Epic Universe's Super Nintendo World Is Remarkably Bonkers: A Wild Ride Through Gaming History
Game on, Universal! Epic Universe's Super Nintendo World cranks up the voltage with a power-packed Donkey Kong Country expansion, further cementing its position as a 21st-century theme park powerhouse.
Recently, we were granted an exclusive sneak peek at the Donkey Kong Country area during a media week preview at Universal Orlando's Epic Universe. Building upon the success of the initial Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios' West Coast park, this iteration introduces an engaging Donkey Kong Country-themed ride, Mine Cart Madness, where players race through vivid scenes straight out of the iconic game.
Steve Tatham, Creative Director at Universal, shared intriguing insights about Epic Universe’s innovative concept, "We wanted to create a next-generation theme park, a 21st century theme park. We use technology that's super advanced, with prototypical ride systems, and the animated figures are next level for sure." While the technology takes center stage, the focus stays firmly on the story, offering gamers an unparalleled emotional experience.
Unlike traditional video game theme parks, Epic Universe encourages players to immerse themselves in a physical game world. A Power Up Band lets you engage in interactive gameplay and explore various nooks and crannies as you smash benchmarks, collect virtual coins, and score points in friendly competition with other park-goers. The band also helps you unlock unique areas, leading to exciting rewards.
Tatham excitedly explained, "With the Power Up Band, you can wear it and that activates touch points throughout the world where you can collect points. And in Donkey Kong Country, for example, there you'll see the letter 'K' right there. You can spell K-o-n-g when you tap different points. There's bananas, there's coins, there are different objects that you can collect." As you rack up points across the new land, you might even unlock a secret hidden boss battle – because what's a video game theme park without its own boss?
The coming together of Nintendo's powerhouses is the driving force behind Super Nintendo World and the Donkey Kong Country expansion. Tatham revealed, "We worked very closely with Nintendo partners and Miyamoto-San, who's the creative guru there. He was very involved throughout the whole process."
Although Super Nintendo World focuses primarily on characters like Mario and Donkey Kong, the ongoing partnership between Universal and Nintendo hints at potential expansions, welcoming heroes of Hyrule, Star Fox pilots, or even pocket monsters in the future. As Tatham teased, "Epic Universe will never be done, because there's always more ideas. There's always new stories to tell."
So, buckle up and get ready for an adrenaline-pumping adventure at Epic Universe, opening this Friday at Universal Studios Orlando. Looking for more gaming goodness? Stay tuned for the latest releases in the Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek universes, upcoming developments in the DC Universe on film and TV, and all the future details on the ever-evolving Doctor Who series.
- As Epic Universe's expansion, Donkey Kong Country, incorporates technology that's beyond modern standards, it serves as a testament to Universal's vision of building a 21st-century theme park.
- By using the Power Up Band, visitors can engage in interactive gameplay experiences, including a Donkey Kong-themed challenge where they can collect virtual coins and bananas, just like in the classic game.
- Universal's ongoing partnership with Nintendo opens doors for future additions to Super Nintendo World, potentially introducing characters from the universes of Mario, Zelda, Star Fox, and even Pokémon.
