Princess Peach: Showtime! Review (Nintendo Switch OLED)

Princess Peach: Showtime! is a 3D action platformer game that offers a unique gaming experience with its beautiful graphics and atmospheric style. The game has a download size of 4.6GB and features an opening and ongoing tutorial pop-up to guide players.

The gameplay revolves around collecting sparkle gems and coins from enemies and interacting with the environment. Special outfit sparkle gems can transform your character into unique roles like a sword Fighter, introducing a more in-depth fighting system with dodge and slow-mo dodges. Each outfit feels unique, enhancing the overall gaming experience.

The game’s narrative is centered around a theatre invaded by enemies. Players venture into different show genres to collect gems and sparkle. Theets, the inhabitants of the world, can be rescued and they assist the player in their journey. Posing can trigger secret areas, adding an element of exploration to the game.

One of the unique features of the game is the patisserie outfit, which introduces a mini-game feel by manually decorating and mixing cakes. The game also includes a collection where players can see all found ensembles, movies, and songs. New dress designs can be unlocked and equipped from the wardrobe menu.

The game is easy to get into with two control layouts, using only two buttons and a stick. It uses a heart-based life system, with hearts being dropped by enemies and Theets. Each level has coins, gems, and a bow to find, and a gem bar fills in as you progress. When you lose all your lives, you can use coins to respawn. Each stage concludes with a boss fight.

A shop is available where outfits for the player and their sidekick Stella can be purchased using coins. Collected sparkle gems can be given to Stella to power her up and progress the story. The game features great animations and memorable set pieces, enhancing the overall gaming experience.

However, the game does have some drawbacks. There is no voice work, and the gameplay involves a lot of stopping and starting. It’s often unclear when you have hit a checkpoint, and the game doesn’t run well in some places. Coins disappear very quickly when dropped, and the game doesn’t offer much in terms of deviation or how you play out a sequence. Loading times are not the best, and it’s often unclear when and where you can interact with parts of the level. Boss fights can feel repetitive and not as engaging.

Despite having great parts, they are never truly fleshed out and come and go so quickly that it’s hard to get into the game. There is no difficulty or tips help, which can make it tricky to make out things or cause younger players to get frustrated. The dresses feel pointless and are very underwhelming.

Overall, while Princess Peach: Showtime! offers a unique and engaging gaming experience with its beautiful graphics and atmospheric style, it does have some areas that could be improved for a smoother and more enjoyable gaming experience.