6 Video Games That Didn’t Realise They Were Being Offensive

4. Super Princess Peach

The Mario franchise has faced criticism before for its reinforcement of gender roles and lack of racial diversity. Nintendo were clearly looking to dispel claims that it was in any way sexist when they released Super Princess Peach, a game in which players assume control of Princess Peach in an effort to save Mario and Luigi from Bowser.

While the role reversal, which sees the series' damsel in distress taking on the macho villain in order to save a couple of blokes, can only be considered as a step in the right direction, the execution leaves something to be desired. As it happens, in Super Princess Peach it's not combat, strength and size that gets you through the game: it's emotions.

Yes! Princess Peach can cry to run faster, jump farther and damage enemies below her. She can also become joyous, allowing her to fly, or she can calm herself down which regenerates her health. Finally she can get really angry, which essentially makes her death incarnate.