I must say, I do feel rather sorry for the ride compared to other failed Merlin rides such as DBGT and that as this ride was pretty much ABC Ride's breakthrough for entering theme parks IIRC in which while the ride system itself worked, it was let down by everything else which is down on Merlin's half. Then again even if all the effects worked as intended on opening day and didn't get the barrage of negative comments then I'm not sure honestly if the ride would have had a better fate if it still had a high staff cost.
Honestly, had they simply just gone for a straight copy of Alien ExtraTERRORestrial Encounter in which it was a simple 'in-the-round' theatre which while would have been nothing more than a blatant copy of the ride but it would have likely have been a much better experience overall and possibly, if it didn't require high staff numbers, then might have still been with us now?