No, Playing as Toadette / Peachette is not ‘Cheating’

The Internet can be a cesspool of negativity and hateful rhetoric, and  while it’s inevitable with politics and religion, it’s always disappointing when that creeps into the video game world as well. The latest string of stupidity on the Internet stems from the launch of New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe, a remake of the Wii U game of the same name, with the inclusion of New Super Luigi U and one other important game play mechanic: the ability to play as Toadette / Peachette.

So who are these ‘new’ characters, and why have they created such a stir? Any longtime Nintendo fan will know that Toadette isn’t a new character to the Mushroom Kingdom, but her final and most powerful form, Peachette, definitely is. New Super Mario Bros U was originally created to be a typical Mushroom Kingdom title. Peach is kidnapped by Bowser, and the hero Mario was the one tasked with saving her. However, new game play mechanics shook that formula up a bit, allowing players to choose from a variety of characters, allowing each and everyone one of them the opportunity to save Peach themselves. Brand new Nintendo character Nabbit was included as an ‘easy mode’ character, similar to the inclusion of Funky Kong in the re-release of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.

With a growing fan base – both in terms of overall numbers and age demographics – Nintendo thought that with the release of New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe, they should include an even easier option for players, that being Peachette. When grabbing the crown power up, Toadette transforms into Peachette, and takes on new abilities that definitely make playing through the game much easier, including the ability to reach high, out of the way places, and float around the map with relative ease.

Does Nintendo force you to play as Peachette? No. Does Nintendo require it at some point in the game? No. So why the hate?

While watching Abdallah Smash play through the game on YouTube on Thursday, I kept the chat window opened and watched as some very random comments started flowing in about how him playing as Peachette was cheating in some way. First, Nintendo included the character in the game, so it’s not like this is a hack of some kind. Second, as a YouTuber, it’s his job to display whats new in New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe, and in this case, the new hotness is Peachette.

It’s not cheating to make the experience of a game easier, and frankly, people really shouldn’t care how others choose to play their games. If you want to play the entire game as Peachette – and in my own review process I’ve been using Peachette exclusively – then by all means do it. It’s not cheating, it is enjoying a new game play experience.

You are not less of a gamer if you choose to use Peachette exclusively during your play through of New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe.