Do we like them?

Do we like Princess Peach?

A character from Super Mario Bros. (1985–present)

Our score: 8 out of 10. Kind, level-headed and braver than her reputation suggests. She forgives her enemies and now saves the day herself. We'd back her, and we'd bring a cake.

Peach is the princess of the Mushroom Kingdom, home to the mushroom-headed Toads. She first appeared in the original Super Mario Bros. in 1985. In most games, Bowser invades and kidnaps her, and Mario sets out to rescue her. That made her the franchise's famous damsel in distress.

Her personality is gentle and kind, and she's often more observant than the people around her. She keeps showing compassion towards her enemies, and she can be firm when standing up for her friends. She's also a fixture of the Mario spin-offs, from Mario Party to the sports games.

The score reflects how much the character has grown. Super Princess Peach (2005) had her rescue Mario and Luigi from Bowser. The Super Mario Bros. Movie gave her a stronger, more independent streak. In Princess Peach: Showtime! she's the hero who frees a theatre full of trapped performers, using costumes like Swordfighter, Ninja and Kung Fu Peach. She loses a couple of points because for decades she mostly waited to be rescued. Today she's a very easy character to back.