After giving players a more in-depth look at its now officially titled Princess Peach: Showtime!, Nintendo also revealed the game's villains as Grape and the Sour Bunch whose names and designs could hint at their roles in the upcoming story. Having been previously teased by Nintendo earlier this year with a showcase of some initial gameplay, fans were eager to learn more about this new game that finally saw Princess Peach take the lead as the protagonist. With her last game Super Princess Peach getting a mixed reception, it's hoped that Princess Peach: Showtime! can become its spiritual successor and give Peach back the spotlight.

But unlike Super Princess Peach, the new Princess Peach: Showtime! spin-off will be introducing its own unique villains instead of adapting existing enemies and bosses from across the Super Mario franchise. Similar to Super Mario Odyssey's wedding-themed Broodals, Princess Peach: Showtime! appears to have taken a like-minded approach by fashioning its villains around the gimmick of wine and sour grapes. Between this and the performative theater backdrop of Princess Peach: Showtime!, there could be some very early clues as to who the Sour Bunch are, what they and Grape want, and what their motives are.

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The Inspiration Behind Grape and the Sour Bunch

As the Sour Bunch's leader is herself named Grape, it's likely that these names were inspired by the phrase "sour grapes" which is used to refer to someone who takes a negative stance towards something they themselves cannot have. This could be a significant clue for Grape's and the Sour Bunch's motivations, who could be targeting either the Sparkle Theater for not being given the spotlight to perform or Princess Peach herself for how she is idolized by those around her. For example, the recent showcase for Princess Peach: Showtime! confirms that Grape will take over the Sparkle Theater so that she can take center stage.

This is further supported by the fact that Grape and her minions do appear to be just grapes, with their name implying that they have turned bad over time and both literally and figuratively soured. While Nintendo might try to avoid association with alcohol for a family-friendly franchise like Super Mario, the connotations of wine, decadence, and high-class society that comes with this could also add to Grape's possible characterization as a selfish villain who takes what she wants and looks down on others. Ultimately, the story behind Princess Peach: Showtime!'s antagonists could be one of straightforward jealousy and revenge.

Princess Peach and the Sour Bunch

For some time now many fans have been calling for Princess Peach to receive her own Wario doppelganger even in spite of reports that Shigeru Miyamoto had outright rejected the idea. But this may have inadvertently led to the inspiration for Princess Peach: Showtime!'s antagonist, as it seems too much of a coincidence that the titular princess's first villain is also named after a fruit. Even various elements of Grape's design seem to parallel and contrast Peach herself, such as the comparisons of pink to purple or the matching floor-length gowns, all hinting that the two are intended to be antithetical to one another.

But while the odds of Grape becoming a recurring villain in the Super Mario franchise like Wario or Waluigi are slim to none, this could be the best compromise that fans could hope for in terms of an "evil" Princess Peach. With this in mind, how Grape and the Sour Bunch factor into the broader plot of Princess Peach: Showtime! could take notes from other similarly designed Super Mario antagonists the Shadow Queen or Princess Shroob. But until more information is known about Princess Peach Showtime, players can only speculate if Grape and the Sour Bunch can steal the show and become their own villains.

Princess Peach Showtime is set to be released on March 22, 2024, for the Nintendo Switch.

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