Credit: Universal StudiosIt’s hard to think of a time when we were not in a world involving video games. Since the late 1970s, fans have been able to enter virtual worlds and play video games like Super Mario Bros., Sonic the Hedgehog, Space Invaders, Atari, and so many more.
Even though there are tens of thousands of video games out there, the original games and their characters — like the Super Mario Bros. characters Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Yoshi — remain some of the most popular characters around.
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Super Nintendo games and their characters are still so popular that, in 2021, the very first SUPER NINTENDO WORLD opened in Universal Studios Japan. Two years later, a smaller version of SUPER NINTENDO WORLD opened at Universal Studios Hollywood.
While the new Universal Studios Hollywood land is much smaller than its Japanese counterpart, it does not keep the crowds away. In the year and a half since it has been open, guests have not gotten enough of places like Toad Stool Café and Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge. Reservations to Toad Stool Café are notoriously hard to get, and Bowser’s Challenge frequently has a wait time of more than an hour.
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Despite its popularity, some guests recently vented about the poor construction and apparent lack of care that went into bringing SUPER NINTENDO WORLD to Southern California.
X (formerly Twitter) user @HighUniversal shared images of the land, and it is disappointing. Pieces of the wall don’t line up, and there are bulges in certain spots. It just looks like not much effort went into the area’s construction—especially when compared to the look of the same land at Universal Studios Japan.
The more I watch the completion of Super Nintendo World in Epic Universe in Orlando and seeing videos of SNW in Japan, the more bummed I get about the quality of our land here in Hollywood :/ We definitely got the short end of the stick… @UniStudios
The more I watch the completion of Super Nintendo World in Epic Universe in Orlando and seeing videos of SNW in Japan, the more bummed I get about the quality of our land here in Hollywood :/
We definitely got the short end of the stick… @UniStudios pic.twitter.com/KWgX7Lwotv
— Universal HIGH🌎 (@HighUniversal) September 1, 2024
SUPER NINTENDO WORLD is so popular that Universal is not stopping at just its Japan and Hollywood theme parks. A new SUPER NINTENDO WORLD is currently being constructed at the Universal Orlando Resort. The new land will be a part of Universal Orlando’s third theme park — Epic Universe — which is set to open next summer.
@HighUniversal also pointed out that Universal’s lack of care on its Hollywood version of SUPER NINTENDO WORLD was particularly disappointing because Universal is putting in a lot more effort on its upcoming Epic Universe location.
Ngl, the tiled walls didn’t bother me at first when the land was new but now that we know Epic Universe is getting a much better quality land this is pretty lame 😒
Ngl, the tiled walls didn’t bother me at first when the land was new but now that we know Epic Universe is getting a much better quality land this is pretty lame 😒 pic.twitter.com/KwSm4HcDmx
— Universal HIGH🌎 (@HighUniversal) September 1, 2024
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While many people agreed with @HighUniversal, some pointed out that Universal had to deal with some unique circumstances while building SNW in Hollywood. The new land was built during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they do think that Universal needs to take better care of the new land.
I’m gonna give them a small pass because this land was built during the Big C. But still, I wish they didn’t rush it the year before opening. And for the love of pete please clean and refurb the land, Universal
I’m gonna give them a small pass because this land was built during the Big C. But still, I wish they didn’t rush it the year before opening. And for the love of pete please clean and refurb the land, Universal
— Pictaur (@pictaur) September 1, 2024
Due to its small size, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD at Universal Studios Hollywood only has one attraction. However, the new land at Epic Universe will be much bigger and have some truly incredible attractions. The new land will be split into two areas — Super Mario Land and Donkey Kong Country. The highlight of the area will be a Donkey Kong-themed roller coaster that will actually appear to jump the track!
A SUPER NINTENDO WORLD is also being built inside Universal Studios Singapore, replacing an area themed after the 2005 film Madagascar. Both the Singapore and Epic Universe lands are slated to open sometime in 2025.
Do you think Universal was lazy in its construction of SUPER NINTENDO WORLD at Universal Studios Hollywood? Let us know in the comments!