For anyone interested in madhouses I would highly recommend these reads. You'll recognise some of the photos and information if you saw my post earlier in the year.
Madhouses I: The Origin of the Haunted Swing
Madhouses II: The Development of Villa Volta
Madhouses III: That is Illusion
I think if they were to redo Hex. The one thing I think they need to keep the same is the vault music. For me, that is probably one of the most spectacular pieces of theme park music on the planet. It's a true gem for Alton Towers. As is Hex in itself, an absolute masterpiece of themed entertainment.
Even the narrator is spot on, they did nail it. The assertive "Attention! The handrails are about to be lowered so please raise your arms.....so the bars may close, tightly". Raises the hairs on the back of my neck to this day, as does the rest.
The narration fits so well with the setting. I think that the audio is so important with Hex, not only because it is such a massive theatrical element to the attraction as per the design, but because (intentionally or not) it is delivered so, so well. The tone, narration and execution are done to an excellent level.
This is why I had an issue with the audio revamp a few years ago. Intentions were good no doubt, but the current Ohm system just doesn't deliver the narrative and audio like the old Bose system used to. I suspect it is not because the current system isn't capable of delivering like the old Bose, but due to the system not being tuned as well as the old Bose rig was. The rooms are very acoustically complex so not an easy feat, particularly if the new rig was commissioned in-house.
Hex is a ride where the narrative and audio make up a huge part of the overall experience, so I would hope they do this justice if they re-do the ride. Given MMM's recent track record, I have great confidence. Substantial changes were made to Duel, that is exactly what was needed to make that a great ride again and man, John B and the MMM crew nailed it. So I do not doubt that they would not do Hex justice and without sounding patronising, understand that the modifications to Hex (in my opinion) don't need to be as drastic, the attraction doesn't need it as Duel did, and the format is still great. It does need some John B magic though, such as a revamped octagon show with new FX.
I think we, as English people, who have grown up in this country with castles, stately homes, lores and all that, take for granted the spectacular nature of what a ride like Hex delivers. That is not to say we do not appreciate and love it, we do, but when you see the ride through the eyes of someone who has not grown up in this country, where some of the main elements of the attraction (a real stately home, a curse and an actual walk through the ancient building) are not usual occurrences in their country, you see how magical it is.
If I was being specific, the vault failed in recent years audio-wise. If anyone can remember how it used to sound in the early 2000s, it is a far cry from how it sounds now.
Alton Towers have one of the best dark rides on the planet, they also have one of, if not the best piece of theme park music on the planet. Do it justice. Wow the guests by delivering this amazing narration and soundtrack through a properly tuned sound system that does the audio justice and puts hairs on the back of people's necks.
"For nearly 200 years....." even on the current Ohm rig, the octagon still amazes, from the audio alone.
