The Year of Luigi” event back in 2013. However, Princess Peach fans have had to demonstrate a lot of patience. It’s been over 17 years since Super Princess Peach’s release back on the Nintendo DS. After decades of being saved by Mario from Bowser, Princess Peach finally started to flip her script and grow from damsel to defender. The recent announcement that Peach will have her own mainline Super Mario game couldn’t arrive at a better time as the character continues to grow more independent.
Peach Has Been A Playable Character Since Super Mario Bros. 2
Princess Peach is a beloved Nintendo character who's appeared in dozens of games. Audiences got their first opportunity to play through a game as the proud princess as early as '88's Super Mario Bros. 2. This American Mario release also brings Luigi and Toad into the mix, but Princess Peach quickly resonated with audiences because of her unique ability to float and temporarily defy gravity. Peach’s control scheme in Super Mario Bros. 2 set an important precedent for the character that’s become quite the impressive legacy. This temporary taste left audiences eager to play as Peach again. However, this privilege was reserved for niche situations. Apparently, Nintendo’s primary perception was that Princess Peach was to be rescued instead of doing the rescuing.
Super Mario has continued to expand upon its world and gameplay, but this has resulted in an uphill battle for Princess Peach. Curiously, Princess Peach’s first solo entry predates Nintendo’s showcases for standout characters like Yoshi or Donkey Kong. Princess Toadstool’s Castle Run was released in ‘90 for the Nelsonic Game Watch. This is technically Princess Peach’s first solo spotlight, but this forgettable title has become a gaming footnote instead of a title worthy of preservation. Nintendo technically gave Princess Peach her own game, but it didn’t receive enough respect or support to show up on a proper Nintendo console like the Game Boy.
She’s Featured On The Roster Of More & More Games
Princess Toadstool’s Castle Run failed to change Princess Peach’s trajectory. That being said, the abundance of new Super Mario games continued to experiment with Peach’s character. Sports spin-offs like Mario Golf and Mario Tennis always included the Mushroom Kingdom’s princess. Mario Party and Mario Kart also wouldn’t feel right if Princess Peach wasn’t a part of their initial rosters. Peach herself may not be saving others in these games, but they became vital to establishing her as an independent character and not just an extension of Mario.
Princess Peach’s role as one of the main playable characters in the new line of Super Mario sidescrollers like Super Mario 3D World is a positive step in the right direction. However, most fans were shocked to learn that Peach wasn’t playable in any of the New Super Mario Bros. games, which go so far as to include fringe characters like Nabbit on the roster. Peach’s roles in these sidescroller adventures may come across as obligatory, but she’s found greater appreciation as a playable character in Super Mario RPG and the Super Smash Bros. fighting games. These games helped Peach build an identity, which subsequent titles continued to explore. It’s touches like these that led Princess Peach to excel in the Paper Mario franchise. The GameCube’s highly celebrated Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door even transformed Peach into its ultimate baddie, the Shadow Queen.
All the while, Nintendo has put greater focus on other princess characters — like Daisy, Pauline, and Rosalina. This lets Peach become her own individual and not just the franchise’s generic female royalty. Princess Daisy and Rosalina have increasingly needed to be rescued while Peach fights the good fight. Most recently, The Super Mario Bros. Movie featured a confident Princess Peach. She doesn’t require Mario and Luigi’s rescue. Instead, Peach actively helps get Mario into fighting shape when it comes to the wild ways of the Mushroom Kingdom. This is the complete opposite of the character’s portrayal in ‘93’s Super Mario Bros.
Super Princess Peach Was Well-Received, But Too Niche
Princess Peach’s last starring role was all the way back in 2005’s Super Princess Peach for the Nintendo DS. This ambitious release was one of the DS’s best-selling games. Audiences patiently waited for the announcement of a sequel, but it never came. Peach’s popularity and the success of Super Princess Peach should have made a sequel a sure thing. However, Super Princess Peach being an exclusive to Nintendo’s handheld console kept it from gaining the larger notoriety of a home console release. It wouldn’t have come as a surprise if a Super Princess Peach sequel had been released for the Nintendo 3DS. However, it’s entirely possible that it also would have slipped through the cracks. Nintendo is ready to avoid these same mistakes as Princess Peach gets ready to take over the Switch.
The latest Nintendo Direct has confirmed that a currently untitled mainline Princess Peach game is headed to the Switch in 2024. The overwhelming enthusiasm over this announcement confirms how much fans want to play a confident, independent Peach in the games. Super Princess Peach partnered the Mushroom Kingdom princess together with a talking umbrella ally, Perry, which further illustrates how dire Peach’s supporting character stable was. Not only has Peach developed since then, but the same is true for her friends. Perry could return in this new title, but Nintendo could also include characters like Toadsworth, Daisy, and Luma. Princess Peach has been preparing for this opportunity ever since Super Mario Bros. 2 and she’s never been better equipped to headline her own Super Mario game. With any luck, Peach will have her own series that proves she can do more than bake a cake and tempt Bowser.