Super Nintendo World has been a huge success at Universal Studios Japan, drawing visitors from across the country to experience an immersive world where Mario, Yoshi and other beloved Nintendo characters come to life. And while it will be several more years before Super Nintendo World is ready to go to Epic Universe in Orlando, the first US-based version of this land at Universal Studios Hollywood is nearing completion, and Universal confirms that this land will be opened in early 2023.
This is incredibly exciting for Nintendo fans, and if you can’t wait to see what’s inside this new land, we’ve got a little sneak peek for you that includes what you can expect from the first Super Nintendo World in the United States.
Much like inside Universal Studios Japan, the entrance to this new land will be a large green pipe, which Mario fans are all too familiar with. As guests travel through the pipe, they will hear a familiar noise and then be able to see the world of Super Nintendo Land when they reach the other side.
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge will be the main attraction
The main attraction of Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood will be Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, which is an AR-assisted dark ride that allows guests to compete against each other in a three-dimensional world where they can race on iconic Mario Kart courses. alongside Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach.
Visitors boarding this attraction will need to don a special pair of goggles to see the world of Mario Kart come to life around them. Once the ride begins, you’ll use a combination of AR, projection mapping, and physical moving pieces that are placed along a moving track as riders collect coins, throw shells, and more to win the Gold Cup.
The attraction itself will be housed inside a massive replica of Bowser’s Castle and, assuming the layout is similar to the one in Japan, visitors entering the queue will find plenty of details from the various Mario games to check out as they make their way to the attraction. attraction loading station.
Power-Up bands and interactive elements will be found throughout the terrain.
One of the most popular elements of Super Nintendo Land in Japan is the area’s use of power-up handheld devices, which allow visitors to feel part of the gaming world and interact with certain elements around the land. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it appears that these special bands will also be available in the Universal Studios Hollywood version of this land, allowing visitors to activate specific activities in the land, including the ability to save scores and view ride data. from Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge. , and make certain characters come to life within the new land with sounds and movement.
Guests in Japan can also participate in a global game on land that allows them to fight bad guys and defeat land bosses using these gangs. Although nothing has been confirmed yet about this specific experience coming to this version of earth, it seems likely that this type of activity will be available at Universal Studios Hollywood, especially since guests will need something else to do on this earth besides riding. to Mario. Kart, and it will be easier to sell Power-Up bands if they are as central to the land experience as wands are in the nearby Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Design options for the power-up band haven’t been released yet, but character bands featuring Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Princess Daisy, Toad, and Yoshi are currently available in Japan, and we imagine a similar line will be available soon. . next year when the ground opens.