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Universal Studios Japan does a great job bringing Mushroom Kingdom to life, but isn’t this supposed to be Super Nintendo World?
The last Nintendo Direct had to do with Super Nintendo World. Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto takes us on a 15-minute guided tour of the new theme park expansion at Universal Studios Japan.
For Mario fans, stepping into the life-size warp tube and entering the Mushroom Kingdom will be the thrill of a lifetime. Walking around Princess Peach’s castle or seeing a life-size Yoshi will certainly be exciting. For die-hard Mario fans, Super Nintendo World will be a blast.
The overall aesthetic, attractions, activities, souvenirs, and food are wonderfully designed and perfectly themed for Mario. But isn’t it called Super Nintendo World? Isn’t there more to Nintendo than just Mario?
I understand that Mario is probably Nintendo’s most iconic and popular franchise. So why not just call it Super Mario World and end it? The name implies that this world will be dedicated to everything related to Nintendo.
Where is The Legend of Zelda? Metroid? Kirby? Donkey Kong? There are so many beloved Nintendo classics that they are left out by focusing only on Mario. How can this be Super Nintendo World?
I understand that focusing on a central IP helps to unify the theme park area, but it also feels like a missed opportunity to celebrate all of Nintendo. I’m not impressed with the look of Super Nintendo World. But I am disappointed that Mario is the only IP represented.
However, perhaps this is only the first area. Perhaps Super Nintendo World will expand in the future with specific lands inspired by other Nintendo franchises. That at least would make a little more sense.
In any case, Super Nintendo World looks like a lot of fun. Unfortunately, it could be a while before any of us in the US experience it thanks to the global pandemic. However, there are plans to bring Super Nintendo World to other Universal theme parks, including California and Florida. It remains to be seen if these parks will be exact recreations or if they will focus on other Nintendo IPs.
Super Nintendo World opens on February 4, 2021 at Universal Studios Japan. What do you think of the theme park?
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