Have you ever wanted to pet a Chocobo or see tiny men smash giant swords right in front of your eyes? If you’re able to make it to Universal Studios Japan in the first half of 2018, you might just have your chance. The Final Fantasy XR Ride, starting Jan. 19 and ending June 24, will bring travellers into the world of Final Fantasy VII alongside Cloud and Sephiroth, with specially made “XR” virtual reality made just for the park. The ride is part of Universal Studios’ ongoing “Cool Japan” event, which takes nerdy properties like Monster Hunter and Sailor Moon and turns them into full-blown ride experiences.
The ride’s page on the Universal Japan website shows plastic, white headsets that look different than commercial products like the HTC Vive and Oculus. Though I don’t speak Japanese, Google Translate says that the ride will feature giant monsters and popular scenes like the battle between Sephiroth and Cloud. “Experience the limit of realism,” is written on the site, and really makes me question if I’m living in the Matrix or not.
Though I’m not a huge fan of the Final Fantasy franchise, I’d still love to visit. Seeing popular IPs brought to life for a theme park crowd, a vision that appeals to boardroom executives and fans alike, fills my heart with joy. The Muppets are still in Walt Disney World and I hope they never leave.
Theme parks have been finding ways to capitalize on the VR trend. It’s a lot cheaper to stick an $800 headset on someone and throw them into a magical world than pay millions of dollars to build and maintain a thrill ride. A couple of alcohol swabs cost way less, and are a lot less dangerous. Over the next few years, it seems likely more theme parks will integrate this technology, phasing out expensive shows and fancy productions in favor for a headset and some loud noises.
