The Dark Swordfighter & the Arena

Complete The Dark Swordfighter & the Arena in Princess Peach: Showtime! and collect the Sparkle Gems and ribbon. When you return after finishing the story, look for the three hidden Ninja Theets as well.

After completing the main story, you can re-enter the play and search for the hidden Ninja Theets.

Locations of the Sparkle Gems

In The Dark Swordfighter & the Arena you can find a total of 5 Sparkle Gems. The play is significantly shorter than the first two adventures of Swordfighter Peach.

Two Sparkle Gems are hidden behind destructible objects. You will get another one in a secret pose room. The last two crystals are available for the fights before and within the arena.

#	Location
1	Right at the beginning you reach a table or altar with five pitchers. Destroy all vessels so that a sparkling pose spot on the ground becomes visible. Pose there and enter the secret room. Defeat all swordsmen and flying enemies to get the first Sparkle Gem.
2	After passing the area with the table, you hear a call for help and are attacked by several opponents. Then destroy the pitchers at the collapsed pillars. Jump over the rubble to the raised platform. There is the second Sparkle Gem.
3	Follow the narrow path towards the Arena. Several swordsmen and flying enemies block your path as the backdrop behind Princess Peach closes. Defeat all opponents. Once the area is secured, you will automatically receive the third Sparkle Gem.
4	Shortly before the stairs to the arena, there are several pitchers on the right. Crush the vessels thoroughly. In one of the pitchers is the fourth Sparkle Gem.
5	Enter the arena and defeat the Dark Fencer. Avoids his sword strokes and shock waves, unbalances him after his attacks and attacks during the dazed phases. After the victory you get the fifth Sparkle Gem.

Location of the ribbon

The multi-colored Swordfighter Ribbon can be found immediately in front of the entrance to the arena.

As soon as you see the big staircase, you should not climb it yet. Instead, run to the right into the small impasse. There, the ribboner is stuck behind several pitchers and swords.

Destroy all vessels and armour. It is not enough just to jump over the objects. Only when the area has been completely cleared, the ribboner is considered rescued.

Then he hands you the multi-colored Swordfighter Ribbon for Stella.

Rewards	Location	Task
Multicoloured Swordfighter Ribbon	Right impasse in front of the stairs to the arena	Destroy all the jars and swords behind which the Ribboner is stuck.

Battle Passages in Front of the Arena

On the way to the arena you must defeat several groups of the Sauertruppe. Since the course is sometimes very narrow, you should not attack continuously forward.

Wait for the movements of the opponents and avoid their sword strokes with a jump or an evasive movement. After a failed attack, the villains are unprotected for a short time.

Opponents	Procedure
Ordinary swordsman	Wait for his blow, dodge and then attack from the side or from behind.
Several swordsmen	Do not stay between them. Lure the front opponent away from the group.
Flying opponent	Jump and attack in the air. Alternatively, wait until it sinks into Princess Peach’s range.
Opponents in a tight corridor	Use Princess Peach’s dodge step to get behind the attacker and hit him from the safe position.

Dodge with the attack button

Swordfighter Peach can not only strike with the attack button. If you press them just before an enemy hit, Princess Peach elegantly sideways.

This movement is especially important in the boss fight. After a successful evasion, Princess Peach often lands behind or above the opponent and can immediately start a counterattack.

Completely destroy pitchers and debris

Examine each area with pitchers, vases or collapsed columns. Behind the objects are the second and fourth Sparkle Gem and the ribboner.

Do not just smash the vessels directly on the main path. Jump also to the raised debris and check the small dead ends.

Hidden pose location

In The Dark Swordfighter & the Arena, there is a sparkling pose spot. You will find them right at the beginning at the table or altar with the five pitchers.

Location	Task	Rewards
Among the five pitchers at the beginning of the play	Pose and defeat all opponents in the secret room.	First Sparkle Gem

Secret Combat Room

Destroy all five jars first. Once the sparkling stars appear on the ground, put Princess Peach in the center and press ZL or ZR.

In the secret room, several swordsmen and flying enemies attack. Stay in motion and first defeat the opponents on the ground.

Wait with the flying villains until they approach Princess Peach, or attack them with a jump attack. After defeating all opponents, the first Sparkle Gem appears.

After the last opponent group you reach the big arena. This is where the fencer Sparkla is caught.

Before he can warn Princess Peach, the stairs disappear and the Dark Fencer appears. The struggle consists of three phases.

Boss fight against the Dark Fencer

The Dark Fencer blocks off ordinary frontal attacks. Therefore, wait for his attacks and use the subsequent openings.

Attacks several times only if the opponent is visibly dazed. If he stands up again, you should keep your distance again.

Phase 1: Sword strikes and evasive counters

Initially, the Dark Fencer approaches slowly and attacks with his Cortez.

Wait for him to strike. Presses the jump or attack button shortly before the hit. Princess Peach avoids the sword strike and lands on or behind the opponent.

The Dark Fencer is dazed by this. Now attack him several times in succession until he is thrown against the wall.

Boss action	Reaction
Slow approach	Stand still and wait for the actual sword strike.
Boss takes a hit	Jump or dodge with the attack button.
Princess Peach lands behind the boss	Attack several times immediately.
Boss is back on	Finish your combination and create distance again.

Phase 2: Skip shock waves

In the second phase, the Dark Fencer jumps up and pushes his Cortez into the ground. This creates violet shock waves that move through the arena.

Jump over every wave. Do not only pay attention to the first ring, as several shock waves can occur shortly after one another.

After his attack combination, the Dark Fencer is again vulnerable for a brief moment. Avoid his last attack and attack him until he is thrown against the wall again.

Danger	Procedure
Single shock wave	Jump just before the wave reaches Princess Peach.
Multiple shock waves	Land between the waves and then jump again.
Boss lands near Peachs	Avoid his sword before you start the counterattack.
Boss is dazed	Performs as long an impact combination as possible.

Phase 3: Onslaught and surprise attack

In the final phase, the Dark Fencer holds his Cortez forward and storms through the arena at high speed.

A purple track on the ground indicates the direction of the attack. Leave the marked track or jump over the opponent in time.

The Dark Fencer turns several times and attacks again. After several rushes, he briefly disappears from the picture.

Now look at the opposite side of the arena. If it has previously disappeared to the left, it appears shortly afterwards from the right – and vice versa.

Avoid this surprise attack. The Dark Fencer bounces off at the edge of the arena and becomes dazed.

Perform the last hit

Attack the dazed opponent several times. After the combination, the fight seems to have ended.

However, the Dark Fencer tries to surprise Princess Peach from behind. The liberated fencer Sparkla warns them at the last moment.

Follow the inserted input and execute the final sword stroke. The Dark Fencer is finally defeated and the fifth Sparkle Gem appears.

After Completion: Find the Ninja Theets

Upon completion of the main story, you can re-enter the play to find the hidden Ninja Theets.

Since it is a short play in the basement, only one Theet is hidden here.

#	Location
1	The Theet is located directly at the beginning of the play. Look next to the large candlestick at the table or altar where you destroy the five pitchers for the secret pose spot.

Look for Theet in front of the pose position

After the start does not immediately continue to the first fight. Examines the area around the table and the large candlestick.

The Theet disguises itself in color to match the dark backdrop and can easily be overlooked between the pitchers and decorations.

Speak to him before entering the secret pose room or leaving the area.

The Dark Swordfighter and the Arena

Tip	Declaration
Only five Sparkle Gems	The third plays in the basement are shorter and contain only five Sparkle Gems.
Destroy all five pitchers in the beginning	Below this is the pose location for the first Sparkle Gem.
Testing rubble behind the first fight	The second Sparkle Gem lies on a raised platform behind pitchers and collapsed pillars.
Defeat all opponents in narrow gear	The third Sparkle Gem is only forgiven when there are no opponents left.
Examine right side in front of the arena	In the jugs lies the fourth Sparkle Gem. A little further to the right is the ribboner.
Ribboner destroys all objects	Don’t just jump over the pitchers and swords. The area must be completely cleared.
Boss not attacking head on	The Dark Fencer blocks ordinary shots. Wait for an attack and dodge first.
Observe shock waves individually	Don’t jump too early. After the first wave, others can follow directly.
Observe Violet Attack Trail	In the final phase, it shows which area the Dark Fencer will cross.
Waiting for the surprise attack	After several rushes, the boss appears from the opposite side.
Finding Hidden Theet at the Beginning	He stands by the candlestick near the first pose spot.