Peach Blossom

Peach Blossom is Princess Peach's Final Smash. Akin to the princess's unique blend of offensive and defensive maneuvers in battle, this tactic allows her to gain an edge over her opponents either by attacking them or restoring her own health. Peach can only perform this attack after breaking open a Smash Ball, which charges her up. Because Smash Balls only appear in the world of Super Smash Bros., Princess Peach cannot use this attack in the Mushroom World.

The Attack
The move officially begins when Peach warps herself to the center of the arena and begins to dance, causing the stage to darken. Decorative hearts emerge from the ground and a decorative "border" featuring blossoming Peach trees and two images of Princess Peach adorns the area around her. As Peach dances in a spotlight to a string instrument solo, all of her opponents fall into a deep sleep. Peaches fall from the top of the stage and the princess's rivals take massive damage, but do not go flying. The closer to the center of the stage the enemy is, the more damage he or she will take. The typical amount ranges from thirty to fifty percent. At this point the stage returns to normal and the attack technically ends.

Prolonged Effects
However, as the princess's enemies remain unconscious for a time after the attack, she is free to do as she likes for a short time. Peach can restore her health by eating the Peaches and use her other attacks on her sleeping opponents. Because of the extra damage she has already inflicted, well-charged Smash Attacks may send opponents flying off of the screen. Once Peach attacks an enemy, he or she will immediately awaken and have a chance to recover. It is possible that her enemies will eat her Peaches if they return to the stage.

History
Peach Blossom made its first and only appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Visually, the attack is reminiscent of the sugar-sweet art style of Peach's first solo adventure, Super Princess Peach, which was published after Super Smash Bros. Melee and before Brawl. The attack was officially unveiled on Friday, October 19th, 2007 through Smash Bros. DOJO!! as one of the weekday updates leading up to the release of Brawl. However, it appeared in the game's demo featured at the Nintendo Press Summit in San Francisco on October 11th.

Most of the characters in Super Smash Bros. Brawl have Final Smashes based on previous moves or experiences. Peach Blossom is an entirely original creation. Masahiro Sakurai claimed it to be a representation of Peach's flighty yet elegegant personality in his [http://www.smashbros.com/en_us/characters/peach.html#3rd Smash Bros. DOJO!! entry] regarding the attack.

Whether the decorative border is canon or not is debatable. Because it appears in screenshots taken in-game while the damage meters and other interface elements are absent, it is possible that it physically exists in the world of Brawl.

External Links and Sources

 * Peach: Final Smash from Smash Bros. DOJO!!
 * Super Smash Bros. Brawl Demo Videos 6 from GamePro, posted on YouTube
 * Super Smash Bros. Brawl Preview from IGN Wii