It's kinda hard to believe, especially given how ridiculously popular the whole Mushroom Kingdom thing is, that we've had so few games starring its actual ruler as the protagonist over the years. Yes, there was Princess Toadstool's Castle Run on Nelsonic Game Watch back in 1990, Princess Peach's very first leading role (which you probably don't need to rush out and buy), and Super Princess Peach on DS, but nothing that feels like a proper turn as the core of a full-on adventure. Until now, that is.
Yep, whilst we were fully expecting this to be a throwaway sort of experience given the above track record, it turns out Princess Peach: Showtime! is easily Ms. Toadstool's finest hour (shocker), and a far more engaging romp than we had prepared for. It's still 100% a game aimed squarely at children, mind, and there's really not a whole ton of challenge for those seeking it, but for younger gamers, for relatives or friends sitting down to have a good old Nintendo sesh with some smaller kids, there's a whole lot of fun to be had with this one.
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The story in Princess Peach: Showtime sees Peach thrust into action against the evil Madame Grape and her Sour Bunch as they take over the Sparkle Theatre, where they've decided to go ahead and start making a huge mess out of all the plays. What a bunch of tools. It's up to Peach, alongside a cute little star called Stella, to jump through a whole bunch of different theatrical scenarios and gather up the power of Sparkle, which they will then use to defeat the power of...Darkle. Not even making that up.
So, what you've got is a great big excuse for everyone's favourite ass-kicking, Sour Bunch-slapping Princess to don a whole bunch of cool costumes as she assumes roles which include slick swordfighter, nimble sneaky ninja, superhero, chef, ice-skater, and...well...we won't ruin any more of the transformations, as discovering them is half the fun.
Each play is housed within a level-select setup that's hugely reminiscent of Super Mario 64 — that's far from the only retro Nintendo game reference for the elders to watch out for — and each one provides a whole new set of gameplay mechanics for you to get to grips with as you decorate cakes, bullet-time dodge ninja attacks, do a little singing and dancing, partake in some endless running and, honestly, so much more besides.
Zipping through each of these levels, or taking it slowly to collect every single sparkle and secret (the only correct way to play), it's a constant joy to see just how much love, care, and attention to tiny little details Nintendo has put into this one. Sometimes younger players do tend to get a rough ride with sloppy gameplay experiences and cash grabs, but not here. Every play is smartly designed and engaging, every single one has fun surprises to uncover, and you're constantly buffeted from one scenario to the next, never getting time to feel bored or restless as the controls and objectives keep switching things up.
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Can you hold your nerve to delicately decorate a spinning cake as baddies close in from every angle, then immediately put on your best Ace Attorney impression to solve a quick mystery across the street? How do you feel about engaging ninjas in mortal combat on your way to winning a dance competition on ice? Because, these are the tasks you're being set here, Princess. As soon as you feel you're mastering a mechanic, it's snatched away and replaced with something even more silly and fun, and all of this mayhem is so nicely animated and detailed that it's hard, as jaded as we are, not to crack a smile. Seriously, once you've seen Ninja Peach sneaking underwater with a tiny little bamboo pipe in her mouth for air, you'll never be the same, mate.
Of course, none of this constant changing and shifting would really work if it weren't all immediately accessible to even the greenest of gamers. Each of these minigames, challenges, and scraps is designed to be played with minimal button inputs. It's sometimes just the one button, in fact, or at a push you'll be required to hold a direction whilst pressing a single button, so there's really no barrier here for quite young kids indeed if instructed and supported properly by an older buddy.
Within about an hour of booting this one up, we'd fully shifted from a wary if not weary mindset to being completely and utterly engaged, genuinely having a very nice time indeed, thank-you-very-much, and that's to say nothing of the two young 'uns we were romping through it with (they were enthralled). Is it a shame there's no multiplayer? A little. It sure would be nice to all play at the same time, but y'know it's a concession worth making for a game that feels unique to itself. We've got New Super Mario Bros and Mario Wonder for that type of carnage, after all, and swapping a controller around works perfectly fine between pals. And anyway, this is about Peach, she's the star of the show this time — finally — and nobody else is sharing that limelight.
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As you progress through the campaign you'll open up more floors of the Sparkle Theatre (as well as more stuff we're not allowed to mention), completing four plays on each level destroy Madame Grape's barriers and move on up to the next area. Each play has three acts through which Peach progresses and evolves as that particular hero, and you even get a whole bunch of surprisingly robust big boss battles to engage in, too. You'll need to be eagle-eyed to hoover up all the sparkles in a stage first time around (we don't think we managed it once, in fact) and there are also secret pose locations — hold in the shoulder buttons to look fabulous, darling — and a little bowtie guy hiding in every act. You can easily rack up double figures of playtime hours grabbing all of this stuff.
There's just so much more going on here than we had expected. We've said that already, but it's worth reiterating — Showtime really does throw a lot of different stuff your way. It also looks properly fantastic at points, with a nice mix of styles employed across the various stage productions you'll visit. There are loads of outfits and designs to unlock for Peach (Stella even gets her own ribbon collection) — it's Nintendo once again fully delivering on that seal of quality, innit.
Or at least it would be, if it weren't for a few niggling performance issues, which we still just never expect to see from the Big N, as the Switch — quite understandably at this point — begins to groan under the stress some seven years down the line from its initial launch. They aren't huge problems, let's be clear: the frame rate can drop and stutter here and there, once or twice quite noticeably, and there's a blurriness to handheld at points that threatens to dull the sheen of the whole endeavour. But it's not a fast-moving or challenging game, and so these bumps can be forgiven more than usual seeing as they aren't at any point directly affecting our ability to complete tasks.
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And so, in the end, what we've got with Princess Peach: Showtime is a fantastic kid's game that revels in creativity and silliness, throwaway mechanics, great big goofy bosses, and just straight-up old-school fun. It's far more adventurous than we'd expected, less about fashion and more about being an all-conquering badass and, if you can look beyond the odd stutter and few patches of blurriness now and then, we reckon you'll have a great time with this one. Even more so with some young Peach fans along for the ride.
Conclusion
Princess Peach: Showtime! sees Nintendo finally give everyone's favourite imaginary princess the rollicking adventure she deserves. We had expected a rather throwaway offering here, a bunch of minigames and Mario-lite platforming maybe, but what we've got is one of the better kid-focused games on Switch. There's creativity, style, and fun to spare here, with levels packed full of secrets, cool outfits, and enough new mechanics to ensure nothing ever outstays its welcome. Come for the fashion, stay for the boss battles, slo-mo bullet dodges, and cardboard horse chases. Besides a few niggling performance issues, this is Nintendo on rather cracking form. Encore!
Comments 152
Seems great just from reading the article. But this is the kind of game I can easily wait for a sale. Hopefully in summer. Not in a rush or anything.
So, who's the developer? Which team?
Sounds pretty much exactly like what I expected after playing the demo honestly: really nice, though probably not my kind of thing (especially given how many 2024 games I've already got planned for this year). Great to see Good-Feel put out two bangers in quick succession between Mameda no Bakeru (localised version when) and now this!
Not a game for me, but this is the kind of game kids will enjoy A LOT (and adults that just want to have fun). Well done, Ninty! I'm sure this will sell very well.
@PlusFan Good Feel (the Kirby's Epic Yarn, Yoshi's Wooly Word/Crafted World devs)
"Or at least it would be, if it weren't for a few niggling performance issues, which we still just never expect to see from the Big N, as the Switch — quite understandably at this point — begins to groan under the stress some seven years down the line from its initial launch"
Sorry but no, it's not understandable at all when Mario Odyssey came out seven years ago and ran at a perfect 60fps. A game with such average looking graphics has no business struggling to run at 30fps!
I'll get it... later. I'm still trying to catch up to a lot of games of last year. The end of the Switch is approaching and I want to get more niche physical games and smaller Nintendo published games before the price spikes.
Although it definetly looks good. Another one to add to my list.
@Clyde_Radcliffe The technical reason is probably the use of Unreal Engine 4 in the game. Unreal Engine 4 can sometimes be weird to get stable framerates on Switch.
@jowy_sw Makes sense but if that's the case it was their choice to go with that engine, so there's no excuse really. I was surprised at how rough the demo felt for a Nintendo published Mario spin-off.
I mean we get it’s aimed at kids. But what about the more experienced gamer that is dedicated to collecting every single sparkle? Is it similar to other Nintendo games where there is some challenge to doing that? What is the runtime of the game? 5 hrs, 10 hrs, 15 hrs?
@Clyde_Radcliffe : Odyssey was hardly perfect if we're to break it down from a technical point of view. Yes, the frame rate was consistent, but the adaptive resolution was a constant distraction.
Either way, Nintendo have released quite a few "rough" games over the last few consoles. The Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee demo was so rough it's embarrassing (as it mostly, if not entirely, takes place in Viridian Forest, which is easily the worst performing area in the game; a rather baffling choice to sell people on the full experience).
"Bend and slap"
I beg your pardon!
@Clyde_Radcliffe It's weird because the game does not look like it is graphically intensive either. I assumed that it was because of Unreal Engine 4 because I've seen other games on Switch using it having similar issues.
The reason why that engine was used was probably because of the developer Good Feel. They seem to prefer that engine on Switch. Yoshi's Crafted World used it as well.
Exactly as I expected and the performance/resolution will most likely not bother me that much if Good Feel's other recent game, Mameda no Bakeru, is any indication (although of course I hope it can be improved through patches and/or Switch 2), can't wait to start it as soon as my physical copy arrives!
@JasonLee99
I too would like answers to these questions.
Hi,
How long is this one? Less or more than 5 hours?
Great job with this site!
For those in the UK you can get it from shopto outlet on eBay for £36.68 using code FRESH20 at the moment.
@JasonLee99 IGN’s review is saying 8 hours.
@TheExile285 Just read through it. The IGN review addresses my other question about challenge by going for 100% too. Thanks!
This game will be added to the Wishlist, so I can keep up on when it goes on sale.
My only real disappointment here is that there is no multiplayer whatsoever. Mario-style multiplayer with playable Daisy, Pauline, and Rosalina would have been a great addition.
I'm glad I pre-ordered it, and I'm excited to play it ❤️🍑
I was on the fence, but this sounds like just the ticket for the weekend!
@NintendoNewsPL @Uncle_Franklin @JasonLee99 "You can easily rack up double figures of playtime hours grabbing all of this stuff."
@dartmonkey
double figures could be anything between 10 to 99 hours.
@Uncle_Franklin ? I think it's pretty clear you can get 10+ hours out of it if you're collectible-hunting.
The fact that 1st party games have frame rate and resolution issues proves how much we need new hardware.
Thanks for the review.Reading it, I could feel the fun and excitement you had. Tomorrow can not come soon enough.
Sounds like a game, to be played for the experience. I really want to 100% games like this. It is so much fun. Everyone already playing, have a great time!
Yeah, IGN said 8 hours, but that was missing collectibles in half the stages. There are also gold rehearsal challenges which he attempted multiple times but never got a gold in any of them. I’m guessing a good 15 hours if you go for it all, maybe even more. I know I played that baker demo portion demo 5 times and still never got 2 of the sparkles. I just couldn’t get a high enough score on one section.
@Justifier Nah. We don't need a Switch 2 for atleast another 10 years. If 1st party games are suffering from technical issues, then that's a you issue.
All hail Nintendo.
Technical issues are meaningless. I hereby decree its a 10/10. And no I have not played it yet. But I have hope for the most important release of the year
@Princess_Lilly
"Technical issues are meaningless"
Not really, if the game doesn't function or constantly crashes, that's an issue.
I know you're referring to the slight issues mentioned in the review, but your comment is an inane absolute statement.
@Clyde_Radcliffe Totally agree. Regardless of the system, be it the NES or the PS5, you can always adapt your ambition to the system at hand. Or make something the system cannot handle, as in this case apparently. I understand when it happens in the case of ports from a more powerful system to a less powerful one, but in this case there is no excuse.
Sort of gives me Kirby vibes. Simple games can still be great fun. Will play.
Nice to know it seems to be a good time, even though I'm in no particular rush to play it.
I'd just like to comment that "break a leg" is such a weird expression for what it means.
"Bend and slap" made me literally LOL. Nice review!
Very excited to play this! 😍
"It's still 100% a game aimed squarely at children, mind, and there's really not a whole ton of challenge for those seeking it"
I miss when Nintendo made games that were completely appropriate for children (and fwiw I was a child) yet somehow this statement wouldn't have rung true on any level, for almost any of their games.
I think I might be done with Nintendo as a software company, in the present and future tense. I'm not saying this needs to be true for anyone else, for any reason, but the world changed, I stayed the same, and I need to be honest with myself. It's a sad day.
Full disclosure I don't have kids to share games like this with. But if I did, I would probably expose them to games with depth and challenge, the way my grandpa did for me. Super Mario Bros, Duck Hunt, and Super Mario World were games that grew with me, challenged me, inspired me creatively, and I'm just gonna say it, made me a smarter, better kid and person. (love you grandpa. missing you today. ❤️)
it's a pretty chill game but is a lot of fun!!!!
Lots of 8/10 reviews, it's being received well. My copy is in the post, so hopefully, I will be playing it tomorrow evening on release. Here's to a Peachy weekend ✨️ 😄
Hmm, technical issues… how about that.
@Clyde_Radcliffe Was this game given the same amount of development resource as Mario Odyssey?
The answer to that question should aid your understanding.
I've played a bit of the demo. Can't say I was seduced by it. Nice visually but a bit flat audibly. I'll get it cheaper some day, can't justify £35-40 for that amount of game time unless it's exceptional.
@-wc- it happens. Good luck in your journey. I’m close to where you are. No excitement in gaming these days. Nintendo’s first party doesn’t hit the same for me anymore. There is only one maybe two games a year I would want to play.
Tried the demo, not for me. Glad for those who are peach fans tho 🙂
@PlusFan Good Feel
Considering this is a kid's game, so no one can be dissapointed by that, and that the only listed issues are frame rate and resolution, an 8 seems a little low maybe? I know this is not a game for me, but considering the audience I was expecting a 9 if those were the only issues
I love you PJ, but I will not allow such blasphemy about Super Princess Peach, everyone should run out and get it! xD
@-wc- Because some Nintendo games are to easy you won't buy any of them ever again?
@Diowine 8 is considered low now? Wow, how much has changed. I guess if a game can't reach a minimum of 9 it belongs in a dumpster.
I did enjoy the demo for this and think I will eventually pick it up, just not right away.
Yeah, definitely geared towards the young'uns. I had Yoshi's Crafted World vibes playing the demo.
The game's not for me, but I'm glad Peach is getting more exposure. Let's have Daisy next!
not for me especially at a $60 dollar price..
Pass. I've been playing as Peach when I could since SMB2 came out but it's just way too easy. I wish difficulty in mainstream games didn't have to be degraded to match the lowering attention span and IQ of society. 😕
@gcunit "Was this game given the same amount of development resource as Mario Odyssey?
The answer to that question should aid your understanding"
True but that's not my problem as a consumer, especially as Nintendo charges me the same price for them both, regardless of how much cheaper one was to develop.
The demo failed to impress me at all. Maybe if I was more of a Peach fan (I'm more into Rosalina or even Daisy) I would get the game eventually, but the highly simplistic gameplay compared to Kirby or even Yoshi games along with the technical roughness around the edges are turnoffs for me.
I still can't believe Good-Feel developed this game. Wario Land: Shake It and Yoshi's Woolly World were so excellent, but they haven't been the same since Yoshi's Crafted World, and even that game looked and ran better.
My kinda thang for a pleasant playthrough as a side game to a main game I would be playing. Sounds like that typical Nintendo kaleidoscopic ideas game. Cheers for the review
I'm very excited to play. Seems like a good 8/10 or potential 9/10 game to me after reading that; I doubt I will personally even notice the mild performance issues since I didn't in the demo.
I also wonder if there will be a day 1 patch.... one disadvantage to reviews before the game is officially out is not taking into account things like that.
@BTB20
did i say that?
my relationship with Nintendo goes back decades, this is not a gut reaction to the peach game. If that wasnt clear from my comment, I apologize.
suffice to say, this has been (the first, but also the longest) disappointing generation, for me, as far as Nintendo is concerned. the line from the review I quoted is just a piece of that.
I could get into it, but I won't right now unless you are interested. ✌️
Good for Princess Peach. I’m glad the game turned out Peachy. I actually enjoyed the demo so I’m looking forward when it arrives.
Pretty safe to avoid a game when It's a Nintendo game given an 8/10 on NintendoLife 😂
Nintendo can continue to make their no-challenge games as long as they don't do that to the Metroid series.
@Bratwurst35 XD!!
Yep dumpster, bottom of the trash can, etc etc, seems like my comment stressed you out, sorry for that.
To the contrary to that exaggeration, I never said 8 is bad . But reducing 2 points, a full 20% of the full mark only due to some random, not even constant, resolution issues sounds too harsh. Seems like, from the review, they could probably have given it a 9.
Again, not a game for me, but probably a 9 for it's target audience if frame rate is the only issue.
@Uncle_Franklin It seems sarcastic.
@LEGEND_MARIOID
"Sounds like that typical Nintendo kaleidoscopic ideas game."
to me, this is a newer development with Nintendo, but maybe I'm wrong? you've got me thinking 🤔
@-wc-
I think the Mario and Zelda games still challenge, but I get your point regarding many series, in particular the difference between Woolly and Crafted World is depressing.
For me, the decision to make the Switch my last console is based on Nintendo's contempt for customers regarding the poor online functionality they provide (and we now pay for).
Lack of Virtual Console (thereby limiting consumer choice) is also galling for me.
@Diowine You do know my entire comment is a joke right? You're fine. No stress on my end. It's just a comment section at the end of the day.
@Clyde_Radcliffe If I follow your line of reasoning, then there's "no excuse" for any of Nintendo's main franchise games to run at anything less than 60FPS, all just because Odyssey did it seven years ago? These are completely different games, made by different teams, with different game engines, so you're comparing apples and oranges here.
My five year old will love this.
@Diowine I sincerely doubt it's target audience will care that deeply about this game not receiving 1 point higher than 8.
If you go by how American scores homework then:
10/10 = A+
9/10 = A
8/10 = A-
The game still got an A-, it still passed, and again, i doubt the target audience is going to give much care the game didn't get a 9.
Most are more than likely just happy it's getting decent reviewers instead of being a total misfire.
@Uncle_Franklin
I recently have gone back to play Kirby's Adventure (on OG hardware 😎 with the goal of finally playing through the new game+ challenge mode ✊) and the difference compared to almost every kirby game since let's say c. 2000 is stunning, in terms of challenge, design, originality, and generally the feeling that the creators' "hearts were in it."
this is how I feel about just about any Nintendo series, and it bums me out. I agree that Mario and Zelda maintain a challenge (though I have plenty to say about the direction those games have taken, frankly) but just about every Nintendo series that was inherently challenging, either physically or intellectually, has been seemingly memory holed intentionally within Nintendo, as corporate policy.
The games that remain have either been saddled with hand holding mechanics, dumbed down gameplay, or are new series' that are "100% [...] aimed squarely at children [with] not a whole ton of challenge for those seeking it" and I'm sorry, that's not the Nintendo I fell in love with in the "golden era," which I have the privilege of having lived through.
@Quiet2down
"If you go by how American scores homework then:
*10/10 = A+
9/10 = A
8/10 = A-"*
allow me to be the first American to point out that 8/10 is a B minus 😂
@-wc- You think so? I figured 8 would at least be A-. 7 would be more of a B and and anything after lower. Ah well B+ is still a good score.
@-wc- Respectfully, I don't understand where you're coming from. Each mainline Mario game has been pretty easy since World. SMB3 was the last mainline Mario to even attempt to be challenging and it was nearly 35 years ago. I can't speak on this game specifically as I haven't played it yet, but Kirby and Yoshi have existed for a long time to fufill the really easy game niche, so it's not entirely new. Switch games haven't really felt easier compared to previous generations for me. Heck Nintendo still puts out some pretty challenging games like Metroid Dread every once in awhile. I would say Dread is easily more challenging compared to every other mainline Metroid title.
@FishyS Can’t speak for Nintendo of Europe, but according to most game reviewers I’ve listened to, if the developer plans to do a Day 1 patch, they usually inform the reviewer of that being the case and what that patch seeks to address. Of course, it’s up to the reviewer if they want to take the company at their word, but in most cases the issue you raise is addressed as developers clearly have an incentive to notify reviewers about anything that might make their product be cast in a more favorable light.
@Quiet2down
well, I'm not sure how you are assessing it, but in absolute terms:
100% is an A plus
9X% is an A
8X% is a B
7X% is a C
6X% is a D
59% and lower is a failing grade.
👍
8 to 10+ hours is like a $20 game for me for single player. Wonder was also short but 4 player couch co-op games are few and far between.
I liked watching my kid play the demo enough that I will borrow this from the library for a weekend, don’t need to 100% it, just want to finish the story.
@-wc-
it's strange as Nintendo's audience is wider than ever; going for a narrow demographic would have been more understandable on some consoles gone by.
I personally found Forgotten Land quite original and engaging.
My main issues with Mario Odyssey and Tears of the Kingdom is what I see as a lack of thematic cohesion. Maybe that's part of what you're yearning for with your idea of a Dinosaur World themed Galaxy iteration.
@Diowine A game with no negatives does not mean the positives bring it to a 10. Reviews don’t typically “subtract from 10” as some people assume. Maybe @PJOReilly would like to comment more on this himself.
I'm glad to hear this game is great. I won't pick it up until after Wii U and 3DS servers shut down, but I'm looking forward to it.
@Giancarlothomaz I read in another review that provided the name of the developer is against embargo rules. Crazy, sometimes it's hard to understand Nintendo.
@TotalHenshin Haha, agreed. When I read their comment, I was jesting as it reminded me so much of other comments I read through the years nearly like it.
@HammerKirby
Please see my response to user Uncle Franklin for a more nuanced take, because I feel like some of your reply can be addressed suitably there✌️ like i say, my relationship with Nintendo is decades old, and I didn't come to this current place today or even recently.
As far as the Kirby and Yoshi games, I've never liked the Yoshi games (and I consider parts of SMW2 to be beginning of the main line Mario series' relative downfall,) but the Kirby games of my youth were actually rather challenging games! Kirby's Adventure, Dream Course, Pinball Land, Avalanche, and even parts of Super Star would be considered rather challenging games today, especially compared to the patty cakes Kirby games of the last few generations.
Please read my response to U.F. and lmk what you think, I love this conversation and I'm down to have it. 👍
I played the demo and found it absolutely soulless. Peach plays, looks and feels like a robot. I'm really surprised this is getting good reviews, honestly from what I've seen first hand I don't feel like playing it at all
@Qwertyninty
"it happens. Good luck in your journey. I’m close to where you are. No excitement in gaming these days. Nintendo’s first party doesn’t hit the same for me anymore. There is only one maybe two games a year I would want to play."
I appreciate your words, and I think we are on the same page 👍 I will continue to follow along with Nintendo, and it's good to know I'm not alone in how im feeling. ✌️
The demo has to be the most kiddy thing I have ever played, more than yoshis story even with its cringe inducing Laaa, La La La, Laaaa!
But hey if you have a little one all good I guess
Stunt Race FX is still a favourite of mine so frame rates can do one. I’m sure my girls won’t notice a thing. Bring it on
@Uncle_Franklin
I need to gove Forgotten Land another shot, but I played through the first world with my (OG gamer and Kirby fan) wife and we both felt nothing, put it down.
it has that "okay now youre this for a second until we take it away, now youre that for a minute while you do x, but then it's gone again" design philosophy that I first identified personally in SMW2 Yoshis Island, that has become more and more commonplace with Nintendo ever since.
But, I own it physically, and I do intend to return! Perhaps in single player, for the music if nothing else. 🤘
PS -
"My main issues with Mario Odyssey and Tears of the Kingdom is what I see as a lack of thematic cohesion. Maybe that's part of what you're yearning for with your idea of a Dinosaur World themed Galaxy iteration."
yes! definitely part of it!
also, thanks so much for listening! It means alot that you've called back to my Return to Dinosaur Land comment, truly 😀👍
@HammerKirby Personally, I'm okay with Nintendo games being easy or mildly challenging. In a Market where the only other big two are Microsoft and Sony, it's nice to have an avenue that still caters more to families and young audiences.
@-wc- I’m not quite there but I understand the feeling. I do have two small kids so I may get this to play with them, but most games are just uninteresting to me now. Actually most Nintendo first party games, despite being easy, are creative and fun. So many modern games just repeat these brain dead design choices that are just annoying, or are oriented towards a certain personality of gamer. The variety in AAA gaming is pretty much gone. People say that’s just nostalgia talking but I don’t think so.
@-wc- ok, I'll admit Adventure was my intro to the Kirby franchise, and it's by far my favorite NES game, but saying it's better than everything came after, specifically Planet Robobot and Forgotten Land? No offense, but I would even take Crystal Shards over Adventure. Tbf, all mainline Kirby games are good in their own special way, but Adventure lacks some things that make future entries good: expressive colors, multi move abilities, loads of secrets, insane mechanics, even a consistent framerate (both Nightmare in Dreamland and the 3D Classics rerelease fixed that thankfully).
@batmanbud2
"...but saying [Kirby's Adventure is] better than everything came after..."
I love being contradicted, and you've been very generous in this regard 😅 but you also have a habit of not really reading my words.
quoth the wc:
"I recently have gone back to play Kirby's Adventure ... and the difference compared to almost every kirby game since let's say c. 2000 is stunning, in terms of challenge, design, originality, and generally the feeling that the creators' 'hearts were in it.'"
✌️
@-wc- Kirby & the Amazing Mirror is actually a decent challenge for the GBA. You should give it a shot.
@Frailbay30
i will do! 👍 admittedly I've played a sampling of the range of kirby games over the years but not every single one, and I missed that one 😄 cheers!
The wildest spoiler about this game is it was directed by the CEO of Goodfeel and the creator of Goemon himself. The most feminist game ever was made by the creator of Ebismaru. What a character arc.
@-wc- makes sense. Sakurai did stop after Amazing Mirror. Still, I enjoy all of them. . .the mainline ones anyway. The spinoffs can all go jump in a ditch somewhere. . .except Kirby Fighters 2. I liked that one.
Edit: my personal ranking of the 13 mainline games:
1. Planet Robobot
2. Return to Dreamland Deluxe
3. Forgotten Land
4. Triple Deluxe
5. 64: Crystal Shards
6. Squeak Squad
7. Adventure
8. Super Star
9. Star Allies
10. Amazing Mirror
11. Dream Land 3
12. Dream Land 2
13. Dream Land 1
Again, I do like all of these. I did see the earlier comment about Amazing Mirror. I didn't quite enjoy the open world aspect of it (I prefer my open world games to be 3D, thank you very much), but I'm sure you will.
@Zeebor15
Are you saying that this Princess Peach game is the most feminist game ever?
@-wc- I'll give you the spin offs as being challenging. But Kirby's Adventure and Kirby Super Star are pretty easy games with some challenge in the post game content. Sure they're tough compared to Star Allies (which was a pathetically mindless game) but they're only really a tiny bit more challenging compared to Forgotten Land, which also has some challenging content in the post game, and a pretty tough final boss as well. Yoshi's Island was never really a mainline Mario game unlike how it was marketed in the west so I can kind of understand why you might think that. I have read all of your responses and I guess at the end of the day difficulty is really subjective, so I don't have that much more to say.
@HammerKirby did you stop playing Star Allies before it finished it's content updates? Because I've heard things about Heroes in Another Dimension in particular.
Glad it turned out well but I can tell it’s not for me. Peach finally getting another game is great though
@Clyde_Radcliffe Yeah, pretty much.
As nobody is mentioning game length……….are we saying the 8 outfits represent 8 plays with 3 acts amounting to 24 mini stages spread across 6 floors (4 per floor).
Sounds like this game is tailor made for Yuzu.
Consensus for reviews seems to be that the game is decent, not great, which is kind of the read I got from the demo. I think I need to see how long it is before I decide to commit to it.
@batmanbud2 I plan to revisit it at some point. It left a bad taste in my mouth so I haven't done it yet.
Voucher time! Just gotta figure out what else I want.
I don’t get how long is this game. A review says “over 50 levels”, which would mean 25-50 hours for me to 100% based on the demo levels. Where is my calculation failing?
This one is a hard skip for me. I can't justify the purchase of a full priced game that provides between 5-10 hours of game play. Even on sale at $39.99; which is about as low a price as Nintendo gets, I still can't!
Maybe I'll end of trying this somewhere down the line but that's even a stretch.
Another masterful review by PJ!
As for the game- i’ll be keeping it on my wishlist in case i ever need to glance at something in disdain.
@Clyde_Radcliffe amen. they did it so they can release an HD version in 3 years for switch 2
@JasonLee99 I don't know. A game of ~8 hours (minus collectibles) for full price, even if it is Nintendo, is a hard sell for me.
@Nidorom I'm so sorry.
@Diogmites appreciate the love.
@HammerKirby
I appreciate your comment(s!)
you and another on this thread have indirectly convinced me that I should give Forgotten Land another shot! so thanks for that 😊
I'll agree that Super Star is pretty easy for the most part, and that Adventure partly gets its challenge from the post game.
I'll add that until a whole pile of kirby side scrollers came out in the decades after, I considered all Kirby games to be "mainline" games in the 8/16bit era, and I love those early non side scrollers just as much as Adventure (which is to say they are all in my top faves ever.)
also, I'm aware that Yoshis Island was/is not a mainline Mario game! my point is that it influenced Mainline Marios to have those mechanics that I mentioned in another comment 👍
This is only the latest of a number of recent games getting the caveats about it being "intended for a younger audience" and designed to be "immediately accessible" to preschoolers.
I'm not saying there's no place for games like that, but I'm assuming this is closer to a 5 out of 10 for anyone who's hoping to be engaged by the gameplay. (Honestly, it sounds so simplified and easy that I might have been bored by it even as a young kid.)
Since any great game can be designed with an easy mode or simplified controls, let's not kid ourselves about the fact that a shortcut is being taken here by the developer.
I just surprised to see the majority comments here sounds like these:
1. I'm too old to play kiddie games.
2. I'm a man, not playing girlie games.
3. It's too short game.
4. It's too easy game.
5. It looks soulless.
Guys, are you complaining the game that designed for young girl audiences ?
Nothing wrong with easy and short games.
Even me as an adult man (will be 40 on this year) really enjoy kind of this girlie games, just like I enjoy other girlie games such as Cooking Mama games, Barbie games, Fashion games, etc.
@Anti-Matter
I wondered when you'd show! 😊
to be clear, I have no problem with a "girlie" game, or a game that is made for or appropriate for kids 👍
indeed, many/most of my favorite games could be considered "for all ages."
OTOH, I know for a fact that all kids including girls can and do play and enjoy challenging, deep games. 👍 and games like this might seem to be a vote in the other direction.
@Troubbble For me personally, I'm cool with it. Nintendo has the privilege of diversifying their games to meet every target demographic.
I don't get the idea that Nintendo games are all too easy. BOTW, TOTK, Metroid Remake, Fire Emblem Engage, Xenoblade Chronicles 3. These types of games are designed for older audiences.
It's fine if Nintendo wants to make games designed with family and very young kids in mind from time to time.
@batmanbud2
I appreciate that! I havent played every game on your list, admittedly! Though I have played most of them 👍 clearly, you are as dedicated and knowledgeable a Kirby fan as I, probably more so. ✌️
@-wc- Hm interesting you could consider Pinball Land or Dream Course to be mainline when they play so drastically different compared to the Dream Land trilogy, Super Star and Adventure. Hal has always put a lot of effort into experimenting with Kirby spin offs until fairly recently. Dream Buffet was decent fun but I have to admit its not as good as say Dream Course, Canvas Curse, Tilt N Tumble, etc. The days of any other franchise besides Mario having retail spin offs are over it seems. I assume with Mario you mean the increased focus on exploration in 64 compared to World? People honestly downplay just how different 64 is to World (or Land 2)
@Jamessmooth I’m not telling anyone to buy it. I’m not buying it myself, lol.
@HammerKirby did you play Kirby Fighters 2? Even though it's an expanded subgame, it's actually really solid, and I think it holds it's own against Smash, especially the roguelite story that is BETTER THAN SUBSPACE, don't @ me.
Nice review here. Definitely getting this game at some point.
@batmanbud2 yea its fun. But its still just an expanded version of Kirby Fighters from Triple Deluxe. It doesn't have that immense creativity you used to get from HAL with the Kirby spin offs.
I think this game looks great, but why are the screenshot so blurry? Is that how the game appears on a TV? I know handheld mode usually is at a lower resolution but this just looks blurry to me even docked.
@HammerKirby makes sense.
@PJOReilly
No you're not xD
@KryptoniteKrunch @HammerKirby
You said:
"Hm interesting you could consider Pinball Land or Dream Course to be mainline when they play so drastically different compared to the Dream Land trilogy, Super Star and Adventure."
What I said:
"...until a whole pile of kirby side scrollers came out in the decades after, I considered all Kirby games to be "mainline" games in the 8/16bit era..."
well, let's go autobiographical:
first off, I didn't have or play Dreamland 1 in its time. Adventure was my first Kirby game, and AFAIKnew, it was the first. I got it in 1993. I was 7.
XMAS of '93, I asked for "the gameboy Kirby game" which by then I'd heard about. Lo and behold, I got Pinball Land 😆 and I loved it even though I didn't even know it existed prior.
(OK, we are up to 3 Kirby games and of the two I've played, one is a side scroller and one isn't.)
The very next year, 1994, two Kirby games come out! I'm delighted. One is a golf game, and one is a puzzle game. I got em both! I was a lucky kid.
(Now we are up to three Kirby games in a row since the last side scroller, and the ratio is 2:3.)
I think you can see where this is going. 1995 rolls in, we get Dreamland 2, but we also get Block Ball
I'm going to go ahead and restate my claim that as a kid, I did not perceive sidescrolling Kirby games as "Mainline" to the exclusion of others, because as you can see, it simply wasnt the case.
in fact, it wasnt until the early/mid 2000s, when I was graduating high school, that sidescrolling Kirby games began to match "spinoffs" in number of releases.
I rest my case 🚬 😎
@HammerKirby
"I assume with Mario you mean the increased focus on exploration in 64 compared to World? People honestly downplay just how different 64 is to World (or Land 2)"
I lined it out sort of clumsily in my reply to Franklin:
"it has that "okay now youre this for a second until we take it away, now youre that for a minute while you do x, but then it's gone again" design philosophy that I first identified personally in SMW2 Yoshis Island, that has become more and more commonplace with Nintendo ever since."
Does that make sense?
for example, yoshi can become a helicopter at certain points in the game! all well and good.
but, you can ONLY become a helicopter in THIS ONE level, at point A, and then it's like a carnival ride until point Z, where it is unceremoniously taken away, never to be seen again, or maybe seen one more time in the entire game, in the exact same manner.
it's almost the opposite if a focus on exploration. whereas in SMW, there could be a point in a level which has ice blocks that you would need a fire flower to melt and get past, but youd have to get that flower from another area and carry it over to the ice blocks from there, without losing it.
IMO Nintendo has abandoned this design philosophy even in Zelda games, where "hmm I'd need some kind of Wagon to get across here... oh hey theres some wagon parts just conveniently left off to the side, lucky me again!' is more the norm.
I hope this is coherent lol I should be working 😅✌️
@-wc- so basically like how Yoshi works in NSMBWii & U vs how he worked in World??? I think I get what you're saying. Or like how in KDL2 you had to backtrack in levels to get the right ability + animal buddy combinations for the rainbow drops (or Kirby's Adventure for the secret exits sometimes to a lesser extent) vs. modern Kirby games usually having the ability you need close by?
@HammerKirby
that's it exactly. I almost don't see the point in powersup if you only get them for specific set pieces and have no agency on where to use them or how to leverage their advantage in different situations. hence, my "carnival ride" analogy 👍
so there's already a full walkthrough video on youtube that comes in under 7 hours. Yikes...
I do wish that people would stop blaming the switch if a game has performance issues. Good Feel has struggled with framerate for a few games now. Is it unfortunate? Yes but it isn’t because the switch is old.
New games are having uneven performance across the board even on the Twins and PC. After a point the issue isn’t the hardware.
@-wc- What did you feel about Wonder? I thought it did a decent job combining ease of play with difficulty.
@JRiegler
"What did you feel about Wonder? I thought it did a decent job combining ease of play with difficulty."
I would expect nothing less from a Mario game! But I have only played a handful of levels from Wonder so far, and I know better than to judge it based on that.
I will say, I'm not a fan at all of the new presentation, and I hope they move on from it quickly. If the game is great though, I can look past that for the most part, but it will never be among my favorite Mario games.
@-wc- I liked it better than the “new” look. I agree nothing can touch World for 2d and Galaxy for 3D. They are perfection. Super Mario World is what started my love of games….and it’s not just nostalgia, it’s simply an incredible game.
The demo sold me on it though it didn't have to try hard.
This is giving me huge Kirby and the Forgotten Land vibes
I really hope that Nintendo puts out a patch to fix the framerate issues, as I've seen someone unbox and update the physical version of the game, and it seems there is no day-one patch for the game as evidenced in the video. But knowing Nintendo's track record with releasing and updating their games, I won't be surprised if they don't bother with releasing any kind of patch updates for the game.
@PlusFan that strange, why would Nintendo refuse to tell us Good-Feel developed the game?
So this is Balan Wonderworld but good.
@Giancarlothomaz Nintendo is pulling a Kevin Feige here lol
I have it in my GameFly, so I'll get around to it one day, or when I'm looking for a nice change of pace game. This works for me.
@PJOReilly Anytime! I always enjoy reading your work.
Mm yes quite satisfactory but has anyone noticed in the castle of thorns Peach says ‘now then, now then’ when she parries? Takes me back to when Jimmy Fixed it for me.
@Flangela
Both Princess Peach Showtime! and Jimmy Saville are kid friendly I guess...
Just reached the fifth floor and while far from one of my absolute favorite Switch games, I definitely had a good time with Princess Peach: Showtime!. The demo did a poor job selling me on the game as the later parts of the game really amped things up for me.
Good-Feel definitely redeemed themselves for me after Yoshi's Crafted World...
This game is fantastic. A must for any Peach fan!
@Giancarlothomaz No idea, that didn't have a problem with that with previous games, like Yoshi.
So Goodfeel keeps making games for Nintendo (They went independent)? Anyway, played the demo. It was okay, but as casual as casual can be. I still might buy it someday, but at a huge discount. And I am hoping that they still bring that "Goemon" game to the west!
@Flangela 😂 So glad you are back! Did you find the Star of Astaroth on your travels?
@BiscuitCrumbsInMyBed yes I’ve been cruising in Namboomboo but back now dears.
@-wc- Played quite a lot of Wonder, nearing end game. Also not a fan of the presentation. The world map is horrible and very confusing. Sometimes it feels and looks like a mobile game. Can't believe they launched that.
It's a good game but not as good as New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. NSMBUD (lol) is more challenging, funner, doesn't need badges, has more default movements, and you can pick up, throw, and jump on other co-op characters. Funny and fun game.
About Princess Peach Showtime, I bought the physical version, we'll see how it goes. Demo was fun though.
You're literally the same guy that slammed Ninja Gaiden Master Collection, yet you're over here acting like some game with next to no gameplay is the second coming of Christ.
Wild.
This game was so much fun from beginning to end. I mean the stages were kind of spectacular and the boss fights were kind of silly but amazing. It has same feel to Super Mario Odyssey which I like about it.
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