USJ’s new Donkey Kong Country is a barrel of fun

Osaka –

It’s been 10 years since the Donkey Kong video game series had a mainline release, but the opening of the Donkey Kong Country area at Universal Studios Japan (USJ) in Osaka is proof that Nintendo’s big ape can still draw a crowd.

A few dozen lucky fans braved single-digit temperatures the morning of Dec. 11 to take in the area’s opening ceremony — featuring the eponymous character and the man who brought him to life, Nintendo executive Shigeru Miyamoto — and be the first to ride the theme park’s newest attraction: Mine Cart Madness.

“There are many elements throughout the land where you can find gameplay and design from the world of Donkey Kong,” Miyamoto, who was also involved in the design of the Nintendo-themed world at Universal Studios, said during the opening ceremony. “I believe it is a land that can be enjoyed by the whole family.”