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Super Nintendo World has officially opened<\/a> at Universal Studios Hollywood. The highly anticipated theme park pioneers a unique concept \u2014 rather than focusing on rides, the park is an interactive experience. <\/p>\n
Full disclosure, I was lucky to visit the park the day before it opened. Universal and Nintendo provided a Power-Up Band which is essential for the full park experience and food was available for free. <\/p>\n
Super Nintendo World\u2019s highlights<\/h2>\n
Adapting game play to real life<\/strong><\/p>\n
Your mission in the park \u2014 should you choose to accept it (and pay for the NFC enabled Power-Up Band) \u2014 is to explore and discover the secrets scattered through out the land. The bands will track your progress as you collect coins and keys. The Mario Kart ride is the best way to collect coins, but blocks are available throughout to park too. <\/p>\n
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Visitors collect keys by playing four mini-games in the park. The first time a key is collected, you\u2019ll play on easy mode. However, the difficulty increases dramatically on subsequent attempts. These require active participation and timing. Be prepared to move around, and having a friend or two will help. <\/p>\n
Getting my arm workout in for Goomba\u2019s key<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
After you collect three keys, you can enter Bower Jr.\u2019s lair. Visitors are tasked with swatting away Bob-ombs, ducking under Bullet Bills and collecting power ups. This was my favorite part of the park. The quest-like experience captures the feeling of playing a game in real life.<\/p>\n
The technology<\/strong><\/p>\n
The Power-Up bands are critical to the Super Nintendo World experience. You should plan on buying one if you intend to go. They enable you to fully experience all the park has to offer. The app will also give you clues on how to collect stamps, coins and find the secrets. I regret not using the app more while at the park. The bands also give information to cast members, particularly those in costume. This helps to personalize meet and greets.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s-a them, the Mario Bros!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
In addition to the Power-Up Bands, Super Nintendo World uses AR to bring Mario\u2019s world to life. This is best seen in the Mario Kart ride. Riders are given visors inspired by Mario\u2019s hat that connect to the ride\u2019s AR screen. Through out the ride, you steer, collect shells and fire away at Mario\u2019s iconic cast who are projected via AR. Not only does the ride immerse you in Mario\u2019s world, the focus on getting a high score makes it replayable. <\/p>\n
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The AR Visor is comfy and easy to wear<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The AR looks better on your face than your camera<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n
The AR technology is also available in some other areas of the park, specifically the binoculars that overlook Bower Jr\u2019s Shadow Showdown.<\/p>\n
Immersion<\/strong><\/p>\n
Super Nintendo World was meticulously built to capture the world of Mario. According to Jon Corfino, VP at Universal Creative, the project took over seven years to come to fruition. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe cornerstone of this whole effort has been our relationship with Nintendo and Miyamoto-san and having their partnership because it\u2019s all about authenticity,\u201d Corfino said. \u201cThey\u2019re the best at what they do. We worked hand-in-hand with them on everything you see \u2014 from the wood grain on the seats to the audio levels in the park.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Peach\u2019s Castle right out of Mario 64<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The overlooks sell the scale of Super Nintendo World<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n
The attention to detail paid off. The park itself captures the feeling of Mario. The nostalgia is off the charts and will delight fans that can visit. <\/p>\n
Missed opportunities<\/h2>\n
While the Super Nintendo World itself is fantastic, there are some areas that could use improvements.<\/p>\n
The instructions for setting up the Power-Up Band and how its used to interact with the environment were not obvious. You can easily miss opportunities \u2014 like the Mario Kart ride \u2014 to scan your band. I was lucky to get some help, but unprepared visitors might miss out.<\/p>\n
Additionally, the bands themselves don\u2019t feel as secure as I\u2019d like. They snap on, but they tend to curl up without getting a rubber band at the 1-Up Factory retail store that isn\u2019t included in the packaging. This could become a major inconvenience for guests, particularly families. <\/p>\n
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Bowser\u2019s Castle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Hi Pikmin!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Lots of easter eggs, but I wanted more interactivity<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n
I was also disappointed that there were not more opportunities to use the band. The queues are decorated beautifully, but I wanted a mini-game to play while in line. Similarly, the Toadstool Caf\u00e9 didn\u2019t offer any opportunities for using the band. There are windows that show Chef Toad hard at work, but the Power-Up Bands could have helped personalize the experience and make it more immersive.<\/p>\n
Overall Impression<\/h2>\n
Super Nintendo World will delight Nintendo fans, and the experience is suitable for all ages. Crowds could make the park more difficult to navigate (I visited during a closed event, so this wasn\u2019t an issue), but overall it should fill up closer to a half-day than a full day experience. The officially announced Orlando version<\/a> will feature more rides.<\/p>\n
<\/figure>\n
As Hollywood and gaming become more enmeshed, Super Nintendo World represents a different way to adapt games. Universal and Nintendo\u2019s partnership was critical in successfully capturing the spirit of Mario. The multi-media immersive experience will delight fans and effectively makes you feel like you\u2019re playing a game in real life. <\/p>\n
If you\u2019re a Nintendo fan in Southern California, the park is a must see.<\/p>\n
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\n Jordan Fragen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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Event<\/h3>\n\nGamesBeat Summit 2023<\/p>\nJoin the GamesBeat community in Los Angeles this May 22-23. You\u2019ll hear from the brightest minds within the gaming industry to share their updates on the latest developments.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n