It was late 2020 when Common Studios Japan first let friends inside its Super Mario World space of the park, with rides and a slew of minigames primarily based on the Super Mario franchise. In contrast to most theme-park experiences, this one was about accumulating cash and stamps, competing towards fellow guests, and aiming to prime the leaderboard. A pared-down model opened at Common Studios Hollywood in 2023, cementing the concept Common was persevering with ahead with the gamification of its theme parks. In Might, the corporate’s latest theme park, Common Epic Universe, will unveil its personal Super Nintendo World–complete with a Donkey Kong Country part.
GameSpot was just lately given the possibility to tour Epic’s new Super Nintendo World and, after all, to play in it. Whereas those that have visited Hollywood’s Super Nintendo World will discover elements of this new Florida location acquainted, the land has been fully redesigned and is far bigger. Not solely does the newest iteration convey within the Donkey Kong Country trip and mini-land that opened in Japan final December, however it additionally brings the beloved Yoshi’s Journey darkish trip. Extra importantly, although, it brings new challenges and methods to play within the land–and extra cash to earn.
The rides
The standout of the brand new land is the Donkey Kong Country rollercoaster, Minecart-Insanity. Think about blazing by means of one of many minecart ranges from the online game franchise. That is what you are getting with Minecart-Insanity, which isn’t a standard rollercoaster. As a substitute, it is made to simulate the sensation of being in a minecart that jumps from observe to trace because it avoids peril in any respect prices.
When you have been fortunate sufficient to go to Common Studios Japan for the reason that trip’s opening, you realize it is a distinctive expertise. In truth, the creatives at Common Studios basically needed to invent a brand new kind of trip to correctly simulate the sensation of being in a minecart. That stated, it provides a wonderful thrill to Super Nintendo World, which was, so far, all dark-ride points of interest (model of theme park trip that sends riders by means of a collection of animated units aboard several types of trip automobiles).
When you’re not a fan of rollercoasters, although, there’s a lot so that you can trip. Like each model of the land, Orlando options the Super Mario Kart: Bowser’s Problem trip, which is supposed to simulate the world of Mario Kart. You stroll by means of Bowser’s fortress, see how he created his numerous minions and monsters, after which strap in for a race towards a number of the finest drivers within the Mushroom Kingdom by way of the usage of augmented-reality goggles.
The opposite trip within the land, which isn’t within the Hollywood model, is the aforementioned Yoshi’s Journey trip, which is aimed toward a a lot youthful viewers. On it, you mainly trip on Yoshi’s again by means of a collection of themed settings. There’s not a lot to it, aside from it is a very nice and stress-free trip.
The video games
The video games are the place Super Nintendo World shines, although. When you learn our protection of Super Nintendo World again when it opened at Common Studios Hollywood, you realize about accumulating cash and stamps to finally entry a boss combat towards Bowser Jr. Nonetheless, that is not overtly defined throughout the land, so it is as much as the friends to discover and discover methods to earn cash utilizing the Energy Up Bands. Given they price over $40, it is a good factor Common continues including stuff to do with them.
With the addition of Yoshi’s Journey and Minecart-Insanity, there’s a lot extra to do with them. For example, there are a number of Yoshi eggs hidden within the Yoshi’s Journey trip. To acquire the golden-egg stamp, you will have to seek out all of them and push the suitable button in your trip automobile to have it tallied to your general Super Nintendo World rating.
Gallery
As for the Donkey Kong Country space, there are just a few methods to earn cash, and so they have principally been pulled immediately from the video games. The very best minigame on this part requires you to seek out the large letters that spell out Kong littered all through the land. Within the video games, the Kong letters have given additional lives, unlocked particular ranges, and even been used as save factors. Within the Donkey Kong Country land, they earn a stamp and cash to assist propel you to the highest of the leaderboards. Moreover, there’s a banana slot machine situated within the space that merely takes a swipe of your Energy Up Band to activate. You would earn something from stacks of bananas to additional life balloons. What you acquire determines what number of cash get added to your general rating.
There are additionally hidden puzzle items to seek out, a number of bins with hidden Donkey Kong logos on them to scan, a golden banana on the climax of Minecart-Insanity, and a recreation primarily based on Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat. Sure, they turned the 2005 GameCube recreation, which got here with a bongo drum peripheral, right into a theme-park experience–complete with large drums to drum together with and acquire cash. Actually, this could be the good recreation Super Nintendo World has to supply, as who really anticipated a tribute to a GameCube title?
As you may anticipate, you may as well earn additional cash from repeat rides of any of the points of interest. When you’re trying to prime the leaderboard, although, hold line occasions in thoughts.
The theming
That is, arguably, a very powerful factor at play right here, particularly within the Donkey Kong Country part. In spite of everything, Yoshi’s Journey simply matches into the Super Mario Land part of the park. Strolling into Donkey Kong Country, as somebody who first performed this franchise again on the Super Nintendo, was as unbelievable as the primary time I wandered into Super Mario Land.
The realm is constructed to seem like you’re getting into a Donkey Kong Country recreation, from the music and the design proper right down to the banana-flavored treats and the Donkey Kong meet and greet. It is exhausting to correctly clarify the sensation of being within a online game you grew up enjoying, however it’s like no different.
That, after all, may also be seen as a draw back. After traversing all Donkey Kong Country needed to supply, I needed extra. Isle of Berk, the Learn how to Practice Your Dragon part of Epic Universe, is so massive–it’s the biggest land within the park–and that is what I needed for Super Nintendo World, if solely to make manner for much more Donkey Kong. The Mario part of the land has loads of room and stretches out in each route once you stroll in. I would like that feeling for Donkey Kong Country, which is a fraction of the dimensions of the expansive Mario part. In spite of everything, the franchise is alive and properly with a brand new Swap 2 title, Donkey Kong Bananza, on the way in which. Perhaps they might ultimately develop to incorporate extra character meet-and-greets and even one other trip. The place can I meet Cranky Kong?
Then once more, possibly they might additionally prolong into a brand new franchise below the Nintendo umbrella. The place is our Legend of Zelda land and trip?
Regardless, Donkey Kong Country meets the hype and, normally, exceeds it. It establishes Epic Universe as the house of North America’s definitive Super Nintendo World (sorry, Hollywood) and creates much more methods to play and win. Plus, the banana-flavored DK Crush Sunday, served in an enormous waffle cone within a collectible DK barrel mug–if you pay for the upcharge–is fairly scrumptious.
Orlando’s Super Nintendo World, and Epic Universe as a complete, opens to the general public on Might 22. Along with Super Nintendo World and Isle of Berk, the park boasts unique lands and rides primarily based on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the Darkish Universe of Common Monsters.