Nintendo theme park with real-life Mario Kart and Yoshi ride to open in 2021 – after being postponed due to Covid
THE long-anticipated Super Nintendo World theme park is to open in Japan next year, and have opened a Mario cafe and shop ahead of the launch.
Opening this month, it is the first Mario Cafe & Store in the world which will have exclusive snacks and souvenirs.
Pancake sandwiches in the shape of Mario's and Luigi's hats will be on offer, in flavours such as strawberry shortcake and grape.
Cream sodas and soft drinks in super mushroom cups will also be available, long with Nintendo souvenirs.
The theme park was initially due to open this summer but was postponed due to coronavirus.
While exact dates have not been given, it now aims to open early 2021.
Japan also remains off the travel list for Brits - while it is on the UK's travel corridor list, Japan is not letting UK tourists into the country - so you will have to wait a while longer to visit.
Fans of the games will be able to play Yoshi's Adventures, an omnimover-style ride (used by Disney rides such as Haunted Mansion and Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster) which takes passengers along a track with views of the park as well as animatronic scenes.
Guests will sit in Yoshi-themed cars as they travel throughout the land.
There will also be a real-life Mario kart ride where you can race your friends, although how it works is yet to be revealed.
While in the park, guests will play Super Mario in real life using "power-up bands".
The bands will track and sync activities while walking around the park, letting guests collect coins and compete with other people.
The bands appear to have six options based on the characters - Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Princess Daisy, Toad and Yoshi.
The app will show visitors where to find coins - and hit a real-life question block - as well as feature a map of the attractions.
After creating a profile, fans of the games can then try and beat each other.
Last year, chairman and CEO of Universal Parks & Resorts Tom Williams explained that the scores could even be sent back to the Nintendo game console to build up for another visit to the park.
Senior vice president and chief creative officer with Universal Creative, Thierry Coup, previously said: "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."
The next Nintendo land is likely to open in Universal Studios Hollywood, with Orlando opening after that.
There are also rumours of a Donkey Kong and Princess Peach ride at the Super Nintendo Land in Universal Studios Orlando.