Super Nintendo World at Epic Universe Goes Bonkers, with Excessive Excitement and Over-the-Top Attractions
Universal Studios' allied venture with Nintendo continues to advance with the launch of Super Nintendo World at Epic Universe this week. In addition to the main attraction, a distinctive Donkey Kong of a different breed makes an appearance.
io9 was amongst the attendees at the media week preview for Super Nintendo World at Epic Universe within Universal Orlando. Although Universal's West Coast park already boasted a version of the land in 2023, Epic Universe's iteration boasts an "expansion pack" upgrade in the form of a whole Donkey Kong Country area, highlighted by a fresh Mine Cart Madness ride. The gaming experience extends beyond mere observation, as visitors can engage in real-time gaming and take part in a race on Rainbow Road, similar to the first Super Nintendo World.
Steve Tatham, Creative Director at Universal, shed light on the concept. "Our aim for Epic Universe was to create a next-generation theme park, a 21st-century theme park," he stated. "We use technology that's highly avant-garde. We have cutting-edge ride systems [and] the animated figures are unparalleled for sure." Tatham explained the advanced technology employed in the park's newest experiences.
One of the standout features of the Donkey Kong Country area is the brand new Mine Cart Madness ride, where Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong star in scenes mirroring the iconic game. "The technology is not at the forefront; the story is," Tatham further clarified. "People have an emotional experience, and that's aided by technology. We're not showcasing the technology itself; we're using it to serve the story."
Touch points scattered throughout Super Nintendo World enable visitors to collect points through the use of a Power Up Band. In Donkey Kong Country, for instance, one can spell "KONG" by tapping various points and gather bananas, coins, and other objects. This invites a participatory gaming experience, encouraging exploration and collaborative play to unlock hidden areas.
The Epic Universe evolution of the land represents another step in Universal's partnership with Nintendo, with Shigeru Miyamoto, the creative pioneer at Nintendo, playing a significant role in the development. According to Tatham, "Our partnership for Super Nintendo World and Donkey Kong Country was very collaborative, involving the Nintendo partners and Miyamoto-San throughout the entire process." Reflecting on the partnership, Tatham emphasized the importance of precision in maintaining authenticity: "Every detail in the park is scrutinized to ensure it's accurate. Our guests will immediately recognize if something is off, so we have to get every detail exactly right."
Speculation regarding the potential inclusion of characters from other Nintendo franchises remains ongoing, with io9's Tatham hinting at ongoing development. Epic Universe, he said, "will never be complete, because there are always new stories to tell."
Epic Universe opens this week at Universal Studios Orlando. Travel and accommodations were provided for the purposes of this review.
Gizmodo might be intrigued by the advanced technology used in Super Nintendo World at Epic Universe, as it employs cutting-edge ride systems and animated figures that are unparalleled. The technology, however, is not the main focus; instead, it serves to enhance the emotional experience of visitors, as they can engage in a participatory gaming experience across the park.
Furthermore, the future could see the introduction of characters from other Nintendo franchises within Super Nintendo World at Epic Universe, as Tatham hinted at ongoing development and the evolving nature of the park.
io9, much like other lifestyle and entertainment outlets, could find the Io9 team's media week preview of Super Nintendo World at Epic Universe to be an engaging topic, especially given the distinctive Donkey Kong Country area with its Mine Cart Madness ride that brings the iconic game to life.
