While the steady change of focus is good for Super Mario on the whole, it would also be a breath of fresh air to get a game that focuses solely on the women who have largely played supporting roles to Mario and Luigi for so many years. The Super Mario world has no shortage of charming female stars who deserve a day in the sun. The game could celebrate Peach, Daisy, and Rosalina’s contributions as princesses, while Pauline could round out the cast after her role as the mayor of New Donk City in Super Mario Odyssey.
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The Case for a Super Princess Game
Perhaps the most vital reason Nintendo should make a Super Mario game starring the princesses is they’re woefully underutilized in the main series so far. Peach, Daisy, and Pauline’s appearances are mostly defined by their being in danger, rather than having an active role in the story. While Rosalina is a fairly active character in Super Mario Galaxy, she has since taken a backseat. Most of these characters are only ever playable in Mario-related party games, if ever. Considering how distinct their personalities are from Mario and Luigi, they could bring a completely different energy to the next Mario platformer.
A game that’s about the princesses would also encourage Nintendo to innovate on Super Mario gameplay. While the game could reuse classic items like Super Mushrooms, a game about the princesses would also encourage power-ups specific to those characters. Maybe Nintendo could introduce a series of crown-based power-ups that give the princesses new abilities, a sort of spiritual successor to Toadette’s Super Crown. Even if Nintendo just reused old Super Mario items, it would at least have to come up with some creative new designs for Daisy and Pauline, who don’t usually get their hands on items like Fire Flowers.
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A New Chapter of Mario Games
If the princesses are at the heart of a new Super Mario game, it would inevitably have a non-traditional plot. It’s entirely possible that Bowser captures Mario and Luigi, for instance, trying a new strategy in his eternal quest to capture Peach. Alternatively, Mario and Luigi might just be out of the picture for some other reason. The Super Mario world is silly enough that Nintendo could simply say Mario and Luigi are on vacation and can’t be reached when trouble comes to the Mushroom Kingdom. Either of these plot hooks are prime opportunities for Princess Peach to get her friends together and take matters into their own hands.
Nintendo has definitely taken the Super Mario family of games in some creative directions lately. Bowser’s Fury served as a valuable new look at Bowser Jr. in the Switch version of Super Mario 3D World, and Super Mario Odyssey introduced brilliant platforming mechanics as well as a new look at Peach’s agency. If Nintendo wants to keep exploring new directions for the Super Mario games, a “Super Princesses” title seems like an obvious candidate. It’s about time that Peach, Daisy, Rosalina, and Pauline got to be the heroes on their own.
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