WMG / Princess Peach: Showtime!

Wild Mass Guessing pages are Spoilers Off. You Have Been Warned.

Refrain from using first-person pronouns, please. This is a WMG page, not a forum.

Pre-Release Theories

The game will have a Call-Back or Mythology Gag, if only a minor one, to Paper Mario: The Origami King

Specifically, to the part in Origami King where Mario had to participate in Rubber Band's stage play.

• Jossed. No such thing is even mentioned.

In her backstory, Grape will be exposed as a resentful White-Dwarf Starlet or something similar.

As the leader of the Sour Bunch, Grape's name calls to mind the phrase "sour grapes". Grapes aren't necessarily sour, and can be sweet. So, "Sour Bunch" could be a Meaningful Name, and if this is the case, it'd make total sense for "sour grapes" to be Grape's motivation for evil. In keeping with the game's stage play theme, she is likely someone who didn't have the talent to be a great actress, so she's going to try to make herself feel better by "playing the villain" anyway and ruining the theatre for everybody else.

Factoring in the Sour Bunch's Japanese name, she may have even formed the organization outright because of "sour grapes". The reason? You can't be a failure as an actress if you start your own theatre company!

The final level will be a Perilous Play put on by Grape herself.

The "Sour Bunch" got a Dub Name Change from "グレープ劇団" (Grape Troupe), their Japanese name, which would make Grape the leader of the troupe. So, she likely has a flair for the dramatic. After Grape has sabotaged all the other plays (levels) in the game, Peach will probably confront her while she and her minions are putting on their own show. If Grape didn't plan the play in advance to torment Peach, it could be a reenactment of some in-universe play that caused Grape's Start of Darkness, following the "resentful failed actress" WMG above. There's no indication that the Sour Bunch are a successful troupe, after all.

One of Peach's transformations in the endgame will be as Bowser himself.

Could be a fun nod to how Mario managed to possess King Koopa with Cappy, or a nod to the Mario RPGs where he sometimes actually takes a heroic role and helps save the day.

• Sub-WMG: This game was one big excuse to stick Peach in Bowsette's dress.
  • All Jossed.

Assuming it's successful, this game will spawn a series.

It will be the next Luigi's Mansion series, albeit a Lighter and Softer contrast from it.

Mario will have a major role.

It's a Mario spinoff, so it seems likely that he'll appear in some form. He probably won't be playable, but he might appear as an NPC.

• Jossed. He's not in the game at all. Not even a cameo.

The story takes place at the same time as the events of Bowser's Fury.

Potentially justifying the absence of Mario and Bowser, if they make no appearances in the main game.

One of Peach's transformations will be based off of Mario.

It'll have the ability to Goomba Stomp enemies and throw fireballs.

• Nope.

The two unseen shows at the end of the trailer depicting a kunai and a cowboy hat will be Ninja-themed and Western-themed respectively.

The Ninja-themed show could be a Stealth-Based Mission involving Peach dressing as a kunoichi invading a palace, while the Western-themed show could feature Peach dressing up like a sheriff defending a town from bandits with quick-draw events and Family-Friendly Firearms.

• Western is definitely there, but I think the Kunai is meant to represent the martial arts themed play we saw in the direct.
  • ...Who uses a kunai to represent martial arts?
  • Confirmed! A ninja and cowgirl costume have been officially revealed.

Peach's crown was stolen by Grape.

A prominent detail fans have noticed in the initial reveal that Peach's crown is missing and near the start of the September Direct trailer that Peach still wore it to the Sparkle Theatre up until shortly after the Sour Bunch arrived, implying that Grape stole it judging by Peach's dour expression until Stella arrives.

• Sub-WMG: At the final battle against Grape, she might wear it to turn into a twisted version of Peach and be a Mirror Boss with her own costumes while Peach must fight in kind.
• Jossed; the demo and Overview Trailer shows it got blown off when Grape took over the theatre and kicked everyone out, which got caught by a Toad.

Grape is related to Dimentio in some way.

They both have a theatrical theme, and they have a similar "flying sorcerer with floating hands" design. They both have a purple-and-yellow color scheme, and part of Grape's dress resembles Dimentio's motley. It seems unlikely, but you never know...

• An optional story told by the Flopside cafe shopkeeper in Super Paper Mario does imply Dimentio had a sister, whom we never met in that game... granted, said story also says that his sister is dead, but since Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam established that the Paper Mario universe is fictional in the universe of the mainline Mario games, it is possible that Dimentio also exists in the mainline Mario universe and that his sister is still alive in that universe.
  • There's also the possibility that the Paper Mario games are retellings of actual events in the main Mario universe, and that Dimentio's sister might've faked her death.

Other potential play themes and costumes

Please put all guesses you may have here:

• An ice themed snow world where she becomes Figure Skater Peach, which gives her the ability to glide across the ice and have her face off against certain enemies in skating competitions
  • Confirmed! The Transformation Act II trailer revealed the Figure Skater Peach transformation.
• A Painter/Artist Peach, who either paints things to life, or alters the attributes/abilities/allegiance of items, enemies, or stage features by changing their colors.
• A Super Spy Peach, who uses stealth to sneak past enemies and uses gadgets to get past security.
  • Sounds like Dashing Thief Peach to me.
• Mermaid Peach, featuring the ocean as a level giving her the ability to swim and explore sunken ships
  • Confirmed! The Transformation Act II trailer revealed the Mermaid Peach transformation.
• A whimsical fantasy world or a contemporary town setting would feature Peach as a Magical Girl Warrior, using her Super-Cute Superpowers to battle evil monsters threatening the peace.
• Conversely, a sci-fantasy themed world facing attack from shades played by the Sour Bunch and a lieutenant named Plum, with only Vibe Esper Peach and her psychoactive powers standing between the setting and total destruction; Plum might play Peach's Enemy Without as a Mirror Boss if Grape won't take that role (naturally, in reference to The Thirty-Six Stratagems).
• Superhero Peach, who comes with Super-Strength and can fly.
  • Confirmed! The Transformation Act II trailer revealed the Mighty Peach transformation.
• Phantom Thief Peach. One of the posters in the trailer sports dramatic lighting and a figure using a hang glider. Since Swordfighter Peach is a homage to the "knightly lady" archetype started in Princess Knight, this could be a reference to a certain Phantom Thief whose repertoire of gadgets famously includes a hang glider.
  • Confirmed! The Transformation Act II trailer revealed the Dashing Thief Peach transformation.
• Cowgirl Peach - in the trailer, one of the posters has Western-style lighting and an icon over a level entrance is that of a cowboy hat with bull horns
  • Confirmed! A Cowgirl Peach costume was revealed in the January 21st trailer.
• Songstress Peach - it being a theater-themed game, it would makes sense at least one (or more) musical worlds. A Musical Assassin with Magic Music, she could use her voice to attack enemies (and also sing to receive help from other creatures around as well).
  • Sort-of confirmed. The Mermaid Peach transformation in the February 14 trailer is shown to have abilities related to singing.

There will be some type of reference or Shout-Out to Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Considering that a remake of TTYD was announced in the same direct that we learned more about this game and both games have a stage motif for battles, the idea that this game will reference Thousand Year Door in some way doesn't seem too out of the realm of possiblity.

There will be some type of reference or Shout-Out to the Ape Escape series

Specifically, Ape Escape 3. Looking at this more closely, a majority of Peach's costumes bear a resemblance the transformations from that game in their motif to a degree:

• Swordfighter Peach - Fantasy Knight/Mage
• Cowgirl Peach - Wild West Kid
• Ninja Peach - Miracle Ninja
• Kung-Fu Peach - Dragon Kung Fu Fighter
• Mighty Peach - Cyber Ace
• Mermaid Peach bears some resemblance to Genie Dancer in that the gimmick of both costumes work around song and dance. They both also share a faint inspiration from Disney movies.
• The Super Monkey suit had the ability of camouflage and locating hidden monkeys, so the closest one to that would likely be either Detective Peach or Dashing Thief Peach.

Both of the games also share a common theme with entertainment, with Peach's being a stage play and AE 3's being movies, acting, and filmography.

Mario's only role in the game will be a comedic/self-aware cameo

Could be anywhere, but most likely in a credits art scroll/post-credits scene. If the above WMG about it taking place at the same time as another game to explain his absence turns out to be true, it could be used for a "You would not believe what a weird day I've had" kind of joke.

• Jossed. Mario doesn't so much as appear in the game.

There will be a twist part way through the game that significantly escalates the stakes, similar to Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon

The trailers seem to imply that the only matter at hand is saving this one theater - fairly low stakes in a series that usually has you rescuing loved ones or preventing violent coups d'état - but the trailer vaguely mentions that Peach will also "save the day" somehow.

• Does having the Sparkle Theater itself destroyed midway through the two-part Final Boss battle count?

The final level is the Sparkle Theater itself.

Tying in with the above WMG and another about a Perilous Play, Peach learns about Grape's diabolical plot and decides to confront her in the open, thus forcing an improv act between the two that spans the entire theater; whether Grape's plans scale beyond the Sparkle Theater itself or not, Peach intends to make sure they never leave it. This could even kick off with Grape casting Peach as the damsel in a tragedy. Peach will need noncombat costumes to set up for the final conflict (Patissier can help the staff ready the necessary props, while Detective can help suss out flaws with the stage or certain prop enemies) as well as combat costumes to take out Grape and the Sour Bunch, up to and including other Mario series characters as prop bosses. A number of mutually-exclusive scenarios can spring from this.

• One scenario is that, outside of the final battle with Grape, Peach can only use specific costumes on their proper stages, only gaining access to them all during the showdown to adapt to Grape's changing tactics.
• Another scenario is that all costumes are available to start, but as the fight goes on and certain shows close down, Peach loses the corresponding costume until she's back down to basics against Grape; whether or not a final costume opens up to end the fight is up in the air.
• There's always the "all costumes always available" option...
  • Well, none of the above scenarios happen, but the final battle takes place above the ruins of the Sparkle Theater, so, kinda Confirmed...?

Grape is actually pint-sized.

Notice how her lower half is detached from the rest of her body (Floating Limbs not withstanding). Perhaps in the aftermath of the final boss fight against her, Grape will reveal her true form as a small grape-like being who only wanted to partake in the theater due to a tragic mishap. And thus she assumes a bigger, intimidating witch-like form to take over the Sparkle Theater for herself.

• Partially jossed. Her true form is actually the mask itself.

Grape is the boss of the guys who turned Perry into an umbrella.

It would kind of resolve that cliffhanger.

The Very Definitely Final Dungeon will be a complete Mood Whiplash compared to the rest of the game.

It's clear that both Grape and Drawcia have some similarities: both are purple female antagonists modelled after witches, and whom have control over the games main setting, and both games have a main gimmick. Perhaps the final level will end up being a creepy Nightmare Fuel laden level before the final battle with Grape. The fight could have Grape's One-Winged Angel form be a creepy Eldritch Abomination as a homage to Drawcia Soul to just to tie things up.

Grape will be the long-awaited Waru-Peach, finally canonized.

By her character design and colors, Grape gives off the impression that she be Princess Peach's own nemesis. Everything about Grape seems designed to counteract Peach. Her purple dress with green jewelry clashes with Peach's pink dress and blue jewelry, She is a Wicked Witch with magical powers while Peach is a princess with magical powers, Grape is named after a sour fruit while Peach is named after a sweet fruit. And Grape leads an army of minions while Peach leads the Mushroom Kingdom.

Grape's form in the trailer is not her true form.

Related to the "Grape Is Pint Sized" above, but it could be that the Grape we saw in the trailer is not actually her true form, but rather her One-Winged Angel form. Grape could very well be a human like Peach (or used to be) and took on this form out of bitter resentment for Stella and the Sparkle Theater. In the end, we see Grape's true form and is revealed to be Beautiful All Along or something along those lines.

• Kinda yes, kinda no. The mask is Grape herself, and everything else is made from Darkle.

Grape has a Dark and Troubled Past regarding a past incident at the Sparkle Theater

Still so many questions left on Grape. Why does she want the Sparkle Theater? What beef does she have with Stella? Judging by the Magical Girl vibe this game is giving off, what and knowing how good-hearted and forgiving of a person Peach is, she will end up befriending Grape and redeeming her at the end of the game.

• Jossed. Grape's actions are merely grounded in For the Evulz and she is not redeemed at the end of the game.

There will be a reference to Wario: Master of Disguise.

Both games have the protagonist gain special abilities from various costumes.

As part of its Lighter and Softer plot, everyone will get a Happy Ending

Peach will save the show and the theater, of course. But the villains will get a happy ending as well. Grape (following the White-Dwarf Starlet WMG) will be famous again as an actress and a writer/director. Her minions the Sour Bunch/Grape Troupe will be known for their special effects and stuntwork. Together, they'll get a new career playing the villains at the theater. And as a bonus, this will handily explain any Post-End Game Content- the Sour Bunch didn't go bad again, it's just all part of the show!

• Jossed. Grape and the Sour Bunch are not redeemed.

There will be a Nostalgia Level based on the American Super Mario Bros. 2

Like Showtime, Mario 2 presents itself as a play with a theater curtain on the character select screen. Outside of Super Princess Peach, it is one of the most influential roles for Princess Peach in the series and even though she is just one of four playable characters, Nintendo has a tendency to treat Mario 2 as "her" game, as its heavily referenced in most of her appearances, including in the afforementioned S.P.P. Considering how Nintendo likes their callbacks, there will be a special level based on Subcon in the game. Peach will re-enact her very first (co) adventure in one special play.

There will be hidden secret costumes that turn Peach into her 8-bit self

Related to above, there will be special hidden costumes that will turn Peach into an 8- or 16-bit sprite and let her play a Nostalgia Level.

• Yeah, no.

Mario (maybe & Luigi) will barge into the theater at the end of the game only to find out everything's been resolved.

Peach's Toad attendants were thrown out of the theater with her crown before it locked everyone still inside up. Not knowing what's going on and fearing the worst, they would likely go to the most well-known and reliable hero(es) of the Mushroom Kingdom to come and rescue Peach again. Of course, they find out that Peach has already rescued herself along with everyone else with Stella's help, and Peach gets an extra ticket or two as thanks for her help so everyone can attend the show at the end.

• Jossed. Neither of them are in the game at all.

Post-Release Theories

If the game had a DLC, it'll likely be about Princess Peach joining the theater for a tour around the Mushroom Kingdom

Grape's mask floating in the ocean after her defeat as Grape the Great means that she may one day return after regaining enough Darkle or harnessing a different power source

• Possibly a Sequel Hook.

DLC Daisy Mode: Where you play as Daisy

Ideas for costumes and plays if the game gets a sequel

• Monster Hunter Peach: She'll explore a haunted castle and vanquish all monsters lurking within.
• Toymaker Peach: As the Sour Bunch steals all the toys from the world's biggest toy store, it's up to Peach to make new ones before the grand opening.
• Artist Peach: Peach is tasked with creating new paintings for an annual art exhibition after the previous portraits were vandalized.
• Graffiti Peach: Peach puts on a set of roller blades and skates around, spraying graffiti art onto various buildings to cover up hostile graphics and propaganda.
• Captain Peach: Peach is either a naval officer or Peace Main pirate that takes down enemy pirates and retrieves treasure or kidnapped civilians—both in naval battles and boarding enemy ships.
• Queen Peach: Similar to how Detective works. Replacing the King Sparkla meant to be in the play, Peach listens to her advisors/spies and makes decisions about troops and economics to defend her kingdom in a war. Possibly thwarting an assassination in the second act.
• Super Hero Peach: Similar to Mighty Peach but as a more westerns super hero like Supergirl. That way they can have a level like the Mighty Peach levels but not be a carbon copy.
• Jungle Peach: Basically Peach will play a Jungle Princess. The gameplay will be like Kung Fu Peach but with more jungle swinging.
• Animal Peach: Peach will be in a world full of animals dressed as a animal and the whole plot will reference plays like The Lion King and Cats.
• Singer Peach: Peach will be a broadway singer that will perform songs like Pauline from Super Mario Odyssey. The game play will be more rhythm based like in Mermaid Peach.
• Clown Peach: In this play Peach will be placed in a Circus that was once full of laughter and happiness but is now full on gloom and sadness. So she will take in the role of a Non-Ironic Clown to save the show from a Monster Clown.
• Chef Peach: Similar to Patisserie Peach's level, you need to make food for a festival. It'll require specific ingredients along with timing and good reflexes.
• Plumber Peach: As a reference to the concepts◊ of Peach wearing an outfit similar to the Bros themselves, it'll involve a flooded environment with pipes needing to be fixed and the return of classic Mario movements such as the Goomba Stomp, the wall jump, triple jump or the Ground Pound. For extra meta comedy, the play may involve Peach having to rescue a princess from a bunch of Darklas cosplaying as Bowser and his minions, topped with Theets in every zone commenting "Thank you, Mrs. Plumber, but our Princess is in another Castle".
• Nurse or Doctor Peach: She will treat patients and maybe placate villains by treating them.

---