Nemesis of oblivion
Strata Poster
How's the indoor boat ride? Forgot the name :lol:
Is it better than the original?
Is it better than the original?
Relocated London Dungeons at County Hall
- Thread starter Nemesis Inferno
- Start date
Lofty
CF Legend
I went to the press night on Wed and found a few more information pieces out;
Basically, the effects aren't all working and won't be for a few days post opening to the public (today). A lot of it has been tweaked yesterday to try and get it as close to completion as possible, but it's going to be an on-going thing.
Another thing worth noting, they're going to have a BIG problem with the smoke alarms for the new location. On press night, we were the first group, got to the completion of Guy Fawkes' scene, "Now, you are about to be tortured...", BAM, the alarm goes off and we're all escorted out of the building and standing in the cold outside the Eye for over 20 minutes. I have to say, I'm glad it happened, just so we saw how they dealt with the situation. A total thanks goes to the guy who was in that scene who was one of the nicest performers I've met, and couldn't be so apologetic. This all comes down to the building it's in, if some idiot presses a fire alarm ANYWHERE in County Hall, the building is evacuated. It's something that's going to be an on going problem, sadly
Basically, the effects aren't all working and won't be for a few days post opening to the public (today). A lot of it has been tweaked yesterday to try and get it as close to completion as possible, but it's going to be an on-going thing.
Another thing worth noting, they're going to have a BIG problem with the smoke alarms for the new location. On press night, we were the first group, got to the completion of Guy Fawkes' scene, "Now, you are about to be tortured...", BAM, the alarm goes off and we're all escorted out of the building and standing in the cold outside the Eye for over 20 minutes. I have to say, I'm glad it happened, just so we saw how they dealt with the situation. A total thanks goes to the guy who was in that scene who was one of the nicest performers I've met, and couldn't be so apologetic. This all comes down to the building it's in, if some idiot presses a fire alarm ANYWHERE in County Hall, the building is evacuated. It's something that's going to be an on going problem, sadly
Nemesis Inferno
Strata Poster
I enjoyed it... Will do a full review at some point...
Not a really awful attraction though...
EDIT
Have a review, hopefully it shouldn't reveal TOO many of the extra new details as to spoil any surprises if you want to visit with a clear mind, but it gives some information as comparison to the original Dungeons scenes...
It's good, very good actually... Whilst it might lack the 'atmosphere' of Tooley Street's bridge times, it has taken some of the good scenes from it, and improved them ALL... As well as taken the chance to change around the route, improving the throughput and expanding the entire thing whilst producing a few extra random bits and bobs...
So the lift intro is quite good, with a bit of interaction, we had an amusing actress for this, and the hilarity of the 'finale' of the section was just, well, brilliant, and kind of set the level of humour we will see...
Straight into the boat ride, which is SUCH an improvement on the old one, as it has THINGS HAPPENING!!! :O Then Brian Blessed appeared and all was good... It had a few extra bits on the excessive long journey back, though perhaps a few bits weren't working currently... Either way, a definite improvement...
Onto Guy Fawkes, we missed the intro portion to this due to being on the last boat, but I'm sure it's basically "Blah blah blah delay until the group all appears", anyways, into the tunnels we go, where we have a small scene regarding finding Guy Fawkes and giving him a letter before we are forced to move on through the Sewers, which included tiny low tunnels of dark... Which was annoying but still more interesting than a corridor... Then we have a VERY Horrible Histories style scene with Guy Fawkes and a Cavaliar... As a big fan of the show, this kind of humour is Benin approved...
Next, Torture scene, straight out the old Dungeons really, minimal change here aside from a reference to the previous scene...
Plague next, with bonus SMELL effects! A longer street with more random effects leading up to a chat about the Plague and what not... They REALLY loved the face projection stuff this time around... Then we had the Surgery which was much improved with the actor actually speaking rather than following the pre-recorded spiel... Also a few extra effects and jokes in there but again, similar to before but better... You then get to walk again through the Turning Room, which is, a trommel, with added effects and rats...
Then it's time for Sweeney Todd, the addition of a proper Mrs Lovett scene is much approved, with lots of really bad puns, but that's the level of humour we're working with now people, get used to it... Sweeney is similar to before but with added pre-show actor, which was different and provided a different nervy build-up atmosphere... Also a few things added on here as well... Good times...
Jack the Ripper now, and this has similarities to the original, what with the Mitre Square scene, then it goes into the Mirror Maze, which is again what it was before but with different sound effects until we eventually get let into the Pub... Which is now bigger, and SO, SO much better than the original, with a lot more going on throughout, much improved...
Then the Judge, which is it's usual hilarious self... The two here were really pushing the level of innuendo this time and it was brilliant... There was also proof of ad-libbing ("Where are you from?" "Norway" "Oh, there's Nor-Way he's getting away with this!") so whilst it may not be constant, it will still occur... Again it's similar to the old version but really they didn't have to change it much as it was good then...
Finally Extremis 2, after a build-up to the long drop stuff from another actor, we get taken into the ride section, which I'm not sure if I prefer the drop of the original or the new one, but regardless it was rather good though I think in the end... I did adore the floor of the ride with it's rotating floor slats though, little bit goony but whatevers
And that's it... And overall, whilst some may not like the lack of Tooley Street atmosphere, they took this chance full-fold, removing the rubbish scenes (Great Fire and Heretic) and improving a LOT of the scenes that were transferred... Some bits remained consistent but those were good beforehand...
Well worth a visit, good fun, good theming, very enjoyable...
Not a really awful attraction though...
EDIT
Have a review, hopefully it shouldn't reveal TOO many of the extra new details as to spoil any surprises if you want to visit with a clear mind, but it gives some information as comparison to the original Dungeons scenes...
It's good, very good actually... Whilst it might lack the 'atmosphere' of Tooley Street's bridge times, it has taken some of the good scenes from it, and improved them ALL... As well as taken the chance to change around the route, improving the throughput and expanding the entire thing whilst producing a few extra random bits and bobs...
So the lift intro is quite good, with a bit of interaction, we had an amusing actress for this, and the hilarity of the 'finale' of the section was just, well, brilliant, and kind of set the level of humour we will see...
Straight into the boat ride, which is SUCH an improvement on the old one, as it has THINGS HAPPENING!!! :O Then Brian Blessed appeared and all was good... It had a few extra bits on the excessive long journey back, though perhaps a few bits weren't working currently... Either way, a definite improvement...
Onto Guy Fawkes, we missed the intro portion to this due to being on the last boat, but I'm sure it's basically "Blah blah blah delay until the group all appears", anyways, into the tunnels we go, where we have a small scene regarding finding Guy Fawkes and giving him a letter before we are forced to move on through the Sewers, which included tiny low tunnels of dark... Which was annoying but still more interesting than a corridor... Then we have a VERY Horrible Histories style scene with Guy Fawkes and a Cavaliar... As a big fan of the show, this kind of humour is Benin approved...
Next, Torture scene, straight out the old Dungeons really, minimal change here aside from a reference to the previous scene...
Plague next, with bonus SMELL effects! A longer street with more random effects leading up to a chat about the Plague and what not... They REALLY loved the face projection stuff this time around... Then we had the Surgery which was much improved with the actor actually speaking rather than following the pre-recorded spiel... Also a few extra effects and jokes in there but again, similar to before but better... You then get to walk again through the Turning Room, which is, a trommel, with added effects and rats...
Then it's time for Sweeney Todd, the addition of a proper Mrs Lovett scene is much approved, with lots of really bad puns, but that's the level of humour we're working with now people, get used to it... Sweeney is similar to before but with added pre-show actor, which was different and provided a different nervy build-up atmosphere... Also a few things added on here as well... Good times...
Jack the Ripper now, and this has similarities to the original, what with the Mitre Square scene, then it goes into the Mirror Maze, which is again what it was before but with different sound effects until we eventually get let into the Pub... Which is now bigger, and SO, SO much better than the original, with a lot more going on throughout, much improved...
Then the Judge, which is it's usual hilarious self... The two here were really pushing the level of innuendo this time and it was brilliant... There was also proof of ad-libbing ("Where are you from?" "Norway" "Oh, there's Nor-Way he's getting away with this!") so whilst it may not be constant, it will still occur... Again it's similar to the old version but really they didn't have to change it much as it was good then...
Finally Extremis 2, after a build-up to the long drop stuff from another actor, we get taken into the ride section, which I'm not sure if I prefer the drop of the original or the new one, but regardless it was rather good though I think in the end... I did adore the floor of the ride with it's rotating floor slats though, little bit goony but whatevers
And that's it... And overall, whilst some may not like the lack of Tooley Street atmosphere, they took this chance full-fold, removing the rubbish scenes (Great Fire and Heretic) and improving a LOT of the scenes that were transferred... Some bits remained consistent but those were good beforehand...
Well worth a visit, good fun, good theming, very enjoyable...
Nic
Strata Poster
I'd never been to the old one, so I can't really compare it, but I went to the new one yesterday and it was alright.
From what people have been saying about this vs the old ones, I think the main trouble is that the new one could be in any building anywhere. It sounds as if the open brickwork and low ceilings etc were used to good effect in the old one, which I can imagine would've greatly added to the atmosphere and given you a real sense of place. As they've started with a totally blank canvas here, there's nothing to really remind you that you're genuinely in London, because everything around you is fake. I'm not saying that necessarily ruins it, but may be a factor as to why people prefered the original. I also get the feeling that it's going to wear out and age VERY quickly. There were already signs of wear and tear on/around the effects in the queue line to get in. If its like that after a week, God knows what it'll be like in a year?!
As most of you know, I'm petrified by even the most childish of haunts (that includes Hocus Pocus Hall at Halloween) so really had to take a deep breath and a lot of encouragement to actually go into the attraction in the first place. There was only one part that freaked me out, but Sue went ahead, found out what it was and reported back, then I was fine! haha! So yeah, if you like things properly scary, then this clearly isn't the attraction for you.
I thought the boat ride was a bit... odd. The layout and effects were quite good, but I just don't see the point of it? The story is totally non existent once you get past the very first bit. Brain Blessed appears for all of about 3 seconds which was a major disappointment - I was expecting far more involvement from him.
5ft Drop Tower: The Ride had one pop of Willy Lift and that was it, it was otherwise unremarkable. I was also expecting far more effects (I actually think there may have been some at the underground level that weren't working for us).
All in all, I did quite enjoy it. The quality of the acting was excellent, and all but one of the women in there were properly hot. The whole thing lasted a lot longer than I imagined (especially having suffered Madame Tussauds and the Aquarium in the morning, both of which are over with in all of about 15 mins). As with pretty much all Merlin attractions, I'm glad I didn't have to pay to get in, but I'd have felt less ripped off paying for that than I would for either of the other two aforementioned attractions. I also love the fact that there's no point during the attraction itself where they try to flog you stuff, it's all easily ignored at the very beginning and very end. I wouldn't rush to go back, but if I happened to be up there with someone else who wanted to go, I wouldn't say no.
From what people have been saying about this vs the old ones, I think the main trouble is that the new one could be in any building anywhere. It sounds as if the open brickwork and low ceilings etc were used to good effect in the old one, which I can imagine would've greatly added to the atmosphere and given you a real sense of place. As they've started with a totally blank canvas here, there's nothing to really remind you that you're genuinely in London, because everything around you is fake. I'm not saying that necessarily ruins it, but may be a factor as to why people prefered the original. I also get the feeling that it's going to wear out and age VERY quickly. There were already signs of wear and tear on/around the effects in the queue line to get in. If its like that after a week, God knows what it'll be like in a year?!
As most of you know, I'm petrified by even the most childish of haunts (that includes Hocus Pocus Hall at Halloween) so really had to take a deep breath and a lot of encouragement to actually go into the attraction in the first place. There was only one part that freaked me out, but Sue went ahead, found out what it was and reported back, then I was fine! haha! So yeah, if you like things properly scary, then this clearly isn't the attraction for you.
I thought the boat ride was a bit... odd. The layout and effects were quite good, but I just don't see the point of it? The story is totally non existent once you get past the very first bit. Brain Blessed appears for all of about 3 seconds which was a major disappointment - I was expecting far more involvement from him.
5ft Drop Tower: The Ride had one pop of Willy Lift and that was it, it was otherwise unremarkable. I was also expecting far more effects (I actually think there may have been some at the underground level that weren't working for us).
All in all, I did quite enjoy it. The quality of the acting was excellent, and all but one of the women in there were properly hot. The whole thing lasted a lot longer than I imagined (especially having suffered Madame Tussauds and the Aquarium in the morning, both of which are over with in all of about 15 mins). As with pretty much all Merlin attractions, I'm glad I didn't have to pay to get in, but I'd have felt less ripped off paying for that than I would for either of the other two aforementioned attractions. I also love the fact that there's no point during the attraction itself where they try to flog you stuff, it's all easily ignored at the very beginning and very end. I wouldn't rush to go back, but if I happened to be up there with someone else who wanted to go, I wouldn't say no.