Let’s take an explore of Super Nintendo world at Universal Studios Japan. It is the newest addition and the first of such a video game themed sector in the Universal park in collaboration with Nintendo, and the first in the world right here in Osaka Japan too. It pays homage and themed after the Super Mario world franchise. The highlight ride here is the Mario Kart Bowser’s Challenge AR ride. Let’s see what is smashing!
On some history, Super Nintendo World, located in Universal Studios Japan, Osaka, opened its doors on March 2021. It’s the world’s first theme park dedicated to the Mario Nintendo universe. This new immersive park sector area celebrates decades of Nintendo’s influence on global gaming culture, focusing squarely on the beloved Super Mario series.
Super Nintendo world sector
Your journey into Super Nintendo World begins with a stroll through an animated green warp pipe. It is a classic Super Mario reference that fans will instantly recognize. The entrance is hidden from the existing Waterworld stunt show entrance. Upon exiting the entry pipe, you are greeted by a vibrant recreation of Peach’s Castle, a focal point in the Mario game universe.
You enter the park sector itself is nicely separated from the with its own entry path into the sector itself. Also, the park sector is tad a micro detailed recreation of the Mushroom Kingdom. Here you can find complete with interactive elements, attractions, and themed environments. Also, it is very easy to see why the park quickly gained popularity and mass appeal not only to gamers but also to families and theme park enthusiasts.
Notably, this park sector grounds are not large and comprises of a central courtyard spanning over two floors. The park looks as impressive at night as in the day. There is quite the attention to detail, with animated towering force-perspective piranha plants, spinning coins, and power-up blocks scattered throughout the area. Also, the visually stimulating sector design makes you feel like you had stepped into the virtual world of Mario. There are many nostalgic references and easter eggs too.
Sector timed entry and crowd control
The small is isolated location of this sector has a double-edged sword it is small which makes this highly sort after sector becoming extremely popular and overcrowded. At this point of time of writing, with this sector always being full, and currently the park also implements crowd restriction controls in place. This includes having timed entry slots to control the number of visitors entering at once to prevent overcrowding.
Hence visitor entry are rate-limited and able to enter the sector only via timed ticket at allocated timings. This also means that your standard Universal ticket by default does not grant you entry to Super Nintendo world. Rather, you have to obtain or purchase a timed entry ticket which often comes via purchasing a universal express pass. Tad a “pay additional to enter” sort of thing. Do note that you can always enter the sector at a time later than Express pass, but not earlier.
Mario Kart Bowser’s Challenge
One of the key attractions is Mario Kart Bowser’s (Koopa’s) Challenge. It is an arcade-inspired indoor dark ride that utilises augmented reality (AR) with technology on a theme park track ride. Each rider is equipped with AR headsets, allows you to race through iconic Mario kart racing themed tracks while interacting with virtual characters and scoring points for a high score.
To start off, the queue line passes through part of browsers stone castle. You enter deep into browsers castle, greeted by a large stone-like sculpture of the King Koopa before entering pre-show area where you are briefed on the AR visors. You be given the visor headband at a mid-queue.
The line carries on into the castle basement and boiler area before being loaded into the ride train. The ride is able to sit 4 riders in a 2 by 2 arrangement with 2 trains being dispatched at ago. The queue path is pretty extensive, as it brings you out of the park into a separate show building where the ride resides.
Also, the Mario Kart Koopa challenge balances fast-paced action with family-friendly fun, making it suitable for a wide audience. The lines can be long, but the interactive queue areas with themed spaces and mini-games, made the wait more enjoyable. The ride also offers single rider queues, allowing you to bypass the first half of the queue and instruction area, though you can’t miss out on the instructions as they are plastered all over the screens on the queue line.
An augmented reality indoor dark ride
For the augmented reality part of the indoor dark ride, you attach the AR lenses to the AR visors which are tethered to the ride. This powers on the visor, allowing projections to be overlaid onto your vision. Moreover, the ride blends in well in the park landscape theming. It takes you through scenes from Royal Raceway, Dolphin Shoals, Twisted mansion, Grumble volcano and even Rainbow Road to name a few.
You look around to aim and press a button at the top of the steering wheel to fire your shells at the opposing virtual Koopa team. You turn your ride steering wheel left or right when you see arrows on-screen and press the wheel fire buttons to launch an attack at the Koopa in front of you. Turning the steering wheel does not physically turn your kart and it goes about its pre-programmed route on tracks. You accumulate points by successful hitting Team Bowser’s characters with shells which you pick up along the route.
Also, you can earn bonus points too if you turn your steering wheel to the direction of direction shown at some parts of the track. If you have a power up band, you to store and track your game scores and attempts on Mario kart browser challenge too. The total score of your kart ends with either Team Mario or Team Koopa winning.
Mario Motors and One-Up factory shop
At the end of the Mario ride, you exit out through the obligatory Mario motors store. Here you can find several Super Mario Kart themed merchandises such a clothing, accessories and food.
Also, this is the only spot you can find the exclusive 6 different Mario Kart racing characters Tomica toys, priced at 1600 yen each. The toy here has the ride-inspired karts with the hover wheels, unlike the convention Mario kart with circular round wheels. It is a unique item found only here in-store and not other gift shops in the park or universal city walk.
Moreover, the 1-UP Factory here at the lower ground floor is tad a more curated store offering all sorts of souvenirs and wearable merchandise from the Mushroom Kingdom, including items found at the Mario Motors store and those at the Universal broadwalk too. Nothing too special.
Yoshi’s Adventure slow ride
Another major ride attraction is the Yoshi’s Adventure mover ride. It is tad a slower-paced monorail-style ride which transverses between indoor and outdoor area. It is designed for younger visitors or those looking for a more relaxed experience. Here, you hop on the back of Yoshi karts which runs along an elevated path running through various points of interests and offering views of the world.
However, though the ride lacks the high-speed thrills of Mario Kart Koopa’s Challenge or the new Donkey Kong coaster opening later this year, it offers a calm, immersive experience that highlights the detailed world-building throughout the park.
An interactive Mario world
Moreover, the world here itself is interactive, like a life-sized Mario game and isn’t just about rides. Through the sector, you can punch blocks to collect coins and discover hidden sound effects. With the Power-Up Band, you join a team and track your score on the app.
Also, you will find key challenges like spinning cranks or punching POW blocks to win digital keys. You can also collect virtual coins, interact with on-screen characters, attempt challenges and unlock hidden features. Earn at least three keys to unlock a fun boss battle with Bowser Jr. It’s short but interactive. Here, you dodge shadows and “steal” the Golden Mushroom. This adds a layer of gamification to the visit, encouraging exploration and replayability.
The Power-Up Band costs around US$40 (about S$49) and comes in Mario, Luigi, and Peach character designs. It’s basically a themed slap bracelet with built-in tech. You link it to the Universal app via QR code and wear it all day. Also, it works like an amiibo too, which is a neat bonus if you play Nintendo Switch game console.
Without the band, the land still looks great, but gameplay features are locked. Honestly, it makes the experience a tad more immersive and is worth it if you want to play, not just look. Also, the band also lets you tap into Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge ride to log high scores. You get digital stamps, coins, and bonus interactions at random spots too.
Toadstool (Kinopio’s) café food court
Wrapping up are food offerings here. The Toadstool café food court is one worth trying for the novelty and Mario-themed food served here. A meal here costs around 2500 yen price mark (about S$22) and is actually affordable and comparable typical of themed cafes in Japan. The food court entrance is inconspicuously located on the ground floor of the Yoshi’s adventure.
You place your order via an ordering app and pay at a hotel-style checkout counter with friendly staff. You also order and pay for drinks at a separate counter. Thereafter, staff will allocate you an empty table with a buzzer in pure Japanese efficiency.
Mario themed food items to try
Interesting food items here include their Mario’s Bacon Cheeseburger (2,500 yen). It is a staple cheeseburger dish here with a large bacon strip topped with a Mario hat and fries as sides (There is a Luiji burger variant too).
Also, the Teriyaki Chicken & Super Star Rice (2,400 yen) is another filling meal. It is inspired by the Mario star and served with a small side of grilled chicken. The quality of the food is great and tasty, though I felt the portions could be larger.
Smaller portions means having a third side dish to try. The Super Mushroom Pizza Bowl with Bacon and Mushroom (1,700 yen) is one interesting novelty dish, tad a take on clam chowder bread bowls. Only the bowl is not actually an edible bread bowl. Other dishes include the Yoshi’s Spinach Carbonara (2,400 yen), as well as a selection of sweet desserts like Tiramisu.
Also, the restaurant is large, and the terrain did a very good job in hiding this large cavernous space underground. The ceiling has with several pipe theming and windows playing looping animated mushroom kingdom animated sequences.
Conclusion
All in all, that wraps up our exploration of Super Nintendo World in Universal Studios Japan. The new park sector is tad a masterclass in immersive theme park design, seamlessly blending virtual gaming elements with physical real-world elements. It does brings the world of Mario to life, offering an engaging experience for fans alike. The interactive elements, rides, and theming does make you feel like you are inside a video game.
At the time of my visit, the Donkey Kong sector and roller coaster ride is still not completed yet, and is expected to open in time for the 2023 Christmas season. This article be updated with more to come. Still, it is clear that this park area will remain a highlight of Universal Studios Japan for years to come here in Osaka city, Japan. Whether you’re a die-hard Nintendo fan or someone looking for family-friendly entertainment, Super Nintendo World offers something for everyone.
