Universal Studios Hollywood has officially opened up Super Nintendo World, the first iteration of the park outside of Japan, and is welcoming Nintendo fans of all ages to explore and capture some of that Mario magic.
We were lucky enough to explore the park before it opened, and we're happy to report it’s just as big, bonkers and fun as you'd want a real-life recreation of the Mushroom Kingdom to be.
Nestled within Universal Studios Hollywood, alongside iconic rides like Revenge of the Mummy and just a short walk from Springfield, Super Nintendo World is a land unto itself. The area is complete with rides, activities, an adorable restaurant and a gift shop full of exclusive merch.
It's hard to describe the experience of walking through one of the most iconic video games of all time, but that's exactly what it feels like. Super Nintendo World feels like a giant love letter to the Mario games — particularly Super Mario 64, the franchise's first 3D entry.
That game was mind-blowing because of the emphasis it placed on exploring. In fact, before jumping through the first painting and completing the first level, most people will remember endlessly running back and forth around Peach’s Castle. Seeing what had previously only been a small 2D sprite at the end of a level transformed into a giant (at the time) 3D environment was unbelievable.
Now imagine that feeling, but instead of shifting the 2D world of Mario to 3D, you’re stepping into a fully realised, physical version of the world.
The entrance to Super Nintendo World is a giant green warp pipe that leads out through the front gates of Peach's Castle. Walking through it and seeing all that bright, playful, life-size Super Mario iconography is enough to win over even the grumpiest Goomba.
Huge mushrooms create shaded areas to sit, giant (robotic) Petey Piranhas seem to sway in the wind and glowing Question Blocks are dotted around, just begging to be jumped into.
In one corner of the area, a huge Thwomp (those pesky cement baddies) bobs up and down, while a life-size Yoshi runs around a tree just out of reach.
The park's perspective is ingeniously designed, with the rolling green hills of the Mushroom Kingdom brushing up against the blue skies of Los Angeles, successfully making the land feel secluded in its own little bubble.
If you're lucky, you might even run into the Mushroom Kingdom's friendlier inhabitants, as meet-and-greets with Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach are available throughout the day.
It's hard not to be overwhelmed by the theming and attention to detail present in every aspect of the park, and it all really culminates in the land's main attraction: Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge.
Inspired by the Mario Kart series, the ride is a one-of-a-kind experience that combines real-world ride design and augmented reality to make you feel like you're flying around a track and firing off shells at other racers.
Even the queuing area is impressive. Visitors line up and walk through a huge recreation of Boswer's Castle — complete with a giant statue of the big dragon-turtle himself — which is absolutely stuffed with Easter eggs from various Nintendo properties.
Once you've queued and received your instructions, you're popped in a four-person rollercoaster car, themed like a Mario Kart, and given an augmented reality headset – one of the easiest of its types we've used and adjusted.
During the race, you're tasked with using the headset to fire off shells and other power-ups by looking in a direction and hitting the fire button. You also have a steering wheel you can use to collect bonus coins.
All these different elements come together to really make you feel like you're taking part in a Mario Kart race. That video game aspect is also built on by the use of a Power-Up Band, which you connect to a smartphone app and tap on the ride to log your score and see how you measure up against friends (or strangers, if you're feeling competitive).
The Power-Up Bands, which feature one of six character-specific designs and are lightweight but sturdy, are $40 each. Although not necessary for visiting Super Nintendo World, they add to the interactivity of the space by letting you compete against your friends or other ‘teams’ (depending on which character you chose) to achieve the highest score of the day by collecting the most digital coins.
Outside of Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge, you can collect these coins by tapping Question Blocks and playing a number of mini-games scattered around the land. Each game is bite-sized fun — such as turning the crank on a waterfall as fast as you can or teaming up with friends to dash about and switch off big flashing alarm clocks.
All that exploring definitely works up an appetite – which is perfect because you’ll definitely want to visit the delightfully themed Toadstool Cafe. The decor inside Super Nintendo World's restaurant is fun and playful, and the menu offers a big range of options, all presented in fun Mario-themed ways.
Just like everywhere else in the park, the Toadstool Cafe goes big on the Mushroom Kingdom visuals, with the menu including items like the Super Mushroom Soup and the Mario and Luigi Burgers (beef and chicken, respectively, of course).
The real highlight of Toadstool Cafe has to be the desserts, though. The triple-layer Mt Beanpole Cake (shaped like the end goal of a Super Mario Bros level) is a must-eat while you visit.
Ultimately, Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood is unlike any other theme park experience we've had.
The scale of the recreation will genuinely take any Mario fan's breath away, and the obvious love and care that went into every detail mean that everywhere you look, a new element jumps out.
The world of Mario has captured the imagination of multiple generations at this point, and Super Nintendo World is a place built for fans whatever their age.
Virgin Atlantic Holidays offers five nights in Los Angeles from £1,499pp with flights from Heathrow, accommodation at the Sheraton Universal, and the Universal Studios Hollywood buy a day, get a 2nd-day free special offer ticket.
