It was supposed to be the day today that Super Nintendo World officially opened at Universal Studios Japan. Although it was delayed indefinitely after the rising COVID-19 infection rates, some lucky people had a taste. A number of videos have emerged showing the Osaka Park in detail. Among them is a deep dive into Super Nintendo World’s star attraction, the Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge ride.
A 20-minute video on the Universal Parks News Today YouTube channel guides you through the entire ride, including a rope. The ride, which plays like a Mario Kart game, looks like an explosion. Each person controls their own kart in augmented reality and you can use items against other racers. You see the AR effects in action decently (or as close as you will get without really driving). In another video you can see what everything looks like without AR glasses.
There are a few other videos from Super Nintendo World that you can watch, such as the Yoshi’s Adventure Ride, merchandise, and the mini-games scattered throughout the park. While you may not be able to travel the delights of Kinopio’s Cafe anytime soon, you can at least get an idea of what it’s like to eat a Koopa Troopa shell (well, a calzone that looks like one anyway).