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The main draw ofPrincess Peach: Showtimeis the transformations that Peach undergoes in each stage as part of her quest to gain control of Sparkle Theater back from Grape and the Sour Bunch. Each of the transformations inPrincess Peach: Showtimecorresponds to a Sparkla, the hero of each stage whom Grape has imprisoned in the theater’s basement. However, not all of these transformations are created equal, some introducing more interesting concepts and leading to better gameplay design than others.
There are11 core transformations for Peachthat players will experience inPrincess Peach: Showtime, with each one only being available in their specific stage. While each of these transformations is designed to interact with a stage in a specific way, some of the ways in which they play out are more inspired than others. As a result, the best transformations inPrincess Peach: Showtimeare the ones that incorporate unique gameplay elements alongside satisfying mechanics that make the player excited to tackle a stage using the power of that Sparkla.
S-Tier: Radiant, Ninja, and Mighty Peach
Radiant Peach
Radiant Peach is only accessible during the final boss fight against Madame Grape, but it is by far the coolest transformation in the game. Peach is able to take down this baddie using Sparkla projectiles while levitating around the stage, showcasing the true power of Sparkle inPrincess Peach: Showtime.
Ninja Peach
One of the first stages players will have access to inPrincess Peach: Showtimeputs players in the shoes of Ninja Peach.Ninjutsu: The Art of Rapidsis the first stage where Ninja Peach becomes available and perfectly showcases why this transformation is so fun with its use of stealth elements, ninjistu combat, and fluid level traversal wherein Peach can wall jump, wall run, and even submerge herself in water using a bamboo snorkel. Ninja Peach returns in the 4F level Ninjitsu: The Art of Flames and takes these mechanics to their logical outcome in a satisfying display of level design.
Mighty Peach
Mighty Peach is the ultimate power fantasytransformation inPrincess Peach: Showtime, allowing players to gain superhero-like abilities as she battles against the Sour Bunch’s invasion. This transformation grants players the power of super strength, which they can use to lift objects to solve puzzles and battle the Sour Bunch’s UFOs. The combination of satisfying puzzle-solving and super-powered combat of this transformation makes its stages some of the most memorable in the game.
A-Tier: Detective, Mermaid, and Dashing Thief Peach
Detective Peach
Although the stages featuringDetective Peachare a drastic departure from the rest ofPrincess Peach: Showtime’s levels, they offer some of the most unique gameplay in the title. Rather than fighting her way through Grape’s minions, Detective Peach must investigate her environment and utilize her Strike of Intuition ability to uncover clues and solve the mysteries of these stages. This sleuthing gameplay is a nice change of pace from the typical gameplay ofPrincess Peach: Showtime, demonstrating the range of concepts the game has to offer.
Mermaid Peach
Like Detective Peach, the Mermaid Peach stages inPrincess Peach: Showtimefocus more on puzzle-solving than combat. As Mermaid Peach, the princess is able to use her singing voice to control sea creatures, creating gameplay similar to thePikminserieswhere players need to collect enough minions to open new paths and collect objects like coins and Sparkle Gems.
Dashing Thief Peach
The Dashing Thief Peach stages can be some of the trickier ones in the game, requiring players to use Peach’s grappling hook to traverse the level and avoid its obstacles as she infiltrates the Sour Bunch’s hideout. What this transformation lacks in combat abilities it makes up for in tight movement and satisfying puzzle-platforming gameplay. The varied gameplay of the Dashing Thief Peach stages makes them some of the most engaging in the game.
B-Tier: Swordfighter, Cowgirl, and Kung Fu Peach
Swordfighter Peach
Swordfighter Peachis likely the most straightforward of all the transformations inPrincess Peach: Showtime, but it still allows for some solid, satisfying gameplay moments. This transformation allows Peach to take on the role of the Swordfighter Sparkla and utilize a rapier to break through obstacles and defeat enemies on stage. A unique element of this transformation is the Swordfighter’s ability to perform a dodge and counterattack her foes.
Cowgirl Peach
ThePrincess Peach: Showtimestages featuringCowgirl Peachcapture the Wild West aesthetic well, but their gameplay is somewhat limiting. The Cowgirl Sparkla allows Peach to wrangle items and enemies using her lasso, which allows for some clever gameplay moments but is not as fleshed out as some of the other transformations.
Kung Fu Peach
While the Kung Fu Peach stages inPrincess Peach: Showtime do a great job of giving the player the feeling of being in a 2D action brawler, the gameplay is very similar to the Swordfighter Peach stages. Like Swordfighter Peach, Kung Fu Peach can attack both enemies and obstacles on stage, fighting through members of the Sour Bunch to rescue a martial arts school from their clutches. The most interesting parts of these stages are the fights against the Kung Fu master, which feel akin to a2D fighting game.
C-Tier: Patissiere and Figure Skater Peach
Patissiere Peach
Some of the least interesting stages inPrincess Peach: Showtimeare the ones that featurePatissiere Peach. These stages mostly involve the player participating inMario Party-style mini-games where Peach must use the Patissiere Sparkla to decorate cookies and cakes in the correct order in a limited amount of time. While thisCooking Mama-like gameplay is novel at first, it feels less substantial than most of the stages inPrincess Peach: Showtime.
Figure Skater Peach
Arguably the least interesting transformation inPrincess Peach: Showtimeis Figure Skater Peach. The stages featuring this transformation never really feel like they have the same quality of puzzle or combat concepts as others, with players mostly maneuvering Peach around on the ice to perform tricks at the correct time, or encouraging the ice-skatingTheetsto stand up to the Sour Bunch foes found within these levels. There are some unique ideas within these levels, but this transformation never takes full advantage of them.
