“Super Mario” fans will be able to raid a new castle: the first American theme park dedicated to Nintendo’s mascot will open in Los Angeles on February 17, a few weeks before the release of a Hollywood movie about the mustachioed plumber. Heavily inspired by its cousin from Osaka in Japan, opening in 2021, this life-size animation will be set inside the Universal Studios Hollywood park.
Mushrooms to knock out, piranha plants hidden in the pipes, bricks full of pennies… The attraction, called “Super Nintendo World”, faithfully reproduces the game world, almost 40 years after the arrival of the little platform-jumping plumber. on platform
An immersive experience
Released in 1985, “Super Mario Bros” remains to this day one of the best-selling video games in the world. These 2D adventures paved the way for a host of sequels, propelling Shigeru Miyamoto’s character to the status of a global pop culture icon.
More accustomed to offering attractions inspired by film franchises, such as “Harry Potter” or “Fast and Furious”, Universal has collaborated with Nintendo to offer an immersive experience.
In particular, visitors can board a carousel dedicated to the racing game “Mario Kart”, equipped with augmented reality glasses, for a trip to the castle of the famous villain “Bowser”. In this very real environment, you can fire virtual projectiles from your gondola at the enemies you see in your visor.
Other games allow the public to put on interactive wristbands, which identify movements and reproduce them on screens. Everyone can thus accumulate coins or stamps, hoping to qualify for a showdown with the final boss. The attraction attempts to recreate an “ultimate playground,” according to Universal Creative vice president Jon Corfino.
“Reproduce my childhood in real life”
On the site, fans are already starting to arrive as the attraction is admitting a few visitors to ensure a “smooth opening” and iron out any final technical issues.
“It’s a dream come true,” added his companion, Lexsi Houseman, dressed as Luigi (the hero’s brother). “I’ve known Mario since he was in CE1. It was one of my first games on the Game Boy.”
The official release of “Super Nintendo World” is scheduled for February 17. Mario mascots Luigi and Peach, the game’s angsty princess, will be on hand to greet visitors. After Osaka and Los Angeles, Nintendo also plans to open a third amusement park in Orlando, Florida.
An interpreter criticized
Universal Pictures, the movie studio whose parent company controls the Hollywood amusement park, will release “Super Mario Bros. The Movie” in April. This animated feature film, which plays to the maximum with nostalgia, deploys a truly deluxe cast for dubbing.
Notably, Universal has hired “Guardians of the Galaxy” star Chris Pratt to voice the potbellied plumber. But his portrayal of Mario, seen in the trailer, disappointed many fans and sparked a lively controversy on social media.
This will be the second time that Hollywood brings Nintendo’s mascot to the screen. The first attempt, “Super Mario Bros”, dates back to 1993 and has largely gone down in history as a real jerk.
Source: BFM TV
