Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge (UOR) - Reviews, Photos, & Media

[LPCaptainDeath]

Haunted Mansion is narrated by a narrator
Pirates is narrated by background characters
Spider-Man is narrated by both
FJ has Hermione, Gringotts has Bill, Hagrid’s has Hagrid, etc.
They even recreated Rod Serling for Tower of Terror.

I actually disagree and think Pirates is the best "show-don't-tell" example there is; The atmosphere does the heavy lifting on how to tell a story with context and scenery as opposed to having a direct narrator literally stop and explain things to you(per the other examples). There is no central character who addresses the riders and breaks that wall nor sticks with us and explains things beat for beat.

 

[Cwoolboy]

Super Nintendo World offers everything a fan of Nintendo could want or ask for. You truly feel like you have entered into the world of their video games. The two main entrances both force you upstairs, one by escalator, the other by a flight of stairs. While trekking those two flights of stairs to the entrance is not fun, I actually prefer the second entrance as it's much moodier and atmospheric.

Once you exit Peach's Castle, you are immediately bombarded with an onslaught of external stimuli. The land is bursting with kinetic motion, everywhere you look something is moving or making noise and there is a close to infinite amount of interactive elements to discover and play with (including multiple blocks to bop with your hands or your head, if you're feeling brave enough). It's overwhelming, but undeniably effective and immersive. There's even a mini-land attached to Super Nintendo World themed to Donkey Kong Country.

Donkey Kong Country isn't particularly big, but it is well-themed and the music that plays throughout the area is an absolute bop. Super Nintendo World will try to convince you to buy a Power-Up Band, a wearable accessory similar to a MagicBand that allows you to unlock mini-games throughout the land, track your score on Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge, and compete with friends/family. A Power-Up Band costs approximately forty-eight dollars. In order to use the band in Donkey Kong Country, you have to purchase a Donkey Kong Country add-on accessory.

 

[Cwoolboy]

Bowser has challenged Mario and friends to a Mario Kart race to be held at his castle. Little do they know, Bowser has been hard at work devising a plan to finally defeat Mario at his game. We are on team Mario, and are invited to tour Bowser's castle before the race. It's a pretty cool queue with clever, cute rooms to explore while you wait.

Before you board your Kart, you pick up a Mario hat which you adjust by turning a white plastic knob on the back. Once in the Kart, there is a pair of plastic glasses that magnetically attach to your Mario hat. These are AR goggles, which constantly project images of various Mario Kart racers, characters, and effects. These images often obstruct your view of physical sets, objects, and props in the real world and even at times completely obscure your view of the track. It's a chaotic, confusing, and overwhelming experience.

The AR Goggles/Mario Hat combo is also pretty top heavy, and you don't want it drooping too low, so make sure your Mario hat is nice and tight. The way the game is played is you look to aim, press both buttons on your steering wheel to shoot, and steer your steering wheel in the corresponding direction when indicated to do so. This is the most Video Game: The Ride attraction I have ever been on. It's incredibly ambitious, and the physical props and sets are all incredibly impressive, which is why it can be frustrating that the AR images can get in the way of the physical environments at times.

There are some moments where the goggles and sets work in perfect unison (like a physical prop crushing one of the AR Mario Kart racers). The moment that makes the entire experience worth it comes near the end of the attraction, where you get to actually race on the rainbow road. Practical effects, screens, and AR images blend together perfectly to sell the illusion that you have entered the game Mario Kart and are racing on the actual Rainbow Road. It's incredibly thrilling, and it feels like your Kart practically takes off on a bit of a roller-coaster. In the end, Mario Kart is a perfect encapsulation of what the game Mario Kart is. This attraction should hold some amount of appeal for anyone who grew up playing Mario Kart.