Epic Universe's Super Nintendo World: Insanely Wild Homage to 90s Nostalgia
In a significant expansion for Super Nintendo World, Universal Studios' latest venture at Epic Universe in Universal Orlando is set to open this week. The park introduces a new Donkey Kong Country area, offering an immersive experience that blends gaming and theme park attractions.
Universal Creative Director Steve Tatham shared insights during a media week preview, emphasizing the park's aim to create a 21st-century theme park experience powered by advanced technology. The figures and animations, Tatham stated, are next-level, seamlessly integrated into the park's various experiences.
A highlight of the Donkey Kong Country area is the Mine Cart Madness ride, which features Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong in scenes inspired by the iconic game. Rather than relying solely on screen-based gaming, the park encourages physical exploration with a Power Up Band, allowing visitors to tap touch points throughout the world to collect points and unlock additional content.
In line with Nintendo's approach, the focus is on an emotional experience aided by technology, rather than presenting technology for its own sake. The interactive elements encourage collaboration between park-goers, fostering a sense of community. Completing challenges across the land might even lead to a surprising hidden boss battle.
Universal worked closely with Nintendo and Miyamoto-San, ensuring every detail aligns with the Nintendo universe. Although the land primarily focuses on Mario and Donkey Kong, Tatham hinted that future expansions could include characters from other Nintendo franchises, such as Heroes of Hyrule or pilots of Star Fox.
Tatham emphasized the commitment to continuous evolution for Epic Universe, stating that there would always be new ideas to pursue, and new stories to tell. The Donkey Kong Country area is just the beginning of this exciting venture.
The Epic Universe section of Super Nintendo World opens this Friday at Universal Studios Orlando. This piece is based on a preview attended for review purposes.
For more io9 news, stay tuned for updates on upcoming releases for Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, the DC Universe, and the future of Doctor Who.
- Visitors to Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Orlando can anticipate future expansions, including characters from franchises like Heroes of Hyrule and Star Fox, as revealed by Universal Creative Director Steve Tatham.
- In the Donkey Kong Country area of Super Nintendo World, Universal Studios has merged technology and theme park attractions, with an emphasis on an emotional experience aided by advanced technology and interactive elements that foster a sense of community.
- To stay updated on the latest news about upcoming releases for popular franchises such as Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, the DC Universe, and Doctor Who, fans can follow technology, entertainment, and lifestyle news outlets like io9 and Gizmodo.
