Super Nintendo World Opens February 17, 2023 in Hollywood

By LUDWIG VON KOOPA - Think about the Japan theme park... but in the United States!

This Nintendo of America news release about SUPER NINTENDO WORLD Hollywood was a week ago, but I didn't jump on it because it's not really a big deal. I have some proof of that courtesy of this Universal Studios Hollywood video that Nintendo of America described as a “sneak peek.”

At the very beginning of the video, you see a disturbing message that says, “JUMP INTO THE WORLD OF SUPER MARIO.” Even though it's called Super Nintendo World. But that criticism is old and tired. But I have new criticism to share!

You see that disclaimer around 0:54? “Some imagery courtesy of Universal Studios Japan.” And they can do that because most of the attractions are the same as when we did a virtual tour of the area over a year ago when it opened in Japan.

Of course, you're going to go from Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge to Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge, and Kinopio's Cafe is now Toadstool Cafe, still featuring Chef Toad. But the Power-Up Band with its key challenges are the same... well, they went from five key challenges to four, because Bob-omb lost a challenge and the Bob-omb Kaboom Room hasn't been ported over. Maybe America is more uptight about bombs than Japan is. There's also no mention of Yoshi's Adventure, which is a loss of an entire attraction. That basically makes Bowser's Castle the bulk of the fun. Which it always was. But when the media had reported that the attractions would be different... there's nothing in America that Japan didn't get. America only has less stuff, according to Nintendo and Universal Studios Hollywood's read-out.

Well, Iggy Koopa is in Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge as a member of Team Bowser.
But did you know that Iggy is also in Universal Studios Japan?
Did you know that I'm there, too? ...Because I didn't. ...Does that obligate me to have to physically visit?
Are the other tourists going to think I'm an augmented reality attraction or the real Koopa deal?

It shouldn't have taken Ludwig two years to figure out that he's part of the theme park's notion of “Team Koopa” or “Team Bowser”, and yet here he is. His lack of speed on this issue is the only thing that makes it possible for Team Mario to win. Regardless, if you were ever interested in Super Nintendo World but didn't want to have to go to Japan for it, soon you'll be able to go to Hollywood instead. (Which may or may not be more affordable, but at least it's in an English-speaking country.) Let KoopaTV know in the comments how that makes you feel!


Here's the article for the park's opening press event.