“Let’s go Hollywood!”: the first “Super Mario” theme park will open in the US.

“Super Mario” fans will be able to raid a new castle: the first American amusement park dedicated to the famous character from Nintendo will open in Los Angeles in February, a few weeks before the premiere of a movie of hollywood about the mustachioed plumber.

“Super Nintendo World”largely inspired by the design of its older brother opened in 2021 in Osaka, will be part of the Universal Studios Hollywood park.

Mushrooms to knock out, piranha plants hidden in pipes, bricks full of money: the attraction faithfully reproduces the world of the video game, almost 40 years after the arrival of the little plumber who jumped from platform to platform.

Released in 1985 for Nintendo’s NES console, “Super Mario Bros” it remains to this day one of the best-selling video games in the world. These 2D adventures paved the way for many sequels, propelling Shigeru Miyamoto’s character to the status of a global pop culture icon.

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More accustomed to offering attractions inspired by film franchises, such as “Harry Potter” either “Fast and Furious”Universal worked with Nintendo to deliver an immersive experience.

Visitors will be able to board a carousel dedicated to the racing game “Mario Kart”equipped with augmented reality glasses, for a trip to the castle of the famous villain bowser.

In this very real environment, you can fire virtual projectiles from your gondola at the enemies you see in your visor.

sumo playground

Other games allow the public to put on interactive wristbands, which identify movements and reproduce them on screens.

Everyone can thus accumulate coins or stamps, hoping to qualify for a showdown with the final boss.

The attraction attempts to recreate a “ultimate playground”according to Universal Creative vice president Jon Corfino.

“We combine video effects, projections, LED screens, truly magical and immersive sets, special effects, physical effects, augmented reality”Explain. “They are still the same challenges as on a console, but this time in real life.”

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Some fans have already experienced the proposal, as the attraction is admitting a few visitors to ensure a “no problem opening” and resolve any technical issues that arise.

“Being here is like reproducing my childhood in real life”the first visitor to the park, Carlos Moctezuma, told AFP, dressed as his favorite plumber.

“It is a dream come true”added his girlfriend, Lexsi Houseman, dressed as Luigi, the hero’s brother. “I have known Mario since he was in second grade. It was one of my first games on the Game Boy.”.

Also on the big screen

The official launch of “Super Nintendo World” is scheduled for February 17, when visitors will be greeted by actors dressed as Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach.

After Osaka and Los Angeles, Nintendo also plans to open a third amusement park in Orlando, Florida.

Universal Pictures, the film studio whose parent company runs the Hollywood amusement park, will release the film. “Super Mario Bros. The Movie” in April.

This animated feature film, which plays to the maximum with nostalgia, deploys a luxury cast for dubbing.

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Universal hired American actor Chris Pratt to lend his voice to the potbellied plumber. But his portrayal of Mario, seen in the trailer, disappointed many fans and sparked a lively controversy on social media.

An all-star voice cast also includes Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Jack Black as Bowser, and Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong.

It will be Hollywood’s second attempt to bring Nintendo’s most famous characters to the big screen, following a much-criticized 1993 live-action film.

Source: AFP