New Super Nintendo World Details Revealed – / Movie

Universal Studios turned the whole theme park landscape upside down with the Wizarding World of Harry Potter when it opened in 2007. Now they’re looking to do it again with another franchise that is loved by people of all ages and around the world.

2021 will see the arrival of Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka. With rides and attractions based on Mario, Yoshi, and other beloved characters, the theme park expansion seeks to immerse visitors in the colorful and exciting world of a video game. After all, this will be the only place on the planet where you can actually race through a Mario Kart grand prix or ride a Yoshi through the Mushroom Kingdom.

New details about the new themed terrain (which at one point will also be visiting Universal’s parks in Orlando, Florida and Los Angeles, California) were revealed today during a Nintendo presentation. Direct. Here’s what you need to know.

The presentation was a walking tour across the country led by the creator of Mario, the director of the game and the charming figurehead of the company Shigeru miyamoto, who seemed to have the time of his life watching his creations come to life in a physical space. Details on actual attractions were slim (the terrain will open up with high speed and high tech Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge and slow family attraction Yoshi’s Adventure), but the images of the architecture, shops, restaurants, and interactive areas were really lovely … especially for those who already love Nintendo characters.

The entrance to Super Nintendo World is a big green pipe (a common sight in Mario games), filled with familiar video game sounds and lighting effects. It’s a bit low-key, but it leads straight to something that will hit you right in the nostalgia button: the lobby of Princess Peach’s castle from Super Mario 64. Video game enthusiasts will immediately recognize the layout, artistic design, and even the music pumped through the speakers. Naturally, the portraits that line the walls change, because they are not ordinary portraits.

From there Miyamoto shows the outside of the park and it’s pretty wild. There is movement and color in all directions – it looks alive. Mario’s animatronic enemies parade through hilltops, Piranha’s plants fall asleep, and familiar video game visuals are performed in front of you. It’s honestly quite surreal. (And naturally, exiting the Peach Castle lobby reveals an actual recreation of the castle exterior).

This is where the video showed its main feature: the “Power Up Bands” which will allow visitors to interact with the world around them in a surprising way. There are apparently countless interactive elements scattered all over the land, and Miyamoto shyly played on the details, suggesting that part of the fun is finding them. However, wearing a Power Up Band and punching a block will create a familiar room sound effect and drop a room into the park companion app on your phone. Hitting a POW block in another area can trigger a shell to hit a Koopa animatronic and give you a key. And apparently, if you collect three keys from all over the country, you can take on Bowser Jr. in a boss battle. What does that mean exactly? It’s not yet clear, but I imagine we’ll find out soon enough.

Miyamoto also made us discover an interactive zone: a reconstruction of the underground levels of the Mario games. It’s dark and like a maze, full of familiar music, charming artistic design, and lighting effects. Of course, there are many blocks that will interact with your Power Up Band. But more importantly, there are plenty of scattered Bob-omb animatronics, including a giant one-room version that creates a shrinking effect using forced perspective.

And since this is a theme park video, there’s a gift shop full of toys, t-shifts, and stuffed animals. However, the key memory seems to be the Tokotoko Mario, a doll that stands and walks while you push it.

Miyamoto teased popcorn snacks in two flavors – Caramel Peach and Mushroom – and also a restaurant called Kinopio’s Cafe. Like the rest of the park, the restaurant is interactive, with fake windows (actually screens) showcasing a hard-working staff of Toad chefs. The interior of the restaurant is large and covered in artwork showcasing the power-up elements of the games (because you turn on while eating, you see). Some dishes were featured including the Mario Burger and the Super Mushroom Pizza Bowl.

The grand finale offered a glimpse into the very thematic line-up for Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge, which Miyamoto says took six years to develop and involve Universal Creative in close collaboration with Nintendo. The setting for the ride is Bowser’s Castle, dark, dungeon-like and lit by twinkling candles. And yes, there is a giant statue of Bowser to greet you shortly after entering. The queue will take you past a trophy box containing familiar prizes from Mario Kart games, but also something new: a Universal Studios trophy that can’t be won here.

Miyamoto also revealed the race storyline: You are part of Mario’s racing team and you are here to win the Universal trophy. However, this is Bowser’s special course, which he personally designed to defeat Mario. So how do you beat a driver who knows every detail of the track? Presumably with great speed and gripping drama.

We couldn’t see the ride in action, but we did get to see the transport vehicles and the loading dock. We know the ride will combine a real track and practical effects with augmented reality to bring Mario’s characters to life.

Super Nintendo World is currently set to open at Universal Studios Japan on February 4, 2021. You can watch the full video of the tour in the plater below.

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