Super Princess Peach

Super Princess Peach is a game for the Nintendo DS released in late 2005 for the Japan region, and in 2006 for all other regions. In this game, Mario, Luigi, and many Toads have been kidnapped by Bowser, using the magical Vibe Scepter, and taken to Vibe Island. Princess Peach must save them, using a talking umbrella called Perry and her powers of emotion, the vibes being emitted from Vibe Island. This is the first adventure installment for the Mario game series in which Peach appears as a stand-alone playable character.

Game Storyline
While Princess Peach goes out for a sunny stroll, Bowser and his legion of minions swarm the castle, this time easily overpowering the guards and even the three heroes Mario, Luigi, and Toad with their newfound weapon: the Vibe Scepter. Upon Peach's return, she is horrified to find all of her guards running about the castle, either hysterically crying, euphorically happy, or angry beyond measure. Since Bowser has already absconded with Mario, Luigi, and Toad, Peach resolves to go after Bowser herself and rescue them as they have rescued her on many occasions.

Toadsworth gives her an umbrella as a parting gift, saying only that it is a very strange umbrella. Later, the player finds out that the umbrella is named Perry, and has a very tragic backstory of his own to unravel. Regardless, as Peach travels throughout the many locales of Vibe Island, Perry is known to be a very useful ally in many situations.

Vibe Island Locations
Vibe Island is the World Map for Super Princess Peach, consisting of eight locations (or Worlds):


 * Ladida Plains
 * Hoo's Wood
 * Shriek Mansion
 * Fury Volcano
 * Wavy Beach
 * Gleam Glacier
 * Giddy Sky
 * Bowser's Villa

Peach's "Vibes"
During the course of gameplay, the player is able to help Peach trigger one of four Vibe abilities - provided she has an adequate amount of energy in the Vibe Gauge to pull it off (located on the Nintendo DS' top left screen below her main health meter). In order to do this, there are four heart color affiliations on the Nintendo DS' bottom screen that represent a certain vibe; the player can touch them to allow Peach to proceed with the related action for each Vibe ability.

The four vibes are as listed on the following chart:

To refill the Vibe Gauge, Peach is able to collect blue gems that are scattered around each stage. Perry is also able to eat most basic enemies to achieve the same result (by picking them up while they're upside down and stunned, then pressing "Down" on the Control Pad to swallow them).

Perry's Assistance
Perry can form into several different objects to aid Peach's travels as well, from a boat to a submarine, from a cable car to a laser weapon. More details about each strategy are listed below:


 * Bowlbrella
 * Floatbrella
 * Poundbrella
 * Chargebrella
 * Slidebrella
 * Subrella
 * Dashbrella

Worlds 1 through 7
Upon completion of the main five levels in each world, Peach is able to proceed to the boss area. The first seven bosses are as listed below:
 * World 1: Petey Piranha
 * World 2: Hoo
 * World 3: King Boo
 * World 4: Wiggler
 * World 5: Gooper Blooper
 * World 6: Blizzaurus
 * World 7: Giant Kamek

The Final Showdown (World 8)
This procedure has the same layout like the previous boss battles. However, in order to face the final showdown with Bowser, all the Toads from the first five levels of previous worlds prior to Bowser's Villa have to be rescued. Additionally, all the Toads in the first five levels of Bowser's Villa itself have to be found and rescued as well. When this criteria is met, Peach and Perry are able to proceed toward the final showdown with Bowser.

Unlike previous boss battles themselves where Peach and Perry only fight one major boss at the end of each world, the final showdown is split up into three confrontations, consisting of:


 * Army Hammer Bro. (Bowser uses the Vibe Scepter, transforming a normal Hammer Bro into this state.)
 * Bowser (After defeating Army Hammer Bro., Peach and Perry give chase to the next floor for their first real confrontation against Bowser.)
 * Giant Bowser (Bowser uses the Vibe Scepter once again, resulting in his growing up to enormous proportions. Peach and Perry's final confrontation is held at this point.)

Game Extras
During the course of gameplay, there are extra unlockable materials that players can obtain upon meeting certain criteria.

Perry's Dreams
After each boss battle, Peach and Perry rest before continuing on to the next area in Vibe Island. During each rest period, Perry has a recurring dream that seems to reveal more and more about his past. Indeed, it seems he was originally a human boy, but was taken from his grandfather by a pair of evildoers who then trapped him into an umbrella form. The story is completely different from Peach's main tasks in her adventure.

There are a total of seven sequences in all, and they can be viewed by choosing "Bonus" on the World/Stage Selection screens. However, at least one "Perry's Dream" sequence has to be viewed in the main game itself in order for this option to be selectable.

Music Room (The "Peach Hit Five")
The Music Room for Super Princess Peach is where the player is able to listen to the game's musical score. Prior to unlocking this area, Peach and Perry have to collect at least one "musical note" item and/or purchase musical scores from Toad's Shop.

Players can also collect and purchase these same scores to build up Peach's musical group, the Peach Hit Five.

Glossary of Enemies
Every time the player defeats an enemy, the enemy will appear in this section of the game.


 * Starfish: A star-shaped foe rumored to be the prince of a kingdom?
 * Boss P. Plant: A big Piranha Plant. Its belly button is vulnerable?
 * Hoo: The protector of Hoo's Wood. Attacks when threatened.
 * King Boo: The boss of the Boos. It fears the light!
 * Wiggler: Usually quiet, but is gets angry when stepped on!
 * Gooper Blooper: The Blooper boss. It can attack with its tentacles.
 * Blizzaurus: The dragon of Gleam Glacier. It used to be a sprite.
 * Giant Kamek: A Kamek made huge with magic! It can teleport!
 * Army Hammer Bro: The Hammer Bros. leader. Stronger than the others?
 * Bowser: Mario's old enemy. Uses the power of Vibe Island...
 * Bowser 2: He wasn't beaten! Hit his eyes with a Bob-omb!

Mini-Game
These games featuring Peach's mushroom friends can be unlocked upon collecting "Mini-Game" items on regular stages. Additionally, extra levels can be purchased by visiting Toad's Shop. There are a total of three mini-games to play, which include the following:


 * Toad Jump
 * Toad Tote
 * Toad Shot

Featuring Princess Peach
Note that the Nintendo DS' bottom screen also shows animations of Peach during gameplay. They are based off of most artwork featuring Peach shown here in this article, including:


 * Normal
 * Joy Vibe
 * Rage Vibe
 * Gloom Vibe
 * Calm Vibe
 * Peach's "Intuition" (if there is a Toad, or another important item to be found in the current section of a stage)
 * Injured/Danger
 * Peach crying as a result of running out of health

Trivia

 * This is the only game which features Princess Peach as the main protagonist.
 * Additionally, this is the only Mario game to feature a female as the main protagonist.

Links

 * Nintendo.com: Super Princess Peach - Nintendo.com's section on the game.
 * Official Japanese website