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Super Nintendo World is a brand new area at Universal Studios Japan that is completely dedicated to the wonderful world of Mario and his friends, with a Mario Kart ride, pierceable question blocks, and of course a huge gift shop. Their grand opening was in March, so naturally we had to go! Here are 10 things to do if you ever visit Super Nintendo World.
10. Get a band of power-ups
The first thing you’ll want to do is purchase a Power-Up Band and register it with the official USJ smartphone app. Priced at 3,200 yen (approximately $ 31 US), the bracelet is available in six flavors: Mario, Luigi, Peach, etc., and during your visit you’ll be on a team with everyone else who chose that character. The gang registers each virtual currency you find in a question block, along with the stamps you get for completing certain experiences in the park, and you can verify your collection with the app, along with the achievements that remain to be unlocked and a set of rankings. . And when you get home, your Power-Up Band doesn’t become useless – it can be used as an Amiibo with Nintendo Switch games in the Mario series.
9. Photographic operations
Super Nintendo World immerses you in a 3D Super Mario game, and there are plenty of photo opportunities. Before entering the area, be sure to stop at Super Star Plaza, where a set of warp tubes are placed right in front of the Super Nintendo World logo for a perfect fit.
Once inside, Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad pose for photos with the guests. They even speak prerecorded phrases, and you can unlock new ones with your Power-Up Band! Go and say “It’s a meee!” and take that sweet selfie.
8. Grab lunch
New character Chef Toad welcomes you to Kinopio Cafe, his converted Toad House serving a variety of dishes based on Mario’s world. It’s a bit creepy that a living mushroom chef is so eager to feed you mushrooms, but Mario’s Bacon Cheeseburger and Luigi’s Green Curry Chicken Sandwich come stuffed with mushrooms.
Both are tasty, while each creamy question block tiramisu contains a white chocolate stamped with a random item icon. The interior of the restaurant includes a series of video screen “windows” that offer a glimpse of life in Toad Town, and when Bowser invades and the spores hit the fan, Mario shows up to save the day.
7. Spend some coins
We all know theme park trips can be quite expensive on their own, but let’s face it, you won’t be traveling all the way to Super Nintendo World to leave without a souvenir. The One Up Factory Gift Shop is stocked with more than 150 exclusive merchandise items, from Peach T-shirts to Chain Chomp hats to shareable snacks in a Warp Pipe can, and the quality and variety available is staggering. But above all of them is Tokotoko Mario, a charming Mario figure available in two variations that walks when you push him. You can even take off her clothes, but … Please don’t.
Pro Tip: There is another gift shop elsewhere within USJ, called Mario Cafe & Store, that sells stylish, understated goods based on motifs like Mario’s hat and mustache. Your wallet will cry for an extra life.
6. Go underground
Based on the underground settings of the Super Mario games, Bob-omb Kaboom Room plays with perspective in cool ways. Upon entering, a gigantic Bob-omb “explodes”, reducing you to Small Mario. As you progress through the corridors, the blocks around you get larger (actually, you get smaller), until a large question block dwarfs you to search for coins. While looking for a mushroom to get bigger, you may find hidden panels with the Mario logo on the walls; tap them to reveal the secret 8-bit sprites of Mario and his friends.
5. Accept the challenge
Piranha Plant Nap Mishap is one of the many challenges in Super Nintendo World. In this game, a set of 12 alarm clocks have started to sound and have awakened a huge piranha plant, which is looming over you. Up to four friends must rush to silence the clocks before time runs out, triggering classic Super Mario music to end the game. This is one of several challenges in the park, allowing visitors to have fun without the long lines of the main attractions: complete the challenge by beating a Piranha Plant, a Goomba or a Koopa Troopa and you will get a key, registered in your Power – Band up.
4. Defeat the boss
In a typical Super Mario design twist, once you collect three of those keys in the park, you can access the boss stage: Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown. In this minigame, Bowser Jr. and other enemy characters appear on a huge screen, and you must repel them using your whole body through a motion-controlled projection mapping system that projects your silhouette onto the screen, transforming your movements into attacks. . Sometimes it feels like you’re randomly jiggling, but it’s a fun and energetic experience nonetheless, and it makes collecting keys in the various challenges feel even more valuable.
3. Immerse yourself in all the little details
Before you can board either of the two Super Nintendo World games, you’ll have to queue. But don’t worry, there are plenty of things to keep you busy while you wait. For example, the line for the Mario Kart ride takes you through Bowser’s Castle great hall and then into the scaly villain’s study – a large room filled with evil gear and books with funny titles that reveal a glimpse of the character. Bowser. like How to Talk to Princesses.
The line for Yoshi’s journey, meanwhile, grants visitors an audience with a digital-speaking Toadette, hidden Pikmin to discover, and many, many, many eggs. The level of immersion and attention to detail take the pain out of alignment.
2. Relax with Yoshi
On the laid-back ride of Yoshi’s Adventure, you and a friend ride one of many multi-colored Yoshis on a train-shaped chain that winds its way through a desert area atop Super Nintendo World. Its outdoor section is populated by Pokeys and Piranha Plants, while a winding tunnel houses super cute characters like Baby Mario, Baby Peach, and Poochy. There is an interactive element – look for giant eggs scattered across the field and press the corresponding colored button inside the carriage to score points, but really the main attraction of this smooth ride is Conkdor’s fantastic view over Super Nintendo World.
1. Run the rainbow route
Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge is a kart ride on rails that launches up to four people per car through a loosely based course on stages from the Mario Kart series. In addition to the gorgeous physical ensembles around you, an augmented reality headband displays animated characters and directional arrows in front of your eyes – turn the wheel when prompted, collect projectiles from item boxes, aim your head at enemies, and accumulate points. . Beat the AI-controlled Team Bowser score and you’ll earn a special gold trophy stamp. The five-minute mixed reality ride is definitely a bit too busy, but as an indulgence in sensory overload in the Mushroom Kingdom, it’s a must.
To learn more about Super Nintendo World, check out the official tour with Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto, over 150 photos from our recent visit, or read our full review of USJ’s most recent attraction.
