After many months of delay, Super Nintendo World officially opened its doors to the first official guests on March 18.
Shigeru Miyamoto, video game designer and creator of Mario, said “The day we’ve been looking forward to has finally arrived! It’s been six years since we started development, and it’s gone so fast. The world’s first real Super Mario world. We’re happy to be able to release it in time for the 35th anniversary.”
He added: “There are activities here for people of all ages to experience, using all of their senses… Once the pandemic subsides, I hope everyone around the world will come and visit us. We are waiting for you!”
The park currently has shops, a restaurant and two rides: Yoshi’s Adventure and an AR-powered Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge.
Video courtesy of Reuters
Visitors enter the park through a green pipe, entering a real world version of Mario's Mushroom Kingdom. Wearing their Power-Up Bands visitors are able to interact with various things in the park – including punchable coin blocks.
Visitors today were also able to interact and take pictures with beloved characters, like Mario and Luigi – but no hugs or high fives were allowed due to the current Covid-19 health and safety guidelines.
According to park officials, capacity is currently around 10,000 visitors, which is around half of what it would be pre-Covid.
Bonnier said, "In times like these, we need experiences that can energize us,” alluding to the parks interactivity and gamification, which can be enjoyed with friends and family alike.
