Universal Studios Japan announced some brand new exciting details for the upcoming Super Nintendo World area, opening up this summer in the Osaka region of Japan. The park also announced it’s new global No Limit brand campaign and in addition, a special Super Nintendo World music video featuring international music superstars Galantis and Charli XCX was released to launch the new campaign.
Super Nintendo World is one of the largest investments ever, over 60 billion yen ($545 million USD) (originally 50 billion yen, around $433 million USD back in 2016) and surpassing the amount for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter that opened up in 2014 for the theme park, as the largest second project when Universal Studios Japan opened up reported by Asian Review.
This brand new area for USJ will be an expansive, highly themed and immersive land featuring Nintendo’s legendary worlds, characters and adventures. Guests will feel as if they are playing inside their favorite Nintendo video games – in real life. It will be filled with incredibly fun rides, shops, a restaurant and interactive gameplay throughout the land. And there will be something for everyone, regardless of age or gaming experience.
Chairman & CEO of Universal Parks & Resorts, Tom Williams shared some of the details briefly previously at the end of last year during a press conference and can be read upon here.
Universal Studios Japan will be the first Universal theme park to feature Super Nintendo World, followed by Universal theme parks in Hollywood, Orlando and Singapore.
Senior Vice President and Chief Creative Officer of Universal Creative, Thierry Coup didn’t go into discussion about the attractions but, just basing off the music video alone released and it “somewhat confirms” that the Mario Kart and Yoshi attractions are officially coming towards the new expansion for USJ.
Fans of the highly popular gaming company for Nintendo, will feature a new level of theme park guest experience that blends the physical world with the world of the video game – bringing the world of Nintendo to life in a whole new way for guests. Guests can use a combination of state-of-the-art technology – a wearable wrist band called a Power Up Band – and a specially designed app. (Think of this being similar towards Volcano Bay’s Tapu Tapu wristband system at Universal Orlando Resort)
This will allow them to have interactive experiences, making use of their arms, hands and entire bodies as they explore the new area – making them feel like they are truly part of the video game world. Guests can download the Universal Studios Japan app on their smartphones and link it to a Power Up Band that can be purchased in Super Nintendo World to enhance their experience. (Basically the similar concept for the interactive wands for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter)
The Power Up Bands are themed to different characters, so guests can select to wear one based on one of their favorite Mushroom Kingdom characters! While wearing the band, guests can collect digital coins just like Mario does in the games. They can even compete with other guests to see who collected the most coins, among other fun and friendly competitions.
Interactive features that will be familiar to anyone that knows Mario’s world. This includes Question Blocks that will appear around the area. While wearing a Power Up Band, guests can hit a real-life Question Block and collect coins, just like in the video game. Guests can also obtain collectible items, such as character stamps, by achieving various goals.
Coins are allocated for each stamp, with the total number of coins earned by each guest ranked with all other guests in the park, making the entire experience feel like competing for a high score in a video game. There are all kinds of ways to earn coins throughout the entire land, and guests can keep score, compete against each other and celebrate together when they win.
“Key Challenges” will be featured throughout the Super Nintendo World area. By collecting a certain number of digital “keys,” guests can cooperate with other guests who also have keys to unlock additional gameplay opportunities, including “Boss Battles” against various enemy characters.
“Think of SUPER NINTENDO WORLD as a life-size, living video game where you become one of the characters. You’re not just playing the game; you’re living the game, you’re living the adventure. Nintendo’s most iconic locations and experiences will be brought to life, including Mushroom Kingdom, Peach’s Castle, an incredible Mario Kart ride, Bowser’s Castle – and more. We have developed some state-of-the-art technology to create the perfect fusion of the physical world with the world of video game; one of them is a custom designed wearable wristband that we call the “Power Up Band” said Thierry Coup, the Senior Vice President, Chief Creative Officer, Universal Creative.
Coup also further explained:
“The “Power Up Band” will connect guests with dozens of iconic Nintendo items throughout the land in a truly seamless and innovative way – and the app will keep track of their adventures and any coins, stamps or other iconic elements they earn along the way. There will be opportunities to advance through achievements, keep score, compete against each other and celebrate together when you win. I think the seamless integration of the gameplay is one of the most innovative experiences we have ever created at Universal Studios.”
No official confirmed date for the grand opening of Super Nintendo World and for those have been following this project for several years now and it will be open up before the Tokyo Summer Games later this year in July. They did confirm during the press conference that more details will be shared at an event in February in New York and hopefully sharing more details for Hollywood, Orlando, and recent announced for Singapore.
Universal Studios Japan is calling 2020 the “Year of Super Nintendo World” and will kick off its new No Limit campaign in February. Super Nintendo World is the result of a global partnership between Universal Parks & Resorts and Nintendo – two icons of the entertainment world. Universal theme parks create incredibly popular family entertainment experiences for millions of people based on compelling characters, stories and innovative technology.
Nintendo creates imaginative games filled with captivating stories and beloved characters. Ayumu Yamamoto, Vice President, Marketing Department, USJ LLC, said:
“Super Nintendo World is our first campaign with our new brand slogan “NO LIMIT!” Guests will feel “NO LIMIT!” CHO-GENKI -super energized – by our entertainment developed with unlimited creativity. Guests at Super Nintendo World will enjoy competing with friends and family, and making use of their entire bodies. We can’t wait for all of you to unleash your instinct to play and feel “CHO-GENKI!” (slang meaning for type of energy in Japanese).
Stay tuned for further details and updates for this exciting project coming to Universal Studios Japan and rest of Universal Parks & Resorts!
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Source: Universal Studios Japan
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