Nintendo fans, get ready to put this theme park on your bucket list.
According to Hypebeast, new footage of the Super Nintendo World theme park in Osaka, Japan has surfaced online. Footage circulating on social media showcases elements from a Super Mario-themed land that visually resembles the colorful world of the game.
In a video that surfaced on Twitter, the land features the characteristic bright green rolling hills of Mario’s world, Bowser’s Castle, spinning coins, piranha plants, toadstools, and various characters such as Yoshi, Goombas, and Koopa Troopas, as reported by Hypebeast.
Furthermore, another video depicts Thwomp, one of Mario’s adversaries, in action as it moves up and down, according to Nintendo Life. Additionally, a third video showcases the theme park land at night, featuring the dramatic lighting of Bowser’s Castle and Thwomp’s glowing red eyes.
According to Nintendo Life, Super Nintendo World was expected to open alongside the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. However, the Olympics were postponed until 2021 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Consequently, the opening date of the theme park remains uncertain, although Nintendo Life reported that it may occur either in Fall 2020 or sometime in 2021.
Importantly, since Mario is not the only character created by Nintendo, fans can anticipate the amusement park will feature many areas themed after its classic video games. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa stated in a statement to shareholders for the game company’s 80th anniversary that, “Super Nintendo World is composed of numerous attractions, shops, and restaurants designed to allow people to experience the world of Nintendo IP in real life.” He also noted in the statement that the amusement park could potentially expand to locations in Singapore and the United States pending the opening in Japan.
The release further emphasizes that the opening date for the park in Japan will significantly rely on policies for managing large gatherings and other operational aspects in response to the coronavirus.
Once the park opens, it is guaranteed to be a major draw for video game enthusiasts who have cherished Nintendo games since childhood.
