Universal Studios gives us a first look at its Donkey Kong expansion
Nintendo's appearance at Universal Studios was a shock to begin with, but now, we can't help but feel like it should have been there the whole time.
Mario is such an iconic character that he now transcends his video game appearances, and especially after the huge successes of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, there's no doubt he's more of a household name now than he's ever been.
But, as Nintendo's theme park empire begins to expand, fans are wondering - what next? Yoshi's Island, A Metroid-themed alien blaster, or what about sitting on the throne in Hyrule Castle? Well, it looks like a new video has the answer, and it's one that will nearly double Nintendo's presence at Universal Studios Japan.
New trailer shows off Donkey Kong expansion to Universal Japan
A brand-new and CGI-based teaser shows us what's next for the Osaka theme park, and it has unveiled officially that Donkey Kong Country is coming to the theme park sooner than expected. This was hinted at back in 2021, and by the looks of it, Universal has been busy behind the scenes.
The trailer takes us through Super Nintendo World as we know it, before trailing off to a new section of the park. Donkey Kong Country is branded with Donkey Kong's iconic bongos, palm trees, and waterfalls.
It's a stunning-looking imagining of the expansion yet to come to the park, but the main attraction appears to be the new ride - a minecart rollercoaster that seems to mimic the roller sections of Donkey Kong Country. With complaints that Super Nintendo World lacked rides, this should prove critics wrong.
Donkey Kong Country is coming to Universal in 2024
Click to enlargeIt's a compelling peek behind the curtain of Super Nintendo World, and luckily, it doesn't look like we'll have to wait too long to see the real thing. The end of the trailer reveals that the new area of the theme park will be completed in 2024, meaning that by this time next year, we'll have the chance to explore the iconic DKC ourselves.
It's an exciting notion and one that hints that Super Nintendo Land is doing incredibly well for Universal Japan. We're not sure if we'll be able to explore Donkey Kong's world in Univeral Florida or Singapore's Nintendo revamp, but DK makes a lot of sense as the first expansion. In the meantime, we'll be booking our tickets to Japan.
