Photo: Universal Studios
There are still months, with “early 2023” as the approximate opening date, of the debut of Universal Studios Hollywood’s new Super Nintendo World, the theme park company’s first attempt to import the well-received area of Mario Studios Universal’s Japan theme attraction (Similar additions are being built to the company’s other US parks, with later release dates.) Today, however, the theme park owner has revealed plans for the his first major trip to lure park visitors down the Warp Pipe and check out Super Nintendo World will hit Los Angeles next year: Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge.
As for the Mario brands that translate into attractions, Mario Kart, with cars and chaos, etc., is a pretty natural fit. (It’s definitely better than our original tone, the Twisting Turning Turbulent Toadcoaster.) adaptation of an existing and tried and tested ride from Universal Studios Japan, which combines rails with augmented reality goggles to create the illusion that riders are really on track with Mario, Peach and, presumably, the feared Waluigi.
Now, is that as cool as, for example, letting people drive karts on a brightly colored Mario Kart tour? Not remotely. But it probably involves much less legal responsibility for the park, and at least the kids will apparently be able to turn the wheel around a bit to control the angle of their karts. (Admittedly, we’re a little skeptical of the “indoor car with video / RA display” trend in the recent theme park theme design; give us a real mountain any day of the week), but Universal Studios promises to this particular version of The Technology is at least one of the most complex ever attempted.)
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge is set to release in conjunction with Super Nintendo World in early 2023.