Universal Studios Japan has announced the first details of its new Donkey Kong Country area, set to open within the Osaka, Japan version of Super Nintendo World in spring 2024.
The Nintendo-themed theme park first opened at USJ in March 2021, and details of the planned Donkey Kong expansion were announced at a press conference today at USJ attended by IGN Japan.
The main attraction at this new area of the popular theme park is Donkey Kong’s Crazy Cart, a rollercoaster set around a towering temple deep in the jungle. The attraction seems to be based on Donkey Kong Country Returns, with players taking on a mission to protect the Golden Banana from the Tiki Tak Tribe.
At the end of the attraction, visitors will face off against Tiki Tong, the final boss from Donkey Kong Country Returns.
In addition to the Donkey Kong’s Crazy Cart ride, the new area will feature various other activities, developed in partnership with Donkey Kong creator Shigeru Miyamoto. Among these, visitors will be able to collect the K O N G letters, which players collect in the games to get an extra life. To collect these, visitors will need a Power-Up Band. In addition to those currently available at Super Nintendo World, a new set will be made available based on Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong. Linking the Power-Up Band to the official USJ mobile app will let visitors track their collection.
Ahead of the new Donkey Kong Country area opening in spring, a new selection of merchandise based on the series will be available to purchase at USJ this week, from December 6. The DK Barrels from the games have been recreated as a container of confectioneries that can also be used as a piggy bank, while the Banana Coin motif appears on a package of coin-shaped chocolates.
The new expansion will increase the total area of Super Nintendo World at USJ to 1.7 times larger, and Donkey Kong’s Crazy Cart will be the area’s first rollercoaster-type ride, following the immensely popular Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge AR ride and the family-friendly Yoshi’s Adventure ride.
IGN’s Super Nintendo World review returned a 9/10. We wrote: “Super Nintendo World brilliantly reinvents and gamifies the theme park experience, while offering an unprecedented level of immersion and – most importantly – fun. It’s a fitting tribute to Super Mario on the series’ 35th anniversary that will fill your heart with joy.”
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
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