It will offer attractions where guests can jump and hit blocks to collect coins like Mario. (File)
Tokyo:
A real-life “Super Mario” game – where players jump to collect coins – and a “Mario Kart” ride will open next spring at Universal Studios Japan, as gaming giant Nintendo makes its first foray into theme parks.
The new amusement park area in the western city of Osaka was originally scheduled to open in July this year ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, with tourist crowds expected.
But the long-awaited “Super Nintendo World” area, which also features a ride based on the beloved green dinosaur Yoshi, will now open in spring 2021, the park said in a statement Wednesday.
It will offer interactive attractions where guests can jump and hit blocks to collect coins and items, the park said, without specifying how it would work.
The opening has been delayed as Japan imposed social distancing measures earlier this year to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
At the end of February, the entire park closed its doors, but it has gradually resumed its activities since June, with health precautions in place.
If all goes as planned, the new area of the park will remain open before the Olympics, which have also been postponed due to the pandemic to July 2021.
Ahead of full opening, Universal Studios Japan will be opening a Mario-themed restaurant next week, offering food and drink inspired by the Italian plumber and his friends and foes, as well as a gift shop.
(Except for the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is posted from a syndicated feed.)
