Princess Peach

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Peach.jpg
Peach in Super Mario 64 DS.
Peach
Species Human
Hair color Blonde
Eye color Blue
Voiced by Leslie Swan (1996-1999; 2004; 2007)
Jen Taylor (1999-2005; 2006)
Nicole Mills (2005-present)
Debut Super Mario Bros.


The princess of the Mushroom Kingdom, she makes her debut in Super Mario Bros. after being kidnapped by Bowser, who has turned the entire kingdom into stones, boxes, and other things. As prophesied, only she was able to break the curse using her innate magical powers.

Background

Early Years

She seems to have first met Mario as a baby when she, along with several other babies, was kidnapped by Kamek and a future grown up version of Bowser during Yoshi's Island DS. She was able to use her parasol to allow Yoshi to catch air currents. She worked together with the other babies and the Yoshis to rescue Baby Luigi and other captured babies. Afterwards she would be seen playing with Baby Mario and Baby Luigi back in her own castle, such as in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. During this time she was constantly protected by the past and present version of Toadsworth and kept entertained.

Adult Life

The NES Years

She was initially captured by Bowser in Super Mario Bros. because only she could break the shape-shifting spell Bowser had placed on the Toads, although most later games indicate that Bowser kidnaps her to gain political power or because he is romantically interested in her. Peach was held in the eighth castle until she was rescued by the Mario Brothers. Peach was captured and rescued in exactly the same manner in The Lost Levels.

Peach joined the Mario Bros. in battle for the first time in Super Mario Bros. 2 in the battle to liberate Sub-Con from Wart. The ending indicates the adventure was a dream, but Sub-Con is described as a dream world to begin with so it is likely all four traveled there through their dreams. In Super Mario Bros. 3 she instructs Mario to help rescue several kings in the surrounding lands, but just as the brothers succeed, she too was kidnapped. This time Bowser held her in his personal fortress, but she was again rescued by the brothers.

The Super NES Years

In [[Super Mario World], while vacationing with the brothers, she was kidnapped by Bowser and held within the Valley of Bowser. This time when the Mario Brothers battled Bowser, Bowser rode his Koopa Clown Copter with Peach aboard as well. Peach only emerged from the craft at one point in the battle to toss Mario a Super Mushroom. Bowser was defeated once more, and Peach resumed her vacation with the brothers and the addition of Yoshi.

Peach was once more captured by Bowser in the beginning of Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, this time while she was visiting Mario's house. But just as Mario defeated Bowser and was about to rescue Peach, a giant sword called Exor crashed into Bowser's Keep and sent the three of them flying in various directions. Peach landed on the balcony of Booster's Tower. Booster, the eccentric owner of the tower, saw Peach as a princess from the sky and intended to marry her, regardless of her own thoughts on the matter. Mario and Bowser were ultimately able to intervene and convince Booster that Peach did not want to marry him.

Peach was then returned to the castle, and the Chancellor insisted that she remain there in order to protect her from enemies despite Peach wanting to help Mario on his adventure for a change. Peach was able to sneak out of the castle after convincing her grandmother to pose as her, and she then joined up with Mario for the remainder of his adventure in defeating the extraterrestrial machine monster Smithy. After peace was again restored through Smithy's defeat, she returned to the Mushroom Kingdom.

The Nintendo 64 Years

Peach later invited Mario over to her castle for cake in Super Mario 64. However, by the time he arrived, Bowser had captured Peach and the other Toads. With a variation on his usual plans, Bowser had used the Power Stars to imprison Peach and the Toads within the walls and portraits of Princess Peach's Castle. Mario (along with Luigi, Yoshi and Wario in the DS version) then explored the castle and recovered the Power Stars. Peach was restored after Bowser's defeat and prepared that cake for her savior(s).

Bowser once again provided a variation on his usual kidnapping schemes in Paper Mario. This time he captured Peach's entire castle by lifting it onto the sky atop his own castle, which was now airborne. Peach was imprisoned in her room after she witnessed Mario being defeated by Bowser, whom had used the powers of the Star Rod to make himself invincible, and she was confined to her room. While Mario underwent efforts to save the Star Spirits in order to undo Bowser's invulnerability, Peach (who was playable between chapters) attempted to help Mario out in her own way by sneaking around the castle. Peach recovered items for Mario and discovered locations of Star Spirits for him as well. She was aided in her endeavors by Twink, a young star child whom had befriended Peach. During the final battle with Bowser, Peach used her prayers to empower the Star Beam as a Peach Beam, allowing Mario to defeat Bowser. They then returned to the Mushroom Kingdom for the ensuing parade.

The Gamecube/GBA Years

Despite not being physically present, she did send a Toad (or several) to look after Mario and Luigi during their exploration of the old mansion in Luigi's Mansion. Peach once more embarked on a vacation with Mario and her Toad attendants, including Toadsworth, in Super Mario Sunshine. During their time there a mysterious Shadow Mario made several attempts to capture Peach and was ultimately successful. Shadow Mario revealed himself to be Bowser Jr., who believed that Peach was his mother. Peach was taken to Corona Mountain, where Bowser was waiting. But Mario arrived as usual and rescued Peach again after defeating both Bowser and his son. Afterwards, Mario and Peach were able to enjoy the rest of their vacation.

Peach was later alerted beforehand that Cackletta would attempt to steal her voice in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. That is because it was believed that only the voice of one with a pure and noble soul could awaken the Beanstar and wish upon it, and Peach was believed to be the only such person around in the modern age. Peach was able to replace herself with a decoy and laid low until the truth was discovered. Mario and Luigi, whom had not been alerted of the ploy, traveled to the Beanbean Kingdom with Bowser (who also needed her to have her voice back so that he could properly capture her) in order to hunt down Cackletta and rescue Peach's voice.

After the Beanstar was shattered and Cackletta was believed dead, Peach traveled to the Beanbean Kingdom by airplane in order to go sight-seeing with the Mario Bros, and they decided to go on a trip to Little Fungitown, although the brothers had to undergo great trouble to protect her from monsters in the Teehee Valley. Peach was soon captured by Bowletta (Bowser possessed by Cackletta's ghost), but the Mario brothers were able to trick them into releasing her by disguising Luigi as Peach and tricking Bowletta into thinking it had captured a decoy. Bowletta later launched an all-out assault on the Beanbean Kingdom to get the real Peach, but she was safely evacuated to Little Fungitown and kept there until Bowletta's defeat, at which point they returned to the Mushroom Kingdom.

In Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door while vacationing with Toadsworth, she found a treasure map which contained the locations of the Crystal Stars. She sent it to Mario so that he could help her find the Crystal Stars, but she was then captured by the X-Nauts. At their hidden base, she befriended the computer TEC and once again provided Mario with extra information throughout his quest through e-mails sent by TEC, although Grodus eventually found out about this and erased TEC's memory. Ultimately after the Thousand-Year Door was opened with the Crystal Stars, Grodus released the soul of the Shadow Queen, which possessed Peach and battled Mario and his companions. However, the real Peach took control at one point in order to supply Mario with the last of her strength. Peach was restored to normal after Mario and his comrades forced the Shadow Queen out of Peach's body and destroyed her. She then gave special thanks to Mario's companions for helping to save the world from darkness. Some time afterwards, Peach visited Mario again to give him a new treasure map in hopes that it would lead to real treasure.

The DS/Wii Years

In New Super Mario Bros., Peach was again kidnapped by Bowser Jr. and carried across eight worlds before she was finally rescued by Mario.

Both Peach and Bowser were captured by Count Bleck in the beginning of Super Paper Mario. He forced them into marriage in order to open a Void that would consume all worlds. Peach did not agree to the marriage until Nastasia used her super-hypnotism to force her to. Peach later attempted to escape from Bleck's castle with the aid of a Hammer Bro. Although she was caught, she made a jump and wound up in Flipside. Feeling somewhat responsible for the Void, she joined with Mario's party in order to stop Bleck and the Void. Peach thus became one of the four heroes destined to stop Bleck's void.

The group was temporarily split apart between Chapters 6 and 7, when Dimentio sent them all to the Underwhere. Peach made her way to the Overthere Stair, but she fell into a deep slumber after accidentally eating a forbidden golden apple. Mario and the others were able to revive her by feeding her a Black Apple when they found her in Chapter 7-3. Peach then rejoined the group. She had a one-on-one battle with Mimi in Chapter 8-2: The Crash. Afterwards, she stayed behind to help Mimi even though the castle was collapsing. She said that she didn't like Mimi but had a need to help other people. Peach and Mimi soon took a fall after the floor collapsed, but their fall was broken by Bowser. Peach rejoined Mario for game's final battles, and afterwards comforted Merlon about the loss of Tippy.

Personality

Peach as a baby.

Peach is characteristically defined as being the nicest person you could hope to meet. Although her kingdom may lack in fundamental things such as a real military force, the people in it are generally prosperous and there is very little hardship. Though she has been kidnapped by Bowser multiple times, many of those times she has made some effort to assist Mario and Luigi in some way (whether it's throwing a Super Mushroom from the Clown Copter or sending intel she found). She has also done some work in helping other kingdoms, even if it's just sending the two plumbers to help, such as in 'Yoshi's Safari' when she sends them to help Jewelry Land. She also has large celebrity fame on the level of Mario (if not more). She has many fans and admirers around the world. Her voice itself is also considered to be exceptionally pure, so much that only hers could awaken the Beanstar. Like most of Mario's friends, she's an active racer and enjoys tennis and golf.

Abilities

Among her magic, is her ability to cast healing spells, status magic, and others. Though she is not often seen with a weapon, she does prefer a frying pan or parasol above other things. Her jumping ability is also top-notch, nearly as much as Mario's. Not only that, but she is able to suspend herself in air for a few seconds by floating.

Sports

Despite her regal bearing, Princess Peach is willing to let her hair loose and participate in a variety of sports from golf to basketball. She has appeared in nearly every Mario sports game.

Peach is also playable in every Mario Party game - Mario Party, Mario Party 2, Mario Party 3, Mario Party 4, Mario Party 5, Mario Party 6, Mario Party Advance, Mario Party 7, Mario Party 8, Mario Party-e and Super Mario Fushigi no Korokoro Party. She will be returning in Mario Party DS and Super Mario Fushigi no Korokoro Party 2.

Other Major Roles

Video Games

  • Peach is playable in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. She has three unlockable trophies in Melee. Her special moves include tossing vegetables (from the American Super Mario Bros. 2), using Toad as a shield and using weapons such as golf clubs and frying pans (referencing Mario Golf and Super Mario RPG).
  • Peach was included as a Gamecube exclusive character in the Electronic Arts games NBA Street V3 and SSX on Tour.

Other Media

Trivia

  • The name 'Toadstool' is never in the Japanese games. It was a creation of translators that was later fixed in later games (most notably Mario 64) to be her name 'Peach'. As a result, Toadstool became her surname, despite not being 'canon' in Japan.
  • Her father, the Mushroom King, is mentioned in the manual of Super Mario Bros. but never officially appeared. In the movie, the Mushroom King literally IS a mushroom fungus that covers the entire dinosaur city.
  • She's not the first girl to be rescued by Mario. Pauline has to be rescued in the game that started it all - Donkey Kong.
  • In SMB3, she says "Sorry, but you're princess is in another castle... haha! Just kidding" like the mushroom retainers do in SMB and Lost Levels.
  • Technically, she is still married to Bowser following the events of Super Paper Mario.
  • Peach tastes like peaches, according to Belome.