Super Princess Peach
The tables are turned! Bowser has kidnapped Mario, Luigi and Toad — and it’s up to Princess Peach to save the day. Armed with a magical talking umbrella named Perry and four emotion-powered Vibe abilities, Peach sets off across Vibe Island in one of the most unique platformers on the DS.
Overview
Princess Peach armed with Perry — her magical talking umbrella and the key to saving Mario, Luigi and Toad
Mario, Luigi and Toad imprisoned by Bowser — for once it’s Peach doing the rescuingSuper Princess Peach is a 2D side-scrolling platformer released for the Nintendo DS in 2005–06, developed by TOSE Software Co. and published by Nintendo. It’s one of the very few mainline Mario franchise games to star Princess Peach as the sole playable character — and it flips the script completely, with Bowser capturing the heroes while Peach sets off to rescue them.
The game takes place on Vibe Island, a mysterious location off the coast of the Mushroom Kingdom, split into 8 worlds. Peach’s defining ability is the Vibe system — four emotion-based superpowers (Joy, Rage, Gloom and Calm) that transform how she plays. Her magical umbrella Perry acts as her weapon, her glider, her submarine, and much more.
The DS touch screen hosts the Vibe gauge and Heart Panels for activating powers. The game also includes unlockable minigames, a music room, glossary, and puzzle modes — giving plenty to do beyond the main story.
Story
Bowser uses the Vibe Scepter to overwhelm the castle guards — Army Hammer Bros drag Mario away
Even Luigi and Toad are swept up in the attack — no one is safe from the Vibe Scepter’s emotional chaosOn a beautiful day in the Mushroom Kingdom, Princess Peach heads out for a relaxing stroll. Meanwhile, Bowser launches a devastating surprise attack on her castle using the Vibe Scepter — a powerful new weapon that amplifies emotions, throwing the castle guards into fits of uncontrollable laughter, weeping and fury. Mario, Luigi and Toad are quickly captured and whisked away to the distant Vibe Island.
When Peach returns to find her castle in chaos, she resolves to rescue them herself — returning the favour for all the times they’ve saved her. Before she leaves, Toadsworth presses a peculiar umbrella into her hands, saying only that it is “no ordinary umbrella.” The umbrella is Perry — a sentient, magical companion with his own heartbreaking backstory told through dream sequences. Perry was once a human boy, transformed into an umbrella by a wicked sorcerer; his quest to recover his memories runs as a moving subplot throughout the adventure.
Peach battles through all eight worlds, rescuing Toad, then Luigi from Giddy Sky, before finally storming Bowser’s Villa to rescue Mario. In a brilliant comedic ending, the moment Mario is free, Peach shoves Luigi aside to get to him — much to poor Luigi’s despair.
Peach’s Vibes
The Vibe system is the game’s defining mechanic — and what sets Super Princess Peach apart from every other Mario platformer. As Peach collects Vibe Crystals dropped by enemies and hidden in levels, her Vibe Gauge fills. When charged, she can tap one of four Heart Panels on the touch screen to trigger a Vibe, temporarily transforming her with a powerful emotion-based ability. Click any image below to see the full artwork.
😊 Joy — Orange Heart
- Peach floats upward while A is held — reach otherwise inaccessible Toads and platforms
- Releasing A creates a spinning tornado that defeats enemies and disperses smoke in Fury Volcano
- Background music shifts to a faster, happier version
- Bosses use Joy to destroy platforms and chase Peach through a freefall
😡 Rage — Pink Heart
- Peach catches fire and becomes fully invulnerable to enemy attacks
- Stomp stuns all nearby enemies; hard landings trigger large switches
- Ignites objects and burns through obstacles in Fury Volcano
- Inflates hot air balloons in Giddy Sky to reach new heights
😢 Gloom — Blue Heart
- Peach cries — tears make plants grow instantly for climbing
- Tears spin water wheels to open hidden passages
- Peach runs noticeably faster in this state
- Can counter certain boss attacks that require sadness
😌 Calm — Green Heart
- Peach radiates serenity and steadily recovers HP until the gauge empties
- Can be interrupted by taking damage
- Essential for surviving long boss fights and recovery between sections
- Pairs perfectly with Gloom for extended exploration runs
Bosses also use Vibes — they enter a powered-up phase partway through each fight, becoming faster or more aggressive. Peach must use her own Vibes strategically to counter or exploit the boss’s emotional state.
Perry the Umbrella
Peach and Perry — an unlikely but brilliant duo. Perry is far more than just a weapon
The rescued Toads scattered across Vibe Island — finding them all unlocks minigames and extrasPerry isn’t just a weapon — he is Peach’s companion and the emotional heart of the game. Toadsworth acquired him from a merchant before Peach’s journey, knowing only that this was “no ordinary umbrella.” Perry’s own story unfolds through dream sequences as the adventure progresses: as a young boy, he was cruelly transformed into an umbrella by a wicked sorcerer. His slow recovery of memories and identity makes for an unexpectedly touching subplot.
In gameplay Perry is endlessly versatile:
| Use | How it works |
|---|---|
| Swing Attack | Tap B to swing Perry at enemies — works left, right and while crouching |
| Parasol Float | Hold Perry above Peach’s head to glide and slow her descent from jumps |
| Helicopter Spin | Spin Perry rapidly to hover momentarily and reach higher platforms |
| Submarine Mode | Encase Peach inside Perry’s canopy to swim through underwater sections |
| Ground Pound | Slam down with Perry for a powerful impact attack on the ground below |
| Deflect Projectiles | Swing Perry to knock back enemy projectiles — essential for certain bosses |
Vibe Island — All 8 Worlds
Vibe Island is split into 8 worlds, each containing 6 stages plus a boss stage (stage -6 is always the boss). Hidden Toads are scattered throughout — find them all to unlock minigames. Each world is ruled by a boss with its own Vibe power.
The sunny grassland opener — classic green hills introducing Peach’s moves and Perry’s abilities. Plenty of Goombas, Koopas and Piranha Plants roaming the plains. Boss: Boss Piranha Plant — inhales and spits Nipper Plants; use Gloom to fill its belly with tears then jump on the belly button.
Dense forest with tall trees, winding paths and an owl ruler named Hoo. Introduces trickier platforming through branches and undergrowth. Boss: Hoo — swoops down and hurls eggs; in phase 2 uses Joy to destroy the platform and chase Peach through a dramatic freefall.
A haunted mansion packed with Boos, Fishin’ Boos and Big Boos — one of the creepier Nintendo DS levels. Boss: King Boo — relentlessly pursues Peach and spawns blue fireballs; light all four torches in the arena to damage him.
An active volcano with lava-filled caverns and damaging smoke — use Joy’s tornado to clear the smoke clouds. Boss: Wiggler — a giant caterpillar that charges and stomps; goes full berserk in phase 2 with fire attacks.
Sun, sand and Chain Chomps making their debut in Super Princess Peach. Plenty of underwater swimming sections with Perry in submarine mode. Boss: Gooper Blooper — a screen-filling Blooper that attacks with tentacles and ink spray.
Icy blizzards and slippery surfaces — Rage Vibe is essential for dealing with freezing attacks. Boss: Blizzaurus — a snow dragon who breathes blizzards and charges across the arena; Rage makes Peach immune to cold damage.
Clouds, sky platforms and Bowser’s air force — Lakitus, Paragoombas, Amazing Flyin’ Hammer Bros and Paratroopas everywhere. Hot air balloons need Rage Vibe to rise. Luigi is imprisoned here. Boss: Giant Kamek — has cast an enlargement spell on himself and attacks with sweeping magical blasts.
Bowser’s heavily fortified island villa — more castle than villa really. Mario is held prisoner here. Peach must first defeat the Army Hammer Bro miniboss before reaching Bowser himself. Boss: Bowser — uses all four Vibes in sequence; counter each with the appropriate power to wear him down and rescue Mario.
Bosses
Each of Vibe Island’s 8 worlds ends with a boss fight — and every boss wields one of the four Vibes in their second phase, making them faster and more dangerous. Learning to use Peach’s own Vibes to counter them is key.
| Boss | World | Vibe | How to Beat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boss Piranha Plant | Ladida Plains 1-6 | Rage | Activate Gloom while it inhales — your tears fill its belly. Jump on the distended belly button to deal damage. Dodge shockwaves in phase 2. |
| Hoo | Hoo’s Wood 2-6 | Joy | Jump on Hoo’s head when he swoops low. In phase 2 he uses Joy to destroy the floor — use your own Joy to float above him during the freefall. |
| King Boo | Shriek Mansion 3-6 | Gloom | Light all four torches in the arena using the candles and fire sources dotted around. Only then can King Boo be damaged. |
| Wiggler | Fury Volcano 4-6 | Rage | Ground pound on Wiggler’s head when he pauses. In phase 2 he charges with flames — use Rage to become fire-immune and stay aggressive. |
| Gooper Blooper | Wavy Beach 5-6 | Calm | Attack each tentacle to expose the body, then hit the main body. Use Calm between attack windows to recover HP. |
| Blizzaurus | Gleam Glacier 6-6 | Rage | Jump on his back when he rears up. Rage makes Peach immune to his freezing breath — keep it active in phase 2. |
| Giant Kamek | Giddy Sky 7-6 | Joy | Use Joy to float and dodge his sweeping magic blasts, then attack when Kamek is vulnerable from above. |
| Bowser | Bowser’s Villa 8-6 | All four | Bowser cycles through all four Vibes — counter Joy with Joy, survive Rage with careful positioning, use speed in Gloom phase, and heal during Calm phase. |
Enemies
Super Princess Peach features a unique twist on familiar enemies — many are affected by the Vibe Scepter, displaying exaggerated emotional states that change their behaviour. A Sad enemy is sluggish and barely a threat; a Mad enemy is enraged and far more dangerous. Here’s who you’ll encounter across Vibe Island:
Goomba (Sad)Slow & harmless
Goomba (Mad)Charges fast
ParatroopaWinged Koopa
Flyin’ Hammer BroAir attack
Big BooHaunts mansions
Security ThwompCrushes from above
Banzai BillMassive bullet
RockethandsRocket fists
WalrussGlacier enemyPetey PiranhaPiranha boss| Enemy | Location | Vibe State | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goomba (Sad) | All worlds | Gloom | Shuffles slowly, barely threatens Peach — easy to jump on or ignore entirely. |
| Goomba (Mad) | All worlds | Rage | Charges at full speed — tackle quickly or use Rage to stomp-stun on landing. |
| Koopa Troopa | All worlds | Normal / Sad / Mad | Classic shell enemies — kick shells to clear groups. Sad Koopas wander aimlessly. |
| Paratroopa | Giddy Sky & others | Normal / Joy | Winged Koopas patrolling the air — Joy Vibe lets them fly in unpredictable patterns. |
| Amazing Flyin’ Hammer Bro | Giddy Sky | Rage | Swoops in on a platform hurling hammers — very dangerous in Rage phase, prioritise quickly. |
| Lakitu | Giddy Sky | Normal | Tosses Spinies from a cloud — knock Lakitu out first to stop the supply. |
| Big Boo | Shriek Mansion | Gloom | Massive Boo who only appears when Peach’s back is turned — it cries in Gloom state. |
| Boo | Shriek Mansion | Gloom / Rage | Standard ghost — turns invisible when faced, charges when not. Rage makes them aggressive. |
| Banzai Bill | Giddy Sky & Villa | Rage | Screen-filling projectile — time jumps carefully or use Rage invincibility. |
| Security Thwomp | Shriek Mansion & Villa | Normal | Crashes down when Peach passes beneath — watch for the shadow. |
| Piranha Plant | Ladida Plains & others | Rage | Snaps from pipes — time your passage or use Perry to knock them back. |
| Chain Chomp | Wavy Beach | Rage | First appearance in Super Princess Peach — lunges to the end of its chain in Rage state. |
| Rockethands | Bowser’s Villa | Normal | Late-game enemy that launches detachable rocket fists — keep moving. |
| Walruss | Gleam Glacier | Normal | Lumbers slowly but has high HP — Rage stomp or Perry ground pound works well. |
Obstacles
Beyond the enemies, Vibe Island is full of environmental hazards — many of which interact directly with Peach’s Vibe abilities in clever ways. Mastering these is key to full completion.
Ball ‘N’ ChainSpiked hazard
SmogballToxic cloud
Stomping block
SandslabDesert hazard
Mini-Fang SwarmTiny swarm
Security ThwompGuard crusher| Obstacle | World | How to Handle |
|---|---|---|
| Smoke Clouds | Fury Volcano | Cause continuous damage while Peach is inside. Activate Joy Vibe — the tornado blast clears the smoke instantly. Vibe Crystals are extra plentiful in this world to compensate. |
| Lava | Fury Volcano | Instant damage on contact — Rage Vibe does not protect against lava. Time platforms carefully and use Perry to float over gaps. |
| Icy Floors | Gleam Glacier | Slippery surface that reduces traction. Move carefully and use Perry to brake. Rage Vibe combats freezing attacks from enemies. |
| Blizzard Winds | Gleam Glacier | Strong horizontal gusts that push Peach off course. Use Joy Vibe to float over hazardous sections. |
| Water Currents | Wavy Beach | Drag Peach in one direction while swimming. Enter Perry’s submarine mode to navigate against currents. |
| Brambles & Thorns | Hoo’s Wood | Damage Peach on contact. Use Gloom Vibe tears to grow climbable plants and find routes around thorny sections. |
| Water Wheels | Various | Must be spinning to open hidden doors. Gloom Vibe tears activate them — look for streams near sealed passages. |
| Hot Air Balloons | Giddy Sky | Balloons that require heat to rise. Activate Rage Vibe — Peach’s fire aura ignites the burner and sends the balloon up to new platforms. |
| Large Switches | Various | Too heavy for a normal stomp — activate Rage Vibe and perform a hard landing to trigger them and unlock new areas. |
| Locked Doors | All worlds | Some require key items; others open when all enemies in a room are defeated. The Calm Vibe is useful for recovering HP before a locked-door gauntlet. |
| Tall Platforms | All worlds | Out of reach of a normal jump — activate Joy Vibe and float upward to reach hidden Toads and secret exits. |
| Ball ‘N’ Chain | Shriek Mansion & Villa | A spiked ball on a chain swinging in tight corridors — time your movement to the swing pattern carefully. |
Game Extras
The in-game shop — spend coins to upgrade Peach’s HP, expand the Vibe Gauge, or unlock minigamesFinding all hidden Toads scattered across each world is key to unlocking the full set of minigames| Extra | Description | How to Unlock |
|---|---|---|
| Minigames | Touch-screen mini-games including Endless Bomb-omb, Print Star and others | Rescue hidden Toads in each world — each Toad unlocks one minigame |
| Puzzles | Jigsaw-style puzzles built from in-game artwork | Find puzzle pieces hidden in stages |
| Music Room | Listen to any of the game’s tracks at any time | Progress through the main game |
| Glossary | An encyclopaedia of every enemy and item encountered, with descriptions | Encounter enemies and items in levels |
| The Shop | Spend coins on HP upgrades, Vibe Gauge upgrades, stage hints, and bonus minigames | Available between stages from the start |
Reception
Super Princess Peach received generally positive reviews at launch, praised for its charm, inventive Vibe mechanics and polished presentation. Critics noted it was on the easier side for experienced players, though later worlds offer a genuine challenge. It sold around 1.14 million copies in Japan in its debut year.
| Publication | Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| IGN | 7.0 / 10 | Charming and creative — the Vibe system is a genuinely fresh idea even if overall difficulty is low. |
| GameSpot | 7.0 / 10 | A fun, breezy platformer with real personality, though veterans may find it over too quickly. |
| Nintendo Life | 7 / 10 | A loveable adventure that makes great use of the DS hardware and puts Peach firmly and deservedly in the spotlight. |
Videos
References to Other Games
Super Princess Peach contains a number of deliberate nods to earlier Mario and Nintendo titles — some subtle, some quite direct:
| Game | Reference |
|---|---|
| Super Mario Bros. | Goombas are described as Mushroom Kingdom traitors — a direct callback to the original game’s lore. |
| The Legend of Zelda | Toadsworth paraphrases “It’s dangerous to go alone. Take this!” when handing Perry to Peach. |
| Super Mario Bros. 2 | Peach can pick up and throw enemies to defeat others, just as in SMB2. The Floatbrella mirrors her gliding jump from that game. |
| Super Mario Bros. 3 | Paragoombas retain their SMB3 attack patterns and the red variant returns specifically from that title. |
| Super Mario World | Several enemies reappear and most Brick Blocks visually resemble the Rotating Blocks from SMW. |
| Donkey Kong (Game Boy, 1994) | The final Bowser fight resembles the DK ’94 climax — including Bowser growing giant for the final phase. |
| Super Mario 64 | The plot directly mirrors SM64’s opening — Peach’s castle invaded while she’s away, guards rendered helpless. |
References in Later Media
Super Princess Peach left its mark on the wider Mario franchise — Perry in particular became a recognisable symbol of Peach’s rare starring role:
| Game / Media | Reference |
|---|---|
| Super Smash Bros. Brawl | Perry appears as a collectible trophy. |
| Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games | A quiz question acknowledges Peach saved Mario with the help of a “magic parasol” — a direct reference to Perry. |
| Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | Perry returns as a collectible Spirit in Spirits mode. |
| The Super Mario Galaxy Movie | Some of Peach’s official movie artwork is based directly on her artwork from Super Princess Peach. |