Peach's Castle (theme)
| "Peach's Castle" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| "Peach's Castle" in Super Mario 64 | |||
 Image from Nintendo Music | |||
| Composed by: Koji Kondo | |||
| Key | C major | ||
| BPM | 152 | ||
| First appearance | Super Mario 64 (1996) | ||
| Latest appearance | The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026) | ||
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"Peach's Castle",[1] also known as "Inside the Castle Walls"[2] or simply "Castle",[2] is a musical theme composed by Koji Kondo for Super Mario 64, where it plays in the Mushroom Castle. This theme is often used as a leitmotif for Princess Peach and her titular castle in subsequent games and other media in the Super Mario franchise.
Composition[edit]
"Peach's Castle" is scored for a string ensemble and styled in string quartet. In the A section, all of the parts harmonize the melody's rhythm, aside from pizzicato runs, contrasting the melody with brief silences. This leads into a contrapuntal legato B section.
History[edit]
This section needs merchandise improvement. Specifically:
- Add LEGO Super Mario information.
Super Mario series[edit]
Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS[edit]
- Main article: Peach's Letter
Super Mario 64 marks the first appearance of "Peach's Castle". It is also included in the official albums Super Mario 64 Original Soundtrack, Nintendo 64 Original Soundtrack Greatest Hits, and Happy! Mario 20th - Super Mario Sound Collection.
A brief arrangement of "Peach's Castle" plays during the opening cutscene when Princess Peach narrates her letter to Mario and whenever the player has collected enough Power Stars to unlock a new area. It is titled "Peach's Letter" in the Nintendo Music app and "Peach's Message" in the Super Mario 64 Original Soundtrack album.
A medley arrangement of "Peach's Castle" and "Ending" from Super Mario Bros. plays during the ending cutscene when Princess Peach is freed and thanks Mario for restoring the power of the Power Stars to the Mushroom Castle. It is titled "Ending" in the Nintendo Music app and "Ending Demo" in the Super Mario 64 Original Soundtrack album.
"Peach's Castle", "Peach's Letter", and "Ending" all return in the Nintendo DS remake, Super Mario 64 DS, and the Nintendo Switch port, Super Mario 3D All-Stars, for the same purposes.
 Peach's Letter - The arrangement heard in Super Mario 64 | File info 0:05 |
Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2[edit]
In Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2, a pastiche of the B portion of "Peach's Castle" plays in the status screen.
| Status Screen - The pastiche heard in Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 | File info 0:15 |
New Super Mario Bros. Wii[edit]
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It has been requested that more audio and/or video files related to this section be uploaded. Specifics: Ending arrangement Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for help getting started. |
New Super Mario Bros. Wii features three arrangements of "Peach's Castle".
An arrangement of the first six bars of "Peach's Castle" plays during the opening cutscene before Bowser Jr. and the Koopalings attack and kidnap Princess Peach.
A full, faithful arrangement of "Peach's Castle" plays in Peach's Castle. This arrangement adds a marimba in the A section.
A brief arrangement of "Peach's Castle" arranged by Ryo Nagamatsu[3] plays during the ending cutscene when Mario and Princess Peach exit Bowser's Castle.
| Opening - The arrangement heard in New Super Mario Bros. Wii | File info 0:15 |
| Peach's Castle - The arrangement heard in New Super Mario Bros. Wii | File info 0:30 |
Super Mario Galaxy 2[edit]
In Super Mario Galaxy 2 and the Nintendo Switch port, Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2, a calm piano arrangement of the A portion of "Peach's Castle" in the key of A♭ major plays when Princess Peach is rescued at the end of the game. It is titled "Precious One" in the Nintendo Music app, and it was arranged by Ryo Nagamatsu. It is also included in the official Super Mario Galaxy 2 Original Soundtrack album.
| Precious One - The arrangement heard in Super Mario Galaxy 2 | File info 0:30 |
New Super Mario Bros. 2[edit]
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It has been requested that at least one audio and/or video file related to this section be uploaded. Specifics: The arrangement Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for help getting started. |
In New Super Mario Bros. 2, a brief arrangement of "Peach's Castle" plays during the opening cutscene when Mario and Luigi in their Raccoon forms say their goodbyes to Princess Peach before flying away.
New Super Mario Bros. U / New Super Luigi U / New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe[edit]
- "World: Peach's Castle" redirects here. For the world, see Peach's Castle (world).
New Super Mario Bros. U, New Super Luigi U, and New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe feature two pastiches of "Peach's Castle".
The theme that plays in the Peach's Castle world map is a foreboding pastiche of "Peach's Castle" alternating between the keys of F minor, G♭ minor, and G minor. The theme is orchestrated on bowed strings with sitar ornaments and a synth rhythm section. It is titled "World: Peach's Castle" in the Nintendo Music app.
The theme that plays during the first part of The Final Battle uses sections of the same bowed string arrangement of "Peach's Castle" with pipe organ accompaniment. It is titled "Big Battle at Peach's Castle" in the Nintendo Music app.
| World: Peach's Castle - The pastiche heard in New Super Mario Bros. U | File info 0:30 |
| Big Battle at Peach's Castle - The pastiche heard in New Super Mario Bros. U | File info 0:30 |
Super Mario Odyssey[edit]
In Super Mario Odyssey, a faithful orchestral arrangement of "Peach's Castle" arranged by Shiho Fujii plays in Peach's Castle in the Mushroom Kingdom. It is also included in the official Super Mario Odyssey Original Soundtrack album.
| Peach's Castle - The arrangement heard in Super Mario Odyssey | File info 0:30 |
Super Mario Maker 2[edit]
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It has been requested that more audio and/or video files related to this section be uploaded. Specifics: Opening and ending arrangements Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for help getting started. |
Super Mario Maker 2 features nine arrangements of "Peach's Castle" in Story Mode.
A brief arrangement of "Peach's Castle" plays during the opening cutscene.
"Peach's Castle" is incorporated into the six background music tracks that build as progress on rebuilding Peach's Castle grows. Each theme introduces variations on the motif that, in sequence, approach the original "Peach's Castle" melody.
The first theme is a downtempo piece that plays the motif on acoustic guitar, with shaker and wood block accompaniment, and leads into chords based on the B section of "Peach's Castle".
The second theme increases the tempo and plays the motif on pizzicato strings, while also adding flute to the first theme's orchestration.
The third theme uses synthesized instruments, playing the motif on synth strings and multiple staccato synthesizers.
The fourth theme adds orchestral instruments, playing a variation of the A section on lead synthesizer, and the B section on strings.
The fifth theme is a traditional arrangement of "Peach's Castle", but with a shaker and wood block remaining in the background.
In the emergency theme, the "Peach's Castle" motif is played on a sine synthesizer.
The "Peach's Castle" motif is used in the jingle that plays when Peach's Castle is 100% rebuilt.
Finally, the "Peach's Castle" motif is used in the theme that plays in the ending cutscene.
| Castle Hub 1 - The arrangement heard in Super Mario Maker 2 | File info 0:30 |
| Castle Hub 2 - The arrangement heard in Super Mario Maker 2 | File info 0:30 |
| Castle Hub 3 - The arrangement heard in Super Mario Maker 2 | File info 0:30 |
| Castle Hub 4 - The arrangement heard in Super Mario Maker 2 | File info 0:30 |
| Castle Hub 5 - The arrangement heard in Super Mario Maker 2 | File info 0:30 |
| Castle Hub (Emergency) - The arrangement heard in Super Mario Maker 2 | File info 0:30 |
| Peach's Castle 100% Rebuilt - The arrangement heard in Super Mario Maker 2 | File info 0:06 |
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble![edit]
In Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, a pastiche of "Peach's Castle" arranged by David Wise plays whenever Wrinkly Kong is playing a Nintendo 64 game implied to be Super Mario 64 in Wrinkly's Save Cave. It is titled "Wrinkly 64" in the Nintendo Music app and the official Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! Original Soundtrack album. It is also included in the official albums Donkey Kong Country Trilogy and Super Donkey Kong 3: Mysterious Kremis Island Original Soundtrack.
"Wrinkly 64" does not reappear in the Game Boy Advance remake of Donkey Kong Country 3, nor Donkey Kong Land III.
| Wrinkly 64 - The pastiche heard in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! | File info 0:30 |
Mario Golf series[edit]
All arrangements in the Mario Golf series were arranged by Motoi Sakuraba.
Mario Golf (Game Boy Color)[edit]
In the Game Boy Color version of Mario Golf, a chiptune arrangement of "Peach's Castle" plays in the Peach's Castle sub-area.
| Peach's Castle - The arrangement heard in Mario Golf for Game Boy Color | File info 0:30 |
Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour[edit]
In Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, the second half of the theme that plays in the Peach's Castle Grounds course is an arrangement of "Peach's Castle".
| Peach's Castle Grounds - The arrangement heard in Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour | File info 0:30 |
Mario Golf: Advance Tour[edit]
Mario Golf: Advance Tour features two arrangements of "Peach's Castle".
An arrangement of "Peach's Castle" plays in the game's story mode when Neil or Ella visit Peach's Castle.
An arrangement of the Peach's Castle Grounds theme from Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour plays in the Mushroom Course.
| Peach's Castle - The arrangement heard in Mario Golf: Advance Tour | File info 0:30 |
| Mushroom Course - The arrangement heard in Mario Golf: Advance Tour | File info 0:30 |
Mario Tennis series[edit]
All arrangements in the Mario Tennis series were arranged by Motoi Sakuraba.
Mario Tennis (Nintendo 64)[edit]
The Nintendo 64 version of Mario Tennis features two arrangements of "Peach's Castle".
An arrangement of "Peach's Castle" plays in the Peach Court. It is erroneously titled 「マリオ＆ルイージコート」 (Mario & Ruīji Kōto, "Mario & Luigi Court") in the official Mario Tennis 64 Original Soundtrack album.
An arrangement of "Peach's Castle" in 3
4 time plays during Princess Peach's trophy award cutscene. It is titled 「トロフィー 授与 ピーチ」 (Torofī Juyo - Pīchi, "Trophy Award - Peach") in the official Mario Tennis 64 Original Soundtrack album.
| マリオ＆ルイージコート - The Peach Court arrangement heard in Mario Tennis for Nintendo 64 | File info 0:30 |
| トロフィー 授与 ピーチ - The trophy award arrangement heard in Mario Tennis for Nintendo 64 | File info 0:18 |
Mario Tennis (Game Boy Color)[edit]
In the Game Boy Color version of Mario Tennis, a chiptune arrangement of "Peach's Castle" plays in Castle Court in Exhibition mode, and in Peach's Castle in the Mario Tour mode.
| Castle Court - The arrangement heard in Mario Tennis for Game Boy Color | File info 0:30 |
Mario Power Tennis / New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis[edit]
Mario Power Tennis and the Wii port, New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis, feature three arrangements of "Peach's Castle".
An arrangement of the B section of "Peach's Castle" plays during the court introduction sequence for Peach Dome.
A full arrangement of "Peach's Castle" plays in the Artist on the Court minigame.
An arrangement of "Trophy Award - Peach" from the Nintendo 64 version of Mario Tennis plays during Princess Peach's trophy award cutscene.
| Peach Dome - Intro - The arrangement heard in Mario Power Tennis | File info 0:30 |
| Artist on the Court - The arrangement heard in Mario Power Tennis | File info 0:30 |
| Trophy Award - Peach - The arrangement heard in Mario Power Tennis | File info |
Mario Tennis: Power Tour[edit]
In Mario Tennis: Power Tour, the story mode arrangement of "Peach's Castle" from Mario Golf: Advance Tour plays when Clay and Ace meet Mario for the first time in the game's story mode.
An arrangement of "Peach's Castle" plays in Peach Dome in Exhibition mode and when the player visits the Peach Tournament in the game's story mode.
| Peach Dome - The arrangement heard in Mario Tennis: Power Tour | File info 0:30 |
Mario Tennis Open[edit]
Mario Tennis Open features three arrangements of "Peach's Castle".
An arrangement of the A section of "Peach's Castle" plays during the court introduction sequence for Peach's Palace.
A full brass rock arrangement of "Peach's Castle" plays in Peach's Palace.
A fast-paced arrangement of "Peach's Castle" in minor key plays during a tiebreaker in Peach's Palace.
| Peach's Palace - Intro - The arrangement heard in Mario Tennis Open | File info 0:30 |
| Peach's Palace - The arrangement heard in Mario Tennis Open | File info 0:30 |
| Peach's Palace - Tiebreaker - The arrangement heard in Mario Tennis Open | File info 0:30 |
Paper Mario series[edit]
Paper Mario[edit]
- Main article: A Party at Peach's Castle
In Paper Mario, a pastiche of the B section of "Peach's Castle" arranged by Yuka Tsujiyoko is incorporated in the theme that plays in Princess Peach's Castle at the beginning and end of the game. It is titled "A Party at Peach's Castle" in the official Paper Mario Game Music Soundtrack CD album.
| A Party at Peach's Castle - The pastiche heard in Paper Mario | File info 0:30 |
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door[edit]
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and its Nintendo Switch remake feature multiple arrangements of "Peach's Castle".
- Main article: Meanwhile, Princess Peach...
The theme that plays during Princess Peach's interludes in the X-Naut Fortress quotes the A section of "Peach's Castle" at the beginning. It is titled "Meanwhile, Princess Peach..." in the Nintendo Music app.
Princess Peach can hum the first seven notes of "Peach's Castle" when she takes a shower in the X-Naut Fortress.
Exclusively in the Nintendo Switch remake, a slower-paced, woodwind arrangement of "Peach's Castl