Princess Peach (Nintendo | Super Mario Universe)

Princess Peach is the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom and a central figure in Nintendo's Super Mario franchise, first appearing in Super Mario Bros., released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in Japan on September 13, 1985, and internationally in 1985–1986. In this seminal platformer, developed by Shigeru Miyamoto and Nintendo's internal team, she is introduced as the kidnapped Princess Toadstool (her original English name, later unified globally as Peach in 1993), held captive by Bowser in his castle at the end of the game's eight worlds. Mario's primary objective is to rescue her, culminating in her iconic gratitude expressed through the phrase "Thank you Mario! But our princess is in another castle!" repeated by Toads until the final level. This damsel-in-distress role defined her early characterization, though her Japanese name, Kinoko Ōkoku no Purinsesu Pīchi (Princess Peach of the Mushroom Kingdom), was used from the outset.

Peach is depicted as a graceful, compassionate human princess with long blonde hair, blue eyes, fair skin, and a signature pink gown adorned with puffed sleeves, a dark pink brooch, and a crown. Her personality emphasizes kindness, elegance, and optimism, often contrasting Bowser's villainy and complementing Mario's heroism. In Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988 in the West, based on Doki Doki Panic), she became playable for the first time, distinguished by her ability to float briefly in mid-air, reflecting her light and buoyant nature. This marked an early shift toward portraying her with unique abilities, including emotional powers in later titles—such as using joy, gloom, rage, and calm to solve puzzles in Super Princess Peach (2005 for Nintendo DS), where she takes the protagonist role to rescue Mario and Luigi.

Over the decades, Peach has evolved from a primarily passive figure to one with greater agency and prominence across the franchise. She frequently appears as a playable character in spin-off series, including Mario Kart (from Super Mario Kart in 1992 onward), Mario Party, sports titles like Mario Tennis and Mario Golf, and party games. Significant developments include her starring role in Princess Peach: Showtime! (2024 for Nintendo Switch), featuring transformative costumes granting varied abilities in theatrical stages, and her inclusion as a default playable character in Super Mario Bros. Wonder (2023), with unique animations. In Super Smash Bros. series (from Melee in 2001), she is a fighter utilizing turnips, parasols, and emotional bursts. Despite recurring kidnappings in mainline titles, Peach's consistent presence underscores her enduring status as the Mushroom Kingdom's benevolent monarch.

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