Monsters Unchained - Reviews, Photos & Media

[jarmor]

Ok, I got to ride this wed and I must preface this by saying that I know the park is still "under construction" and is in "technical rehearsals".

The internet really hyped this ride up and if I had listen to them I kinda would have been disappointed. . . a little (but I knew better).

The queue was good and really set up the storyline a bit. I wasn't expecting the animatronics in the queue/pre show so that was a plus. The load area was kinda barren in my opinion as expected more junk around it to give a sense of chaos to set up what is about to happen. The ride is very fast paced. Meaning it is action packed and there is little time to take it all in and that's a good and bad thing. Again, I am fully aware that the ride isn't complete and in rehearsals. Back to the animatronics. The hunchback just flies by (not even sure if it's an animatronic), the phantom was really cool as well as igor. They could have left the creature out because it wasn't even a cameo. But I guess it will be easy to move it out and switch it to something else if the creature ride opens.

One thing I noticed was the area under the ride. You could see people walking around down there and it was fairly lit. AGAIN, I understand it's in technical rehearsals and in preview mode but that really stuck out and I wonder if they can really conceal it because it was a big open space. I wish the sides of the RV was visually restricted because you can see the others before and after you and this may have contributed to being able to see below. Another thing is some of the synchronization was off. Even with all of that going on I felt it was a real solid ride and I wanted to go again! One thing I would have them change (if they could) was get you closer to the monsters. They seemed very far away from you so that diminished the scare factor. but man they seemed large, especially the wolfman! I think there was a mummy scene but it wasn't that lit so I don't know if there was a mummy monster or not.

I will end this by reiterating that the animatronics looked great! Even the ugly one lol lol.

 

[GAcoaster]

Seeing the RV'S is part of the story. Egor sets it up in the preshow. He takes control of your vehicle in the first scene. I did catch this on my first couple times and it made more sense after I did.

I understand that but at the same time it was too much “behind the scenes” and detracted from the show.

 

[italianstallion]

Seeing the RV'S is part of the story. Egor sets it up in the preshow. He takes control of your vehicle in the first scene. I did catch this on my first couple times and it made more sense after I did.

Honestly seeing the ride vehicles does enhance the experience for me. If you’re also a theme park junkie it’s cool seeing how big those vehicles really are.

 

[Frank Drackman]

I do not think I will ever tire of the pre-shows. Was cool to see w/ a bunch of theme park freaks as the gasp and 'oh my gawds' expressed the greatness we were seeing/experiencing.

I think there will be fog/smoke in this ride that will change what we see -- this ride is still very much in a test and adjust state. I think they are still working on lighting, synching, and ride movement. We all loved it as we can see what this ride can/will be but it is not in its final state yet, but the manor and the ride are really really really well done, well detailed, incredible animatronics, great video parts -- top notch story telling!

 

[Rhian]

One thing I noticed was the area under the ride. You could see people walking around down there and it was fairly lit. AGAIN, I understand it's in technical rehearsals and in preview mode but that really stuck out and I wonder if they can really conceal it because it was a big open space.

I wouldn't be surprised if this changes in the future so it wouldn't be so obvious. I can see where they may put black curtains underneath the facades you're talking about but since there is a lot of work going on just to get the ride running reliably (and in case they need to access riders and ride vehicles quickly with as little in the way as possible in its current state), it's a bit bare bones down there. I don't want to think they want it that obvious even if seeing the other RVs is an intentional part of the ride.

When I got stuck on my ride last week I could see platforms that were at seat level but none of the guard rails were installed—they were stacked against the wall awaiting installation. That is to say there's still several things to be done before they add the final show dressings to hide everything.

 

[OhHaiInternet95]

OMG, there's a POV leaked out there!

 

[OLSinFLA]

First ride today! Loved it. The animatronics were incredible and the ride-- well, not I know why people don't go into detail! It's sensory overload. Once the initial event happens it's just mayhem. Monsters everywhere, action going on in all directions. I need to ride it a few more times

 

[Heavybacks]

My questions:

1. Where did they place the animatronics from the video?

2. How many jumpscares?

3. How intense are the seat haptics?

 

[jarmor]

My questions:

1. Where did they place the animatronics from the video? All through the ride. . .

2. How many jumpscares?

Spoiler: Are you sure you wanna know. . .

None

3. How intense are the seat haptics? If you mean like vibrations in the seat then I barely felt it or it didn't stand out.

 

[ParadoxPortals]

In one of Epic's Dark Universe promotional videos, senior creative Fances Franceshi noted that there are "14 animatronics across the ride floor". With this information and the list Rebo helpfully provided above, we can identify with pretty much 100% certainty which figures are AAs (be they functioning or not during technical rehearsals), and which are static.

Spoiler: All AAs listed"

Franceschi saying "across the ride floor" suggests the 14 does not count the pre-shows, which is strange, but when doing the maths there's no way to make it work that there are 14 figures total, after watching the AA reveal video with 2 Wolfmen in view, the Victoria and Creature preshow AAs, and the triple on-ride Victorias, Creatures, and Dracs, plus other characters. It has to be 14 on-ride, plus 2 off-ride.

So, this means that after the first pre-show Kuka arm, and the second pre-show projection-mapped Victoria and Creature, we have 14 on-ride AAs to pin-down. IMO, they are 1 Ygor, 3 Victoria, 3 Frankenstein, 3 Dracula, 1 Gillman (seen in AA reveal video months ago), 2 Wolfmen (seemingly both were in the reveal video too), and finally one Mummy (this last one is pure guesswork). The Hunchback has to be static based on how it's attached to the swinging bell, the Phantom is likely static as it's only moving parts if it had any would be its fingers as it played its piano, which we wouldn't notice as we sped past the fiery organ at high speed, and the Brides are likely mannequins due to how many there must be. We know some of these characters will also get additional appearances via screen media, so that's cool."

OK so after some more messages in these Forums, I'm amending my animatronics list for the attraction. HEAVY SPOILERS AHEAD TO THE HIGHEST DEGREE POSSIBLE, BE WARNED!

Spoiler: Updated all MU:TFE AAs

In the first pre-show there are no AAs lest a mini model of the KUKA Arm Generation 3 Robocoaster ride vehicle that moves to demonstrate what the attraction's experience will be like.

In the second pre-show there is a Dr Victoria Frankenstein with a projection-mapped face who introduces her own Creature. She claims it is "better" than the previous one (Victor's). Said Creature enters as AA 2 for this pre-show who opens a door and walks into the room in a "jaw-dropping moment".

Monsters Unchained's Senior Creative Director Francis Franceschi claimed on one of Universal's promotional YouTube videos that there are "14 animatronics across the ride floor". This excludes physical static figures and screen media appearances of characters. Let's list them all:

There are 3 Dr Victoria Frankensteins on-ride. I don't know if they have screen-projected faces like the pre-show version.

There are 3 Frankenstein's Creatures on-ride, some seen in the AA reveal video posted to YouTube last year. The final Creature appearance involves a scene with a Bride of Dracula mannequin descending down on a wire, maybe to attack?

There are 3 Draculas on-ride, all seen in the same AA reveal video. Allegedly Dracula is a legitimately terrifying part of the experience, who performs good jumpscares with an intimidating aura and voice. The first Dracula gets extremely close to the ride vehicle and conveys his break-out from containment. At least one of the Draculas has an illusion of looking like he's floating in the air towards you.

There is 1 Ygor on-ride, at the attraction's start, who holds a flashlight and speaks to you. He's the ride's comedy relief throughout and in-story is controlling your Robocoaster ride vehicle as you navigate the manor's catacombs.

There are 2 Wolfmen on-ride, both seen in the video. The one of him slashing at you from above includes a water effect that could represent either blood or his drool.

There is 1 Gillman on-ride, seen in the video. The ride vehicle looks down in a vine-covered room as the Gillman tries to grab at you from below. This is his only appearance in any form on-ride and is allegedly disappointing, with the scene's theming not matching Gillman's vibe very well.

There is 1 Phantom of the Opera on-ride, using an updated version of the original Chaney appearance of the character from the classic black-and-white film, full-face with no mask. He plays his fire organ with 14 individual flame points that each shoot fire 3 feet up into the air, before turning to the ride vehicle and smiling and waving as we leave the scene.

That's all 14 of the AAs. The following are static figures. Very early-on in the ride the KUKA Arm tilts you upwards to face a swinging bell with the Hunchback of Notre Dame hanging onto it. Later, a giant version of the Mummy breaks through the ceiling and descends towards you (jumpscare), but the figure is obscured in darkness, likely to help hide the fact the figure isn't an articulated AA. Multiple Brides of Dracula are static mannequins akin to the Forbidden Journey Dementors, and at least one uses a wire to swing down from above to create an illusion of life. The only queue figure I currently know of is the corpse of the original Frankenstein's Creature from the classic black-and-white film, which is contained in a glass box with a screen going up and down in front of it to show the Creature's internals, which Victoria studied to make her 'improved' version of the monster.

I'm extremely confident all off my information above is accurate, as I've made sure I have corroborating sources for a lot of it. Nonetheless, if I'm incorrect at all, or am missing extra information on existing / unmentioned figure appearances, please do tell me, so I can update this list. Thanks!

 

[Rhian]

Spoiler

Later, a giant version of the Mummy breaks through the ceiling and descends towards you (jumpscare), but the figure is obscured in darkness, likely to help hide the fact the figure isn't an articulated AA.

Spoiler

He moves and swipes at the vehicle.

 

[ParadoxPortals]

Spoiler

He moves and swipes at the vehicle.

Spoiler: Presence of the Mummy on MU

So this means the Mummy is an animatronic? That would make for 15 AAs, so the only way to make it make sense is for 1 of the 3 Victorias, Creatures, or Draculas to be static.

Maybe when MaxRebo made his original comment I based my posts off of, he included the pre-show figures as some of the AAs in his list? Or maybe, one of the Creatures on-ride was static, he seems like the easiest character of the trio to render in a believable static form.

My guess is his static figure on-ride could be the one of him holding onto 2 tesla coils like in the concept art? Conversely, the concept art of Victoria standing behind a control panel could represent her in static figure form at some point in the ride, maybe before Dracula's breakout?

 

[Heavybacks]

Which Dracula is the one from
The video?

 

[Brian G.]

Please remember:

Folks, we gotta pull back on the questions. This is a Review Thread, not a Q&A thread.

 

[saint.piss]

I went back to Epic and FINALLY got to ride this. I rode it twice!!!! It's SO GOOD. The best way I can describe this ride is this: It's like a mix of Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man and Revenge of the Mummy. The tone is similar to both those rides imo. A lot is happening and it's really hard to process at first. So many animatronics. A lot of them are gigantic, especially the Dracula one towards the end. It's crazy. Oh and that pre-show, love love loved it. Crazy how realistic the VF one looks. It's beautiful. One last thing, I was shocked how slow this ride is lol. It's not like super super slow but it doesn't move as fast as Forbidden Journey. It has you on your back a lot throughout the ride which I didn't expect. Regardless, still an phenomenal ride.

 

[_Acer1]

How long is the ride?

 

[darkridelover]

How long is the ride?

I believe its longer than Forbidden Journey

 

[OhHaiInternet95]

If anyone can post (with a tag obviously), how does the attraction get "resolved?"

 

[Brian G.]

If anyone can post (with a tag obviously), how does the attraction get "resolved?"

You’re not gonna get that answer. Universal is making it very clear they want TMs to hold off on reviews and spoilers until the park is ready for the paying public.

 

[LP159]

How long is the ride?

4 minutes when I timed it on my watch from leaving load to getting back to unload. Almost exactly the same as forbidden journey