I took a big breather from the big N’s games over the past decade, and now that I’m back, it seems that the princess is “Princess Peach” - but I remember her as Princess Toadstool.
What happened?
Princess Toadstool and Princess Peach are actually the same person. In Japan, she has always been known as Princess Toadstool. Super Mario 64, opens with a letter which is signed, “Yours truly, Princess Toadstool- ‘Peach.’” Presumably, Peach is her nickname. She has been known as Peach ever since.
Besides, how would you like to be named “Toadstool”?
Wikipedia says the exact opposite. Why they went from Peach to Toadstool, I’ve no idea.
Was the Princess given a name in (the American) Super Mario Bros. 2, where she was a playable character?
And while we’re at it, who is the “Daisy” who is sometimes referenced in Nintendo games? In Mario Kart, for instance, she’s partnered with Peach.
Because everything else was mushroom based?
Daisy was the princess to be rescued in Super Mario Land for the Gameboy, which took place elsewhere than the Mushroom Kingdom. When Nintendo decided that it could use more female characters in the Mario franchise, they unearthed Daisy.
You’re right. That sentence was supposed to have read, “In Japan, she has always been known as Princess Peach.” The name is now Peach in both Japan and the United States. However, there are some characters who still have different names in Japan than in the U.S.- Bowser is Koopa, and Toad is Kinopio.
The manual for the original US release of the game refers to her as Princess Toadstool. For Super Mario All-Stars on the SNES, she is simply called The Princess.