Spent the past 2 days in the park , my thoughts:
Park atmosphere and lighting : lighting generally the same as last year, most theming on towers Street but appreciate the effort to at least have something in other areas of the park, such as the bunting by Hex. I did notice a lot more smoke machines around the park which really added to the atmosphere. However, if I could say it was one thing missing which really used to give the place a scarefest atmosphere....it's the scare zones. They need them back. Annoyingly, where the circus of freaks was they had lit up with pretty lights but advertising David Walliams for next year. Pity they didn't use the lighting to make it a scare zone. I also didn't find the scarefest music as noticeable this year as last. However, I loved the new ride pumpkins on towers Street, and the 3 ghosts by the skyride station. They were great.
Mazes....
Darkest Depths : 4/5 , really enjoyed this, finally not for kids, did 2 run throughs and both were very good. Really enjoyed it and the experience of walking on different surfaces really added to the experience. Would like to see this return next year maybe a bit longer. Having a room which rocked back and forth with the kraken appearing on each side would have been fab of that was possible but as it stands it was very good.
Altonville mines 4.5/5 : Again this was the stand out maze this year as it was for me last year. The actors were superb and so easy the comedy value in some of the scenes. Length was good, as were the scares. Love the atmosphere of this maze, only thing that slightly let it down was the ending but otherwise very good. Did it twice and both run throughs were excellent.
Project 42 : 2/5 : Also did this twice and I hope it doesn't return next year. Not that many scares on both runs and inside is the same weird mix of layout as it was last year. Same bizarre ending as well. Pity they don't open the ride back up and forget it as a scaremaze.
Subspecies 3/5 : maybe we didn't have a good run through but we didn't come across many actors. Lots of very dark rooms with nothing in them. Met the strange alien creature who didn't really do much, best actor was the guy with the chainsaw at the end. Would be great next year of they brought back the sanctuary instead of this as we had the same poor experience last year.
The Attic 5/5 : loved this on both runs we did. The atmosphere and theming is superb. You really do feel like your in the attic. The actors were excellent. I also liked the story line in particular the fireplace bit. Yes, the ending was abrupt and could be better, but overall this was my highlight maze this year. I think of they could sort the ending of and make it a bit 'bigger' this would be an outstanding maze next year. However I'm giving it top marks for the atmosphere, lighting, and acting within it. Really enjoyed it.
Overall I think this year's scarefest was an improvement on last year's. What would really add more atmosphere next year would be the return of the free scaremazes and actirs walking the park, however otherwise we had a great 2 days.