Boozacoaster
TS Member
My overall Scarefest detailed review WITH SPOILERS
SubSpecies
I did SubSpecies again because I wanted to know whether I just had a bad run.
It was SO much better the second time; I couldn't believe it. The actors were everywhere, shouting and grabbing you. The quality of this maze genuinely relies on whether you have a good or bad run (which isn't necessarily a good thing) but my second run was a lot better. The labyrinth was generally quite quiet in actors, however it seemed to go on forever with so many dead ends that the panic factor had already risen. The next few rooms were a blur, but the actors were mostly phenomenal. The fact that one actor would not let go of me for over a minute, my legs were tickled and two actors concentrated on just me for a while really increased the scare factor of the maze. I genuinely ran through some of the sets to try and escape the actors. By the time the chainsaw came I was ready to run straight out out of the maze.
I did like the theme of this maze and I thought some moments were well decorated, however the majority of the scenes felt quite sparsely themed in comparison to the other mazes on park. I know that the maze is very big and therefore may have less theming, but sometimes I literally felt like I was walking through black walls. The experience and intensity of this maze often overrides the theming for most people who enter, but as someone who loves good theming I was slightly dissapointed with this aspect of the maze.
Contrary to popular opinion, I would like this maze to return next year, but I really hope it becomes more reliable - that you can do it again and again with the same intensity.
Overall score: 8/10
Project 42
This maze was really entertaining and it seems to be just me who thinks that. It was loud, hectic, claustrophobic and loads of fun. I agree with the people saying that some moments lacked actors, but I loved the whole experience in most other aspects.
One thing to notice about this maze is how much happens in a short space of time. I don't know if it was just me, but I was attacked, squashed pushed and shouted at multiple times throughout the whole maze. If I'm honest, the start was a lot better than the end of the maze. At the beginning there was a big squeeze through an inflatable corridor, tons of actors and a lot of scares. I was split from part of my group and fell over trying to run away multiple times, which increased the tension in the maze. The actors were mostly good throughout the experience, however the end of the maze was really drab. Luckily it didn't badly affect the rest of the experience, but there was no actors and I walked out a little underwhelmed. If there was a strong ending I would think much more highly of this maze and would probably have a better memory of it. I loved the start and middle of the maze but eventually it just turned to being quite boring. It's a shame because there were parts of the maze I absolutely loved. Just make the whole maze as intense as the start (after the preshow) and I think it would be great.
The theming in this maze was definitely better than SubSpecies, however it felt a bit scattered. I felt that there were random items all over the place and I was walking through it. Loads of plants, some tables, chairs, lab coats and chain fencing is basically what I saw throughout this maze. It's a shame because the props themselves could fit the theme if used properly, but they were not presented in the best fashion. However, I did notice the time-consuming attention to detail in some of the sets, the use of smells and scents and the fantastic use of lighting throughout the maze - so props to the Creative and Entertainments team for pulling this off.
I hope they bring this maze back next year just with the following improvements:
- Make the maze pumped with a lot more actors.
- Present the theming better to make the sets feel more realistic.
- Move the big squeeze to a late point in the maze as it would work well once tension has been built up
- Improve the ending (nothing theatrical is needed -just more actors)
Overall Score: 7/10
The Altonville Mine Tours: Legend of the Skin-Snatchers
This maze was a mix of good and bad. I loved how there were actors everywhere, the smells, and the theming. However the maze was way too short and I walked out actually shocked that it was finished.
The acting quality in this maze was fantastic. At the preshow my face was touched and the actors got uncomfortably close, and in the maze there was just so many jumpscares that the maze intensity was reaching unimaginable levels. The smoke, the beautiful sets (more on that later) and smells combined to make something pretty terrifying. I also found those skin masks horrifying - the fact actors were jumping in my face and feeling my hair and legs just made me so uncomfortable and scared.
The theming and sets in this attraction were very well done - I won't lie I did struggle to see the detail in them even though I knew how much detail there was just because of the very dim lighting. However the bedroom, the rooms with confectionary pots, the mannequin rooms, the corridors with inflatable clothes, the room with the cogs AND the ending shop were all so well themed that was beginning to feel immersed.
That was the problem. This maze was WAY too short and almost has to be extended. I absolutely loved what I got but I was just very dissatisfied when I walked out. There needs to be more to this maze as it is over way too quickly. This is not all a terrible thing however because it shows that I enjoyed the small time in the maze I got and wanted more.
Also, there was an attempt at an ending here however it just fell a little short for me. The gunshot in the shop was quite quiet compared to the rest of the maze and therefore didn't really jump me. I just walked out confused and scared.
This maze is a winner from the get go; the storyline is beautifully crafted, the maze is terrifying at places and all the sets ooze quality and authenticity - however the problems are simple. The ending is not very scary and the maze is way too short. If these problems can be fixed, this maze will be fantastic.
Overall score: 7/10
Darkest Depths
This was an impressive new maze with good theming. It seems to have controversy that the age rating is too low (the age rating is 10+) but if I'm honest, i think this rating is just right.
There was a beautiful mix of sets here - from the tavern, to the ship and the use of screens, sand and water. I was truly shocked to see how much effort had been put into designing and creating each scene in this attraction and each scene had it's own unique feel that contributed highly to the overall experience.
The acting quality in this maze was good and I really enjoyed their performances throughout the maze. I struggle to find faults in their performance. I especially liked the Captain character in the maze who was really going for his role.
The only problems in this maze were:
- Some actors seemed restricted with their roles due to conditions in the maze (e.g. there was a mermaid who just sat there staring at me because she couldn't move her lower body)
- The finale was not that great - it could have been a bit more dramatic
However, apart from that, this maze is a fantastic experience that I really recommend experiencing twice (and try to walk slowly). My personal favourite scene was the long corridor with strobes, a cannon and the kraken breaking in (and I wish the intensity in this scene was present in the finale) however all the scenes were fantastic, truly. I really love how Alton Towers are exploring new themes for their Scarefest attractions and really put effort into every new attraction they produce.
Overall score: 9/10
The Attic: Terror of the Towers
This was the final maze I experienced and it felt right to be the 'separately charged' attraction. It was theatrical and beautifully themed from the start to end, and even though it wasn't very scary it was a lot of fun.
I feel that this maze was an interesting experience. First the range of effects used in the preshow (e.g. the fireplace, wind in the window, sudden darkness then the actor appearing in front of you, bookcase opening by itself etc.) to the long climb up the stairs, to the intense maze itself. I especially loved how the actors seemed to appear from every direction and really tried hard to jump you. It seemed there was actors everywhere and the maze flowed like a beautifully designed show. There was jumpy actors, funny actors, creepy actors (one who I thought was a mannequin and was in fact a real person) and so many more. The scenes were so well designed, from the librarian's preshow to the detailed attic itself - it was all so theatrical and yet a perfectly designed maze at the same time. To end in a warm fire place with strange-looking creatures chasing you was absolutely terrifying and a perfect end to such a fun maze. Genuinely loved it and had such a blast. I really compliment the Creative and Entertainments Team for this attraction.
Of course this wouldn't be a review without negatives. I don't have many for this attraction, however I do have to admit it was a short attraction. Not as madly short as AMT, but I did think it was over a bit too quickly.
Overall, this maze was great and such fun. It was a bit too short and I was dissapointed when it ended, but I loved what I got with this and I hope it returns extended and mainting the impressive theatricality it beheld when I experienced it recently. Congratulations to the Alton Towers team for creating an incredible experience that is terrifyingly beautiful.
Overall score: 9/10
I really loved my overall Scarefest experience and am already excited for next year. The mazes they produce are just SO good and have such unique themes that they are just irresistible. I found the mazes this year to be especially scary and very fun.
When people say that they are dissapointed with the halloween atmosphere in the park, I have a few things to mention -
1) Yes, they need a scare zone.
2) It is more difficult than you think to set up halloween theming around the whole park - it is a very big park (however a few pumpkins etc. are always nice)
3) I don't really think lighting is a problem this year. Yes, the generators are noisy and the Wicker Man queue lights are unnecessarily bright - but come on, it's an effort and the whole park is lit up.
I sometimes feel for the team at Alton because it's difficult for them to do so much in a short amount of time. I know the lighting is not always ideal and the Halloween atmosphere is not always great, but there is so much to set up during Scarefest that isn't always obvious - it's difficult to theme the whole park etc. in such a short time (they can't start setting up Scarefest around the park too early). Please enjoy the positives of Scarefest rather than always picking on the negatives - there is so much in store to enjoy!
I feel the only main problems with this year's event is the lack of scare zones. They are good fun and allow all the family to enter without having an intense fright or having to put yourself under uncomfortable conditions. Alton having just one scare zone would revitalise the park Halloween atmosphere and would be a good step in the right direction for the park. I am thinking of this in a temporary perspective of course as Scarefest is only a temporary event that takes a lot of time and effort to plan.
This years Scarefest is certainly one of the best however and I highly recommend anyone to go and experience what they have in offer. Even the rides in the dark are good fun and something unique that you don't experience very often.
Overall score for the whole Scarefest event: 6/10
SubSpecies
I did SubSpecies again because I wanted to know whether I just had a bad run.
It was SO much better the second time; I couldn't believe it. The actors were everywhere, shouting and grabbing you. The quality of this maze genuinely relies on whether you have a good or bad run (which isn't necessarily a good thing) but my second run was a lot better. The labyrinth was generally quite quiet in actors, however it seemed to go on forever with so many dead ends that the panic factor had already risen. The next few rooms were a blur, but the actors were mostly phenomenal. The fact that one actor would not let go of me for over a minute, my legs were tickled and two actors concentrated on just me for a while really increased the scare factor of the maze. I genuinely ran through some of the sets to try and escape the actors. By the time the chainsaw came I was ready to run straight out out of the maze.
I did like the theme of this maze and I thought some moments were well decorated, however the majority of the scenes felt quite sparsely themed in comparison to the other mazes on park. I know that the maze is very big and therefore may have less theming, but sometimes I literally felt like I was walking through black walls. The experience and intensity of this maze often overrides the theming for most people who enter, but as someone who loves good theming I was slightly dissapointed with this aspect of the maze.
Contrary to popular opinion, I would like this maze to return next year, but I really hope it becomes more reliable - that you can do it again and again with the same intensity.
Overall score: 8/10
Project 42
This maze was really entertaining and it seems to be just me who thinks that. It was loud, hectic, claustrophobic and loads of fun. I agree with the people saying that some moments lacked actors, but I loved the whole experience in most other aspects.
One thing to notice about this maze is how much happens in a short space of time. I don't know if it was just me, but I was attacked, squashed pushed and shouted at multiple times throughout the whole maze. If I'm honest, the start was a lot better than the end of the maze. At the beginning there was a big squeeze through an inflatable corridor, tons of actors and a lot of scares. I was split from part of my group and fell over trying to run away multiple times, which increased the tension in the maze. The actors were mostly good throughout the experience, however the end of the maze was really drab. Luckily it didn't badly affect the rest of the experience, but there was no actors and I walked out a little underwhelmed. If there was a strong ending I would think much more highly of this maze and would probably have a better memory of it. I loved the start and middle of the maze but eventually it just turned to being quite boring. It's a shame because there were parts of the maze I absolutely loved. Just make the whole maze as intense as the start (after the preshow) and I think it would be great.
The theming in this maze was definitely better than SubSpecies, however it felt a bit scattered. I felt that there were random items all over the place and I was walking through it. Loads of plants, some tables, chairs, lab coats and chain fencing is basically what I saw throughout this maze. It's a shame because the props themselves could fit the theme if used properly, but they were not presented in the best fashion. However, I did notice the time-consuming attention to detail in some of the sets, the use of smells and scents and the fantastic use of lighting throughout the maze - so props to the Creative and Entertainments team for pulling this off.
I hope they bring this maze back next year just with the following improvements:
- Make the maze pumped with a lot more actors.
- Present the theming better to make the sets feel more realistic.
- Move the big squeeze to a late point in the maze as it would work well once tension has been built up
- Improve the ending (nothing theatrical is needed -just more actors)
Overall Score: 7/10
The Altonville Mine Tours: Legend of the Skin-Snatchers
This maze was a mix of good and bad. I loved how there were actors everywhere, the smells, and the theming. However the maze was way too short and I walked out actually shocked that it was finished.
The acting quality in this maze was fantastic. At the preshow my face was touched and the actors got uncomfortably close, and in the maze there was just so many jumpscares that the maze intensity was reaching unimaginable levels. The smoke, the beautiful sets (more on that later) and smells combined to make something pretty terrifying. I also found those skin masks horrifying - the fact actors were jumping in my face and feeling my hair and legs just made me so uncomfortable and scared.
The theming and sets in this attraction were very well done - I won't lie I did struggle to see the detail in them even though I knew how much detail there was just because of the very dim lighting. However the bedroom, the rooms with confectionary pots, the mannequin rooms, the corridors with inflatable clothes, the room with the cogs AND the ending shop were all so well themed that was beginning to feel immersed.
That was the problem. This maze was WAY too short and almost has to be extended. I absolutely loved what I got but I was just very dissatisfied when I walked out. There needs to be more to this maze as it is over way too quickly. This is not all a terrible thing however because it shows that I enjoyed the small time in the maze I got and wanted more.
Also, there was an attempt at an ending here however it just fell a little short for me. The gunshot in the shop was quite quiet compared to the rest of the maze and therefore didn't really jump me. I just walked out confused and scared.
This maze is a winner from the get go; the storyline is beautifully crafted, the maze is terrifying at places and all the sets ooze quality and authenticity - however the problems are simple. The ending is not very scary and the maze is way too short. If these problems can be fixed, this maze will be fantastic.
Overall score: 7/10
Darkest Depths
This was an impressive new maze with good theming. It seems to have controversy that the age rating is too low (the age rating is 10+) but if I'm honest, i think this rating is just right.
There was a beautiful mix of sets here - from the tavern, to the ship and the use of screens, sand and water. I was truly shocked to see how much effort had been put into designing and creating each scene in this attraction and each scene had it's own unique feel that contributed highly to the overall experience.
The acting quality in this maze was good and I really enjoyed their performances throughout the maze. I struggle to find faults in their performance. I especially liked the Captain character in the maze who was really going for his role.
The only problems in this maze were:
- Some actors seemed restricted with their roles due to conditions in the maze (e.g. there was a mermaid who just sat there staring at me because she couldn't move her lower body)
- The finale was not that great - it could have been a bit more dramatic
However, apart from that, this maze is a fantastic experience that I really recommend experiencing twice (and try to walk slowly). My personal favourite scene was the long corridor with strobes, a cannon and the kraken breaking in (and I wish the intensity in this scene was present in the finale) however all the scenes were fantastic, truly. I really love how Alton Towers are exploring new themes for their Scarefest attractions and really put effort into every new attraction they produce.
Overall score: 9/10
The Attic: Terror of the Towers
This was the final maze I experienced and it felt right to be the 'separately charged' attraction. It was theatrical and beautifully themed from the start to end, and even though it wasn't very scary it was a lot of fun.
I feel that this maze was an interesting experience. First the range of effects used in the preshow (e.g. the fireplace, wind in the window, sudden darkness then the actor appearing in front of you, bookcase opening by itself etc.) to the long climb up the stairs, to the intense maze itself. I especially loved how the actors seemed to appear from every direction and really tried hard to jump you. It seemed there was actors everywhere and the maze flowed like a beautifully designed show. There was jumpy actors, funny actors, creepy actors (one who I thought was a mannequin and was in fact a real person) and so many more. The scenes were so well designed, from the librarian's preshow to the detailed attic itself - it was all so theatrical and yet a perfectly designed maze at the same time. To end in a warm fire place with strange-looking creatures chasing you was absolutely terrifying and a perfect end to such a fun maze. Genuinely loved it and had such a blast. I really compliment the Creative and Entertainments Team for this attraction.
Of course this wouldn't be a review without negatives. I don't have many for this attraction, however I do have to admit it was a short attraction. Not as madly short as AMT, but I did think it was over a bit too quickly.
Overall, this maze was great and such fun. It was a bit too short and I was dissapointed when it ended, but I loved what I got with this and I hope it returns extended and mainting the impressive theatricality it beheld when I experienced it recently. Congratulations to the Alton Towers team for creating an incredible experience that is terrifyingly beautiful.
Overall score: 9/10
I really loved my overall Scarefest experience and am already excited for next year. The mazes they produce are just SO good and have such unique themes that they are just irresistible. I found the mazes this year to be especially scary and very fun.
When people say that they are dissapointed with the halloween atmosphere in the park, I have a few things to mention -
1) Yes, they need a scare zone.
2) It is more difficult than you think to set up halloween theming around the whole park - it is a very big park (however a few pumpkins etc. are always nice)
3) I don't really think lighting is a problem this year. Yes, the generators are noisy and the Wicker Man queue lights are unnecessarily bright - but come on, it's an effort and the whole park is lit up.
I sometimes feel for the team at Alton because it's difficult for them to do so much in a short amount of time. I know the lighting is not always ideal and the Halloween atmosphere is not always great, but there is so much to set up during Scarefest that isn't always obvious - it's difficult to theme the whole park etc. in such a short time (they can't start setting up Scarefest around the park too early). Please enjoy the positives of Scarefest rather than always picking on the negatives - there is so much in store to enjoy!
I feel the only main problems with this year's event is the lack of scare zones. They are good fun and allow all the family to enter without having an intense fright or having to put yourself under uncomfortable conditions. Alton having just one scare zone would revitalise the park Halloween atmosphere and would be a good step in the right direction for the park. I am thinking of this in a temporary perspective of course as Scarefest is only a temporary event that takes a lot of time and effort to plan.
This years Scarefest is certainly one of the best however and I highly recommend anyone to go and experience what they have in offer. Even the rides in the dark are good fun and something unique that you don't experience very often.
Overall score for the whole Scarefest event: 6/10