Trooper Looper
TS Member
You're absolutely right that Galactica has much better theming, but it doesn't feel right in the area. It's supposed to be a "Forbidden Valley" not a space agency. I think that Airs theme was more suitable as, well to me, Airs theme always gave off the feeling of a powerful, unknown force of good, flight, fighting nemesis, which had a feeling of pure evil and power. Like 2 ancient rivals. Air had that sleek theming and calm soundtrack when compared to Nemesis jagged, rusty look and bombastic theme. Galactica doesn't really have a force of good, nor evil, its just a standard sci fi theme around a company transporting you to space, which is totally the English countryside :/, that doesn't sound so Forbidden now does it.Would people really care if Air returned, though? It would literally just mean a new name and different music; there wouldn’t really be any material change to the ride itself whatsoever. I dare say that it could be construed as a downgrade, as this would also see the portal removed.
Controversially, I much prefer the Galactica theme and would like it to stay. I love the soundtrack, I love the portal, and I feel like the changes made gave the ride more spectacle and a greater sense of theme than it ever had as Air. Air… didn’t really have a theme. Or not from the spectator’s eye, at least; I’m aware that Wardley originally intended for it to be themed to an oasis of calm within FV, but I’m not sure that was ever overly clear to the spectator. Had the ride not suffered from a lack of time and budget due to the flying coaster technology’s issues, I can imagine it could have been a really good theme, but I’m not sure it was executed in a way that conveyed that theme clearly.
With Galactica, on the other hand; I think the space theme is clearer and more strongly conveyed, and I personally much prefer the vibe the ride has as Galactica.
However, I think Air/Galactica has always had little enough theming that whatever identity it carries is neither here nor there, really.
I mean, if they were to retheme it back to air, they could easily keep the amazing portal, and just paint it grey, and add some rockwork at the bottom of it, making it look like it's embedded within the Earth.