Super Nintendo World theme park opening now scheduled for February 4

Universal Studios Japan plans to open its $580 million Nintendo attraction on Feb. 4, finally debuting a long-delayed effort to introduce Mario and other beloved characters to real-world theme park visitors. Super Nintendo World, built on the existing Universal Studios Japan site, is envisioned as a life-sized replica of Nintendo Co.’s most popular games with rides, shops and walk-through activities.Bloomberg reports that a Mario Kart ride inside a recreation of Bowser's Castle would be one of Super Nintendo World's first attractions. Image courtesy of Nintendo.The ambitious half-billion dollar theme park was originally scheduled to open last summer, but the global coronavirus outbreak forced the launch to be pushed back by several months. With the vaccine rollout likely to take well into next spring and summer, it remains to be seen if the February opening is achievable. If you can't wait that long but are dying to dissect Nintendo worlds and environments, check out Ryan Scavnicky's architectural review of Super Mario Bros.