Why is Princess Peach Crying: Exploring the Deeper meaning Behind Her Tears

Princess Peach‘s tears in the 2006 Nintendo DS game Super Princess Peach come from using her "Gloom" power to weaponize her sadness. But taking a step back reveals her weeping across Mario franchise games actually represents deeper distress from recurring trauma and lack of independence.

Peach cries in a specific Super Princess Peach scene thanks to a power-up called "Gloom" – one of four special emotion-based abilities in this Nintendo DS title. Gloom produces strong water attack spouts from the princess‘s tears.

So in this particular moment, Peach weeping has a clear gameplay-related motive. However, looking holistically at why Peach frequently cries across mainline, spinoff, and cameo Mario games suggests far more distressing inspirations for her tears…

A Recurring Damsel Trope Hiding Inner Turmoil

Princess Peach has appeared in over 200 video games since her 1985 debut – second only to Mario himself. Core Mario franchise titles generally cast her in the quintessential "damsel in distress" role, where she gets kidnapped by Bowser and must be rescued by the heroic plumbers Mario and Luigi.

This one-note victim characterization has unfortunately marginalized Peach and left her crying in games as a seeming sign of helplessness.

But looking deeper, Peach‘s tears actually speak to repetitive trauma, loneliness, and powerlessness:

• Kidnapped over a dozen times, Peach likely suffers from PTSD. Her weeping demonstrates the distress of constant captures more than weakness.
• With Mario off adventuring, Peach lacks meaningful companionship in her confined royal life. A few tears shed in quiet, private moments.
• Mario games seldom depict Peach exhibiting any agency or independence. She‘s a perpetual prize for Mario/Bowser rivalries…an objectified status that could understandably bring anyone to tears occasionally.

So while damsels crying may play into outdated stereotypes, Peach‘s particular tears across Mario franchise consistently illuminate distress.

Peach Deserves More Empathy, Not Ridicule

Empathizing more with Peach represents an excellent opportunity for Mario games maturation. Nintendo‘s family-friendly flagship franchise has spanned over 36 years and sold over 585 million games to date.

Yet playable female characters have barely evolved in representation, complexity, or independence – Peach included. Her crying fits perhaps personify player frustrations.

Thankfully, recent experiments like Super Princess Peach‘s deeper emotional dimension hint Nintendo recognizes an empathetic overhaul is overdue.

So next time you see this icon weeping, don‘t ridicule Peach as some delicate flower. Consider it the appropriate response to an unjust, outdated captive routine in need of retirement. Mario games should craft empowered female character arcs going forward.

Peach Deserves Her Own Adventure

Peach cries far too frequently because the franchise rarely lets her develop on her own terms. While she sometimes gets to adventure with an ensemble or in spinoff sport titles, Peach lacks depth as an individual.

Imagine a mainline Mario game putting Peach center stage. Let her grow beyond the repetitive damsel narrative into a rich personality tackling challenges on her own terms.

What motivates her? What are her greatest strengths? Weaknesses? How would she confront enemies? Koopa minions? Bowser himself?

Answering these questions in a Super Princess Peach Adventure game seems long overdue. Nintendo dominates family gaming yet lags sorely in female lead representation. Super Mario Odyssey‘s contrast showcasing Bowser‘s motivations only made Peach‘s shallow trope more obvious.

The Super Mario movie casts Anya Taylor-Joy as Peach and offers an interesting opportunity. If the film better establishes Peach‘s backstory, maybe it builds momentum for an actual mainline solo adventure down the road!

Peach‘s Tears Summarize Long-Overdue Mario Franchise Growth

Why is Princess Peach always crying? She weeps not because she‘s weak, but because after decades of adventures, we still hardly know Nintendo‘s quintessential damsel on her own terms. She cries out for more empathy, dimensionality, and independence Peach rarely receives.

But winds of change are blowing. Experiments like Super Princess Peach and the upcoming Mario movie signal potential turning points. Perhaps soon Princess Peach stops crying so much and finally shines as the rich, confident heroine she ought to be after 35+ years in the spotlight!