Universal Studios Japan's Super Nintendo Land to open on Feb. 4, 2021

Travelling right now might be challenging, but that doesn't mean we can't dream about destinations we hope to visit. One of them is the "life-size, living video game" theme park, a.k.a. Super Nintendo World in Universal Studios Japan (USJ). The attraction will open on February 4 in Osaka, which is earlier than the spring 2021 launch that Universal and Nintendo announced.

To excite potential visitors, USJ gives a sneak peek at its main attraction: the Mario Kart rollercoaster. The ride is set inside Bowser's castle, and it uses augmented reality and projection-mapping tech. Each rider will wear Mario's signature cap, which serves as their AR headset. And while the ride itself is on rails, each car gets steering wheels. The AR tech it uses lets visitors "compete" against each other. And to gain an advantage, visitors can collect virtual coins via a wristband while they roam the park with a Switch console.

Each ride can offer a different experience, and Engadget notes a strong element of chance when it comes to winning or losing on the ride.

Bloomberg reports that Super Nintendo World seems to be a bit small, which isn't ideal given we're still living through a pandemic. But that theme park will eventually expand when the Donkey Kong area opens. It's currently under construction. USJ also promises "hygiene enhancement measures," which were created in partnership with health officials. The park will also operate at half capacity.

And while these measures are in place, plans might change as Osaka has turned into a COVID-19 hotspot over the last few weeks.