In Super Paper Mario, Peach ends a dating simulator segment by blowing it up with a bomb. This is most likely a reference to classic 1994 dating simulator Tokimeki Memorial, where girls neglected by the player character will destroy his reputation, represented by cartoon bombs.
![[screenshot of Super Paper Mario with Peach using Boomer during Swoon.exe]
In Super Paper Mario, the boss Francis tries to woo Peach by starting a parody dating simulator segment with her. While the player controls Peach at first, eventually she will be fed up with her options, take control, and use the pixl Boomer (who is a bomb) to explode the dating sim.
While this appears to be simply a funny way to end the segment, the usage of a bomb is most likely a reference to the classic 1994 dating simulator Tokimeki Memorial.
[screenshot of Tokimeki Memorial with a bomb visible]
In Tokimeki Memorial, if the player is trying to woo several girls, those that feel neglected due to the player not spending enough time with them will have a bomb appear next to them on the character list.
If the player is not quick enough in meeting with the girl in question and defusing the tension, the bomb will explode, signifying the girl ruining the player character's reputation with malicious rumors.
Since the bomb going off in Tokimeki Memorial can often make certain routes completely unwinnable, the usage of a bomb by Peach to show Francis can never woo her would be recognized as a reference.
Source: info: YouTube user @PunchyYT, youtube.com/watch?v=7B9ZxwFQ0qY](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:heeihz7xdhf7dbjx4befobqw/bafkreiewlkk7hg4iqff6wryzoxkdq3kvazaysft7dcgkp5qgmcvi23jfze)
