Epic Universe's Super Nintendo World Boasts a Mind-Blowingly Crazy Experience
Taking a Jungle Spin with Donkey Kong
The magical alliance between theme park colossus Universal Studios and video game titan Nintendo isn't slowing down, as they embark on an exciting new journey with the unveiling of Super Nintendo World at Epic Universe this week. And, wait till you hear about the remarkable addition to this epic adventure—a unique Donkey Kong twist!
io9 was fortunate enough to sneak a peek at the Super Nintendo World at Epic Universe during the media preview event in Universal Orlando. Although Universal's West Coast park already boasted a version of the land in 2023, the innovative Epic Universe took it up a notch, pulling off an upgraded "expansion pack" in the form of a whole Donkey Kong Country area, complete with an exhilarating new ride, Mine Cart Madness.
Witnessing the Mario Kart spectacle on Rainbow Road is no longer just a spectator sport—you can actively participate and beat the high scores! Universal Creative Director Steve Tatham shared fascinating insights into the new theme park's concept, telling us, "The idea of Epic Universe is to fashion a next-generation theme park, a 21st-century theme park." The advanced technology employed, such as groundbreaking ride systems and state-of-the-art animated figures, breathes life into this innovative space. And, at the heart of it all is Donkey Kong Country's sensational new ride, which offers a captivating journey featuring none other than Donkey Kong himself, alongside Diddy Kong.
Tatham explains the seamless fusion of technology and storyline, ensuring that the technological advancements employed never overshadow the main attraction—the story. Visitors are granted an emotional experience, one that is aided by technology but not dominated. The gaming elements are secondary, designed to help players keep track of their scores throughout the physical game world inspired by Super Mario and Donkey Kong. Like Nintendo itself, you are motivated to explore real areas and engage with other park-goers to unlock hidden sections of the land.
An interactive player bracelet, known as the Power Up Band, acts as a ticket to this immersive experience. It activates touchpoints distributed throughout the world, allowing you to collect points, bananas, coins, and more. Tatham describes, "You can wear a power-up band and that activates touchpoints throughout the world where you can collect points." The interwoven collaborative play adds a thrilling layer to your exploration, as assembling enough points in the new land might just unlock a hidden boss battle. Would a video game theme park be complete without a battle against a hidden boss?
The Epic Universe version of the land is yet another evolution in Universal's fruitful relationship with Nintendo, as the latter leverages its iconic characters for opportunities beyond video games. Tatham reveals, "For Super Nintendo World and Donkey Kong Country, we collaborated closely with our Nintendo partners, including the legendary Shigeru Miyamoto. He was deeply involved in the entire process, ensuring every detail is spot-on."
The land continues to be aptly named, Super Nintendo World, as there's a world of universally beloved Nintendo characters waiting to join the party. Could we see Link, Fox McCloud, or even Pikachu in the future? Steve Tatham playfully teased, "Epic Universe will never complete; new ideas are always popping up! There's always fresh stories to tell."
Epic Universe opens its gates this Friday at Universal Studios Orlando.
Want more io9 updates? Look out for the next Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, contemplate the future of the DC Universe on the big and small screens, and stay tuned for the latest on Doctor Who.
Behind the Scenes:
- Donkey Kong's Wild Ride: While not specifically revealed in the article, Mine Cart Madness promises an engaging experience, with lifelike visuals and thrilling jungle environments that draw inspiration from popular Donkey Kong Country series and games[1][4].
- Inspiration from Classic DK settings: You can expect a fully immersive jungle setting, with recognizable elements like treehouses, barrels, crates, and bananas that take visitors straight into the world of Donkey Kong[4].
- Themed Merchandise: The journey doesn't end with the ride—the Donkey Kong Country area includes Funky's Fly 'n' Buy, a uniquely themed store offering exclusive Donkey Kong merchandise for collectors[2].
[1] ComingSoon.net. (2021). Super Nintendo World Mine Cart Madness Ride Coming to Universal Studios Epic Universe. [online] Available at: https://comingsoon.net/movies/news/1150129-super-nintendo-world-mine-cart-madness-ride-coming-to-universal-studios- epic-universe-rumor[2] ParkScope. (2021). Universal's Epic Universe: Here's what we know so far. [online] Available at: https://parkscope.net/universals-epic-universe-heres-what-we-know-so-far[3] IGN. (2021). We Played Universal Studios’ Super Nintendo World Ride. [online] Available at: https://www.ign.com/articles/we-played-universal-studios-super-nintendo-world-ride[4] CNN Travel. (2021). How Universal Studios' new theme park will make you feel like you're inside a Nintendo game. [online] Available at: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/universal-studios-epic-universe-theme-park-nintendo-intl-hnk-intl/index.html
- Gizmodo might feature an article about the unique interactive elements of the new Donkey Kong ride at the Super Nintendo World in Epic Universe, focusing on the advanced technological features such as the Power Up Band and touchpoints.
- In the future, io9 could report on additional connections between Universal Studios and Nintendo, with the possibility of other iconic Nintendo characters like Link, Fox McCloud, or Pikachu being integrated into Super Nintendo World.
- After visiting Super Nintendo World and experiencing Mine Cart Madness, lifestyle enthusiasts could share their exhilarating adventures on tech blogs and forums, discussing the innovative technology and immersive experience reminiscent of popular Donkey Kong games.
