Peach (item)

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Princess Peach eating a Peach.

“Mmm, tastes peachy...”

—Belome, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

A Peach is an edible, juicy fruit with restorative properties. Peaches vary in size greatly. The smallest are the typical size for a Mushroom World fruit and the largest are roughly twice the size of Hoofer the Wildebeest from Donkey Kong Jungle Beat. However, only the largest peaches grow in Mushroom World. The smallest only appear in the world of Super Smash Bros. Peaches have become an symbol of Princess Peach as a result of their use as an emblem for her band, the Peach Hit Five in Super Princess Peach.

Although Peachy Peaches have a similar name and appear nearly identical, Peachy Peaches are actually created through human means, while peaches grow on trees.

History

Growth

Peaches grow on trees. The only two known peach trees are located in the Peach Kingdom, specifically at the farthest reaches of Arctic Plunge and Ancient Foundry. These trees are capable of growing peaches of enormous sizes almost instantaneously. The fruit produced by these trees are the largest known peaches in the Mushroom World. Smaller ones have only appeared in the Super Smash Bros. world.

Common Use

While peaches are not commonly eaten in the Mushroom World, their presence has lead to the conception of the term, "peachy." This word can either be used to describe flavor or show one's positive opinion regarding a situation. While adventuring with Mario, Princess Toadstool was eaten by Belome. He commented that she tasted, "peachy" in Super Mario RPG. Later, Princess Peach would adopt this as a catchphrase, first using it during her second kart tournament and later while rescuing Mario from Bowser in Super Princess Peach.

Donkey Kong's Incounter

Donkey Kong set out on a quest to dethrone the Peach Kingdom's king, Torch Tusk in Donkey Kong Jungle Beat. Along the way, he found both of the peach trees in the kingdom, one in Arctic Plunge and the other in Ancient Foundry. Before he continued on his way, he ate one gigantic peach from each of them.

Peach Hit Five

While Peach was rescuing Mario, Luigi, and the 112 Castle Toads who had been kidnapped by Bowser and the Koopa Troop in Super Princess Peach, the princess collected songs and voice samples that were hidden on Vibe Island. Having done so, she created a band, the Peach Hit Five, and performed these songs with them. The group decided to use a peach as part of the band's logo.

Alternate Storylines

Momotaro

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Momotaro's symbol is the peach.

In Momotaro, an elderly couple's grand-daughter was kidnapped by an evil ogre. However, a large peach fell from the sky and split open upon the ground, revealing Momotaro. When he discovered what had happened, he set out to save the grand-daughter. He wore a headband emblazoned with a peach symbol.

Peach Blossom

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Peaches rain from the sky.

In the world of Super Smash Bros, Peaches appear during Princess Peach's Final Smash, the Peach Blossom. The move puts all of Peach's enemies to sleep while normal-sized Peaches fall from the sky. Because of the state of her opponents, Peach is free to consume all of the Peaches and restore her health.

Appearances and References

Momotaro (1988)

Momotaro, which roughly means, "peach boy" in Japanese, may be a retelling of the Japanese fable Momotarō, but the presentation of the peach was vastly different. The reason for this difference is that this version focuses on the modern version of the tale, in which the elderly woman comes across a gigantic peach which has fallen from the sky. Momotaro was inside of the peach. Additionally, the use of the peach as his symbol is an artistic license taken by the writers. The original video animation (OVA) box features peaches profusely.

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Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (1996)

In this game the boss, players face enemies in a turn-based fighting system that pits Mario and two of his allies against enemies. Belome, a boss character, has the ability to consume Mario or one of his allies. During the second battle with Belome after Toadstool becomes an ally, she can be consumed. When this happens, Belome comments, "Mmm, tastes peachy..." This comment established that peaches in the Mushroom World have a positive flavor.

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Mario Kart 64 (1997)

In this title, each character has a set of phrases that he or she issues if a positive event has occurred. Such events include passing another racer or using a Mushroom. These phrases can be heard if a computer player nearby meets such a condition or if any of the human players are playing as a character who meets this contition. One of Peach's phrases is, "Peachy!"

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Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (2004-'05)

Each of the kingdoms in this game were named after a specific fruit. The Peach Kingdom was named after peaches and symbolized by the fruit in the game's level select menu. Donkey Kong could only clear the Arctic Plunge and Ancient Foundry levels if he reached peach tree at the end of each level and consumed the gigantic peach on each one.

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Super Princess Peach (2005-'06)

As Princess Peach progressed though the adventure, she found and bought hidden music tracks and voice samples that comprised the game's soundtrack. The Peach Hit Five could then perform these tracks using a peach as their logo. An on-stage screen showed a peach splitting open to reveal the band's logo. One positive phrase Peach used was, "Peachy!"

Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Scheduled 2008)

Peaches served as a recovery item in this title, similar to the food item. Each peach restores 5% damage. Peaches only appeared when Peach used her Final Smash, Peach Blossom, during which the fruit rains from the sky and can be consumed by any fighter. Peaches were presented as two-dimensional photographs rather than three-dimensional models.