Nintendo’s theme park is open for business… and it has a Kinect-style attraction

Universal Studios Japan’s Super Nintendo World attraction has soft-launched in Osaka, and visitors have filmed every attraction for the many unable to visit.

The Universal Parks News Today YouTube channel has published a comprehensive roster of videos showing Super Nintendo World’s rides, stores, restaurant and many secrets. Those planning to visit the park spoiler-free may want to avoid some of the videos.

Super Nintendo World’s main attractions are Mario Kart AR and Yoshi rides. However, the latest videos reveal one attraction that was kept under wraps, and it features a Kinect-style game which has players waving their arms in front of a projector screen to play.

Kinect was the initially successful Xbox 360 peripheral created in response to Nintendo’s own Wii. The second iteration of the motion-tracking camera was initially included with every Xbox One console, before a negative response from consumers led to Microsoft removing – and later discontinuing – the device just months after launch.

Nintendo’s take on motion camera gaming at Universal Japan is called “Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown” and is only accessible once visitors have collected various digital keys hidden around the park.

Nintendo World Japan puts an emphasis on the interactivity of its experiences, with each visitor using a wearable wristband in conjunction with a mobile phone app to gamify the park.

As demonstrated in a recent Nintendo Direct, various keys are hidden around Super Nintendo World, which players must solve puzzles to obtain, such as by punching a POW block in time with a moving shell, in order to have it hit the key.

Visitors are able to collect virtual coins and stamps by exploring Nintendo World, and compete with others in real-time for the number collected.

They can view leaderboard rankings via a mobile app that shows the most points earned by park attendees, which can be broken down by day, all-time or for individual rides such as Mario Kart.

According to a report, Universal has already started construction of a new Donkey Kong area.

Last year images showing a 2016 concept model for Super Nintendo World first suggested the park was planning to add a Donkey Kong area. The images showed a new world themed on the more modern Retro Studios Donkey Kong Country games, including a mine cart rollercoaster ride.

Super Nintendo World is scheduled to come to Universal’s Orlando, Hollywood and Singapore parks, although a timeline for openings outside of Japan hasn’t been announced.

Further reading

Nintendo theme park opening postponed again due to Japan’s Covid emergency

Osaka-based Super Nintendo World was due to open in February