Super 
World
In the presentation we are welcomed by Shigeru Miyamoto exciting from a tube like in the Mario games, revealing afterwards the well-known castle from Mario64 (with the originally music). We are standing in a faithful and beautiful lobby, with some paintings. This gives you the impression, to be in the game, the paintings are even changing depending from which side you are looking at them. The speech motivates us to visit the Mushroom Kingdom, which we already want to go as soon as possible.
The exterior setting is breath-taking. It is so well made that you think you were directly teleported into the game. Everything is designed to perfection. The animatronics are more than realistic. Everything goes perfectly together and you can clearly see what Nintendo tried to achieve. You can immediately see that the parc is divided by different themes. You can see Bowsers` castle and some mountains with the Thwombs. Even the lamps are magnificent. They clearly have dig deep in the Mario games for the décor to represent every aspect of what we know so far, and it is executed awesomely. Some parts of the décor are even moving, such as the “POW” button or Yoshi. Sadly, this takes out some naturality of Yoshi, but none the less we must admit that it still looks great. You even see some Koopas, Piranha plants and much more.
Furthermore, we get the explanation that you can interact with the décor of the parc, which is interactive. For instance, you can push the “?” block. All over the parc are plenty of “activities” to discover. They show us the “Power-up” bracelet, which is clearly inspired by the different characters out of the games. This bracelet helps you to find secrets in the parc or to interact with the décor. It even tracks down your activity in the parc and you can synchronise it, with help of a QR-code, with your smart phone. Which is convenient as you can see where exactly you are in the parc. Afterwards M. Miyamoto gives us a small demonstration, where he taps on a block and he gets a coin, recognisable due to iconic sound. On your phone you can then see that you have earned one coin. You can also see that there are other symbols in the app for your smartphone, so that you can interact with plenty things in the parc. In the end we get the information, that these bracelets, also function as amibos and that you can use them at home.
A genuinely nice Piranha plant is shown to us, without revealing the secret behind it. We get the explanation, that it is one the “activities”. Surely more exciting, then just collecting a coin and definitely more impressive.
By walking through the parc we bounce into a décor with “POW” buttons. A key is visible on top of the décor, close to the guest. By holding your bracelet to the button, you activate the game. The “POW” block illuminates. A green shell appears through a tube and you have to push the block in the right moment to win the game.
We get the information, that there are different “activities”, which are more or less complex. By winning such games, three times, you get access to the “Boss” Bowser Jr. We get no more details on this.
The décors are sublime and the musical ambiance lets you emerge completely into the world of Mario. Then we are in a labyrinth, styled as in the underground levels of the games. The visit continues, and we find a block made out of bricks, where we can collect several coins. Mario symbols are visible on the walls and interact with the bracelets. Furthermore, we see a picture of Bowser, like in the old times, and that is it. Afterwards, we are face to face with Bob-ombs, which illuminate and seem to explode at any time. The décor gets smaller progressively, so that you really think you the footsteps of Mario. We do not see all the details the rest of this Labyrinth and it is there where we switch to another area.
Afterwards, they present to us, a building called “Factory”. Those buildings are simply the merchandise shops. We get a quick overview of the goodies, which you can buy. The merch itself looks really amazing and well crafted. They present the Tokotoko Mario, a funny gift nothing special. Furthermore, they show us a popcorn bowl made like a star. Even the places, where you can eat, are in the style of the Mario games. Those places are called, “Kinopio´s Café”. Mario and Luigi are seen in person, so that we can actually meet them in the parc.
Finally, we see the interior of those “Cafés”. A monitor is seen, on which you can interact with your bracelet and get a gift. Those restaurants are managed by Toads. On the screen a Toad is introducing itself as “chef Toad” and we see an overview of the menus. But the focus is more on the décor of the restaurant and on the tables. Everything is wholesome designed with the well known colours of the Mario universe, which lead to pure joy. Even the food is designed in that way. Few examples are presented, you can have the Mario Burger, the super Mushroom Pizza bowl and even two different deserts, which look delicious.
The opening will be on the 4th of February 2021 in the Universal Studios in Japan. In addition, they tease us, by saying that the whole presentation was just a glimpse of the actual parc and that a lot more awaits us in there. Of course, there will be special Covid precautions. They are even looking to open two other Mario Worlds, such as in the USA and Singapore, as that there are already Universal Studios.
In addition, we get a nice view on Bowsers´ castle. We accompany Shigeru Miyamoto into the corridor and the stairs of the entrance, where a marvellous statue of the main villain is seen. Then we recognize the different, and well known from the Mariokart collection, trophies.
As you already figured out, it is karting circuit, of course designed like the games. We get a quick view on the cars and the helmets. The karts resemble to those of Mariokart 8 (Deluxe). For the circuit itself, not much is presented, only the cars side by side. The helmets have kind of special visor. Could it be some kind of augmented reality? Honestly we think yes, because otherwise how will you be able to drive through the item boxes and collect/throw shells, bananas and mushrooms? It also seems that the drivers are a kind of team, as they say, “Can Team Mario really win on a course that Bowser knows every detail about?”
That’s it for the presentation of the parc, which is good so that the surprise for the rest will be even more epic. Honestly it was wisely to not show too much, because when the parc will open, social media are going to be flooded with content of the attractions.
Lucky those who can visit quite soon the parc, as what we have seen in the presentation looks more than promising with all the effort put in. For a geek or Mario lover a must visit!
Clearly one of my future big travels (big in the meaning of budget, stay time and emotionally) will be japan. In addition to my love to the story and culture of all countries, comes my passion for video games, so it is quite obvious that I am so excited that I am just drooling by thinking of this journey. In hope that those feelings are the same for other game enthusiastic and that the parc has the success with its opening as wished, we are eager to visit this parc more than once. Why not to dream big? XD
