The Castle of Thorns

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Level
The Castle of Thorns
World	1F
Game	Princess Peach: Showtime!
Boss	Thorn plant
Music track	It's Up to Me
Music sample
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The Castle of Thorns is the first level in Princess Peach: Showtime!, located on the far left in the first floor of the Sparkle Theater. It is the first stage where the Swordfighter transformation is introduced.

The level is automatically entered after the first Stella cutscene, and the pause menu option to "Leave Play" is grayed out during the first playthrough of the level. If the game or console is turned off during the first playthrough, the game will resume from before the cutscene.

Layout

Peach appearing on stage

The level begins with Princess Peach and Stella appearing on stage, with Stella worrying that something is off. Shortly after, they encounter an unconscious Theet, which Peach runs up to. As Stella ponders about this being the work of the Sour Bunch, she decides to help Peach by turning her hair into a ponytail, allowing Peach to use the power of Sparkle to bring the Theet back to its feet. As the stage goes back to normal, Stella decides to check up on the castle in the distance.

As Peach progresses the game, she will pass by a town with the Sour Bunch disturbing the Theets. Peach can control the ribbon to interact against the Sour Bunch by pressing and moving the simultaneously. Their is a board that shows that the player can press to make Peach jump. As a result, the Sour Bunch's masks light up and the stage brightens back to its normal state. After the town is a forest. Peach must use the ribbon to interact with the flowers to unlock the area behind the bushes. As a result, the flowers behave light spotlights and the bushes unveils the path to an area. A collectible will appear where Stella points out the Sparkle Gem. Peach must progress through the the door.

Swordfighter Peach's introduction

In the next area, Stella points out that they are getting near to the castle; the castle grows more thorns much to the Theets' worry. Peach will encounter thorns that inflict damage to Peach if she touches them; some thorns sprout up from the ground. Peach will encounter a Theet swordfighter which Peach needs to interact with the ribbon with to help them destroy the thorn blocking the path. If Peach chooses to enter the room with the blue curtains, she can help Ribboner bloom the trees with her ribbon, who will reward Peach a dress ribbon. If Peach continues the path, a Theet will mention a "swordfighter". The thorns sprout from the ground blocking an archway with blue curtains leading to another room. Peach must use the ribbon to interact with the swordfighters to destroy the thorns. Entering the room, there is the swordfighter's Sparkle. Peach must stand on the stone platform indicated with a small sparkle. As a result, Peach becomes Swordfighter Peach. After Peach's costume transformation, thorns summon from the ground. Peach can press to destroy the thorns; Peach can perform different combos by attacking. Peach must progress east to destroy the thorns where a Sparkle Gem appears, allowing Peach to continue her path.

Swordfighter Peach against an armored Sour Bunch foe.

In the next room, Peach will encounter Sour Bunch swordfighters who will duel against her. The player can press to make Peach dodge as an enemy attempts to attack her. After dodging, the player can press to counterattack. After defeating the Sour Bunch, the stage lightens up and Peach can progress her path. She will encounter spotlights where the player can press or when Peach stands underneath the spotlight, revealing hidden areas. There is the same castle where there are more thorns and the Theets points out the king is in trouble with the Sour Bunch. However, they are halted by a Sour Bunch members who will prevent her from progressing. After Peach defeats two spear wielders, the armored Sour Bunch member faces off Peach behind the bars. Defeating it will brighten the stage and the bars will lift up.

Peach will climb up a spiral pathway that leads to the castle with Sour Bunch members attempting to attack Peach along with thorns blocking the path. As she progresses to the top, she will see the king in distress with a Sour Bunch holding it captive. Approaching the castle will result the stage to turn, revealing the thorn plant in its arena, as the first boss fight. During battle, while it summons thorn attacks, Peach must damage its three-dimensional thorns. This will result the plant to hit its head to the ground, sending a wave shaped like a circle where Peach must dodge and stomp the thorn plant, then repeatedly attack consecutively until it is defeated. If it recovers, Peach can repeat the process to leave the thorn plant vulnerable to her attacks. Upon its defeat, it will break into pieces and disappear along with the thorns reverting the castle to revert to its normal state. Peach automatically obtains the Sparkle Gem and the stage is completed.

Sparkle Gems

1. At the end of the first section, Peach will encounter a group of enemies, each guarding an inactive flower-shaped projector. Regardless of whether or not the enemies are defeated beforehand, Peach can use Sparkle on the projectors to turn them on and make them light up the back wall, with all projectors revealing a curtained passage to the next section. As the passage appears, a Sparkle Gem will appear shortly after in the center of the section for Peach to get.
2. Appears in the second section, near the dress ribbon room.
3. Appears in the end of the second section, after blooming the small flowers next to a Theet.
4. Appears after defeating parts of the Sour Bunch and some thorns after becoming Swordfighter Peach in the third section.
5. Appears after cutting the thorns at the end of the third section.
6. Appears after defeating the Sour Bunch ambush in the fourth section.
7. In the fourth section, at the top of the staircase, the player can press or to pose into a sub-area. Here, Peach fights another ambush to obtain this Sparkle Gem.
8. Appears in the fourth section after winning the cage match. The enemy's weak point is shown after successfully dodging the shockwave by jumping with and some attacks to defeat it.
9. Appears in the fifth section on a platform guarded by three Sour Bunch members.
10. Appears in the sixth and final section after beating the thorn plant.

Dress ribbon

Swordfighter Dress: Located in the sub-area in the second section after using Sparkle on six trees.

Gallery

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  Peach walking in the town

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  Peach standing on a platform

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  Peach transforming

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  Swordfighter Peach's introduction

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  Swordfighter Peach versus thorn plant

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  The stage's album picture

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	剣士といばらの城[?] Kenshi to Ibara no Shiro	Swordsman and Castle of Thorns
Chinese (simplified)	剑士与荆棘的城堡[?] Jiànshì Yǔ Jīngjí De Chéngbǎo	Swordsman and Castle of Thorns
Chinese (traditional)	劍士與荊棘的城堡[?] Jiànshì Yǔ Jīngjí De Chéngbǎo	Swordsman and Castle of Thorns
French	Le château des ronces[?]	The castle of thorns
Italian	Il castello dei rovi[?]	The castle of thorns
Portuguese	O Castelo e os Espinhos[?]	The Castle and the Thorns
Spanish	El castillo de espinas[?]	The castle of thorns