Battle for Eire

[CastleOSullivan]

Glad to hear that you enjoyed it in spite of some issues. For me, this is going to be yet another ride I wouldn't mind riding once or twice with each visit to the park.

That was not my first time riding it. I rode the first public ride, right after the Boys and Girls Club. Altogether I think it's "ok" as it is right now. I was not as disappointed as I could have been, but I was not blown away either. I expected as much.

Above, I was sharing what a friend of mine thought about the ride on a separate occasion, and also what it is like from a social standpoint in comparison to previous rides.

I enjoy Battle For Eire, but I would most likely reserve it for friends who have never experienced it before. I think BFE is especially great for people that haven't been to many theme parks. I would say it is above the level of dark rides for most regional parks, but I don't think it is as revolutionary something like DarKastle or even Corkscrew Hill.

Still, BFE is, in my opinion, a staple for VR attractions and I'm sure it will be a valuable prototype for future, similar VR rides. I think a prototype is all that it is at this point, but hopefully Falcon's Creative and BGW will make something better out of it soon. Such needed updates are becoming easier to implement every year.

BFE has so much potential, and I already love so much of what we already have with it. Honestly, I think BGW shouldn't leave the ride as-is after this year, nor should they give up on this ride just yet. The technology is just starting to bloom. In fact, right now they are pushing the CPUs for right under 60 FPS, while the headsets themselves are capable of up to 90 FPS. This is already a vast improvement over the 30 FPS framerate used in the beta phase of development, and I think Falcon's has already added some updates since official opening day. I hope and believe that they will continue to update it further as the tech improves.

 

[musicman3204]

I finally was able to get down to the park and ride. Thanks to the forum, I was set up for a perfect experience. Seriously, the ride hit every expectation I had. It wasn't spectacular. It wasn't horrible. I'll revisit if the line is short.

One bright spot. The line was queued right at the entrance so we had to wait for the entire cavern. It took us a max of 20 minutes to get to the head pieces before the preshow. I was pretty surprised at this wait. I expected it to be longer.

One sad spot. People have already started to steal/vandalize the light fixtures in the line. Some of them missing the floral embellishments, some of them broken off and just sitting in the light, and others were decorated as planned.

We had no hiccups with the VR goggles. No blinking of the goggles and no blurring for the FPS to catch up. The goggles actually sat very comfortably for everyone in my troupe. We waited until the last minute to put them on. We have PlayStation VR Headset at home, so we are super familiar with how heavy and uncomfortable the VR headsets can be. With a little adjusting and trial/error, we all could see the video clearly. A little side note, when you're in the room once you make it to the heart of eire, if you look up to your left, you can see the backside of the preshow where the stone wall collapses in the first preshow. Anyone see this?

Thanks everyone for really setting us up for the right expectations. We all preferred Corkscrew Hill, but are so happy with this over Europe in the Air. Also, my one friend gets horrible motion sickness with anything fake, and he had no problems with this ride. So he was ecstatic about this. Curse of Darkastle used to make him sick.

 

[Lord Robert]

I agree COS, technology has come a long way since the days of DarKastle where updates should be much easier to implement. I'd say that it is a good thing that we have such a valuable prototype for VR rides of such nature that this type of ride is still quite better than the worse roller coaster VR conversions that are, IMO, mostly garbage.

Now speaking for myself, who is a big fan of animation writing for families, I think this new ride's story is a bit more interesting and has stakes in comparison to Corkscrew Hill which is just an "adventure with a moral" sort of tale which I don't think it pulled it off as well as they think they did because of the nature of the ride and how involves us in it's world and it's characters. In Corkscrew Hill's pre-show and ride, McTavish sees us and offers us an adventure through old Ireland by shrinking us and going back in time which I still wonder how he has these kind of powers (is he a fairy or something?). Then as we enter the ride we are at the hands of Paddy, our main character, who wants to sell us for money and then we go from the Pub and then suddenly to the woods (jarring transition IMO) where we see our magical creature who actually does have a character and lines in comparison to Ollie the Dragon who only roars, snorts and has a quiet guardian personality which isn't much to work off of. Although personally, Dragons are much cooler looking creatures in comparison to horses but other than that. After much riding (avoiding the banshees and trolls) we get to the climax where we are almost cooked by the witch which then Paddy has a sudden, out of nowhere change of heart ("hey wait a minute I didn't know you were going to eat em') and saves us. Then the griffin comes, picks us up and drops us where we get the "interaction moment" of the ride by using our powers to charm the horse and give it wings, whereas Battle for Eire pulls this off much better thanks to the VR and the ride's pre-show context (or rather hidden subtext) that the Emerald Masks do give us powers that can stop Balor from getting what he wants. Then at the end, Paddy gives us back to the Pub keeper Duncan who suddenly reveals himself to be McTavish and uses his powers to bring us back to the real world.

Okay first off, due to how limited Corkscrew Hill's technology was, it doesn't have the ability to be gorgeous with it's art direction; in fact I'm surprised for how dark and bleak it all looks (yes I know the ride was set in nighttime but still) in comparison to Battle for Eire's more colorful, brighter and detailed creativity with the setting and character designs. Second, I think Battle for Eire's greatest strength compared to it's predecessor is being smart for how intentionally silly and simple the "light vs darkness" story is; because Corkscrew Hill throws us so suddenly in this different world that feels sudden and gives a feeling of "huh?" than awe; with Battle for Eire the buildup and excitement feels more natural and organic (we do start the ride in the castle). Plus, I don't care that much for Paddy as a main character who tries to be a developed character, being excited by us tiny people that he intends to sells us for cash, then suddenly whiplashes into a sudden "wait a minute" moment and has his change of heart bit that I think the ride forgot that we don't have the time (the ride was over just 5 minutes) to give it the proper treatment the character needs. Thanks to Battle for Eire's pre-show and the ride, Addie knows who she is and understands her limitations as being the last fairy guardian and begging us to help her protect/save the Heart of Eire from falling into the dark lord Balor's hands for he will cause Ireland to wither in blight and darkness; there's stakes in that and she "inspires" us with the love we share of Ireland and not seeing it fall so badly that we feel connected and involved in the story and world. Addie doesn't suffer the same problem Paddy does because she doesn't have the sudden rushed character development that felt forced into the latter. Plus Balor is a darkness loving ham and cheese villain who says the most ridiculously silly lines that it's delightful to watch, especially when he grabs us and we get a good look at him and being surrounded by his swarm of Sluagh, a nice improvement compared to the old witch who just likes cooking "fairies" and has a griffin servant for some odd reason. The ending here feels accomplished, rewarding and feels like we saved everything and everyone, in comparison to the Corkscrew Hill ending which the twist feels out of nowhere and asks more questions than answers than I think the ride intended to.  

Look don't get me wrong, Corkscrew Hill was a fun ride when I was young, I liked the adventure aspect and how crazy the motion was. But as I get older have been practicing writing, the flaws start to become quite obvious to me that perhaps Corkscrew Hill's concept and story works better as an animated film than a theme park ride, sure I can say that Battle for Eire would've worked in another land in Ireland to transport us to that can help the pacing a bit, but with ride lines being as they are I'm very glad the kept it short and sweet. If there is something Corkscrew Hill did leave behind as a legacy, that it was a nice but quite flawed tryout for future Irish themed adventure rides for families that can improve upon the old and I personally believe Battle for Eire did that. It has better graphics, technology, art direction, main character, villain and a nice simple story with a sense of stakes to it that can actually be updated thanks to the new technology we have. Sure, it isn't revolutionary, but it created what I think is an incredibly fun, solid ride that actually could've been so much worse if it was made with wrong, incompetent hands. Look at what happened with Europe in the Air, I don't think I can quite forgive the park just yet for that eyesore abomination.

Also I don't think it's entirely fair to compare it to DarKastle. But I do wish it stayed opened for at least this season because the two rides made an interesting analogy in the way the two are set up; Battle for Eire is the adventurous light, while Curse of DarKastle is the bleak darkness. Pretty cool right?

 

[Zachary]

While Corkscrew Hill had way much more going on story-wise, it was harder to follow with all of the people yelling. On Battle For Eire, the dialogue is so simple that this is not as much of an issue. In fact, that would be a reasonable explanation for why the dialogue seems so weak, especially when it is audible.

Not being willing to do adequate sound mixing seems like a piss-poor justification for an essentially non-existent script in my honest opinion.

 

[Lord Robert]

The soundtrack is so freaking amazing that it's right up there with Curse of DarKastle's music and I want to hear the entire audio of it.

 

[CastleOSullivan]

While Corkscrew Hill had way much more going on story-wise, it was harder to follow with all of the people yelling. On Battle For Eire, the dialogue is so simple that this is not as much of an issue. In fact, that would be a reasonable explanation for why the dialogue seems so weak, especially when it is audible.

Not being willing to do adequate sound mixing seems like a piss-poor justification for an essentially non-existent script in my honest opinion.

Oh, don't get me started on the sound design. I think the score is beautiful, but you wouldn't know it from the ride itself. I think the park has given up on making any dialogue on that ride decipherable. The left bay seems better to me, but the preshow and everything else is a crying shame. Then again, I wonder if team members turn the volume as low as it can go for the preshow, so they don't have to hear it.

^ But I think you are right on the money. Although I would say "why bother with better sound for a non-existent script." I can't count how many times Addie says some variation of "Hurry!". That's about 90% of the ride.

 

[CastleOSullivan]

Here is a full transcript of the ride. I didn't include any actions since they are very repetitive. Because of that, it's just a word for word transcript.

Addie: It’s the sluagh! We can’t let them find the heart of Eire. Here’s a dash of magic so you can follow me. I’m warning you now, don’t lag too far behind. Tight squeeze! Come on with ya, and try to keep up! Hurry, this way! We’re almost there. There it is, the heart of Eire. Looks like we beat him! Wait… What’s that? Oh no! The sluagh! Those nasty little creatures! Back off, you monsters! Nooo! Ollipeist! Take cover! Woah! Pipe down Ollipeist! Their friends. They’re here to help us. They’re gonna need a lift, Ollie. Look, the sluagh have made a portal! Let’s go! Come on Ollie! Faster, faster! Hurry on! This way! Get him, get him! Not in this century, sluagh! Careful, follow my lead! Look out! Up, up! Woah, that was close! Hurry, before the portal closes! There. Get him, Ollie! Avoid the rocks! Where did they go? We’ve got to stop Balor! Hey! Leave them alone! Come on, follow them! Stay with me! Come on; we can make it! Something does not feel right.

Balor: Ha ha ha ha!

Addie: Ugh. Balor, you scaldy old hound!

Balor: Finally, the heart of Eire is mine! And now, I have the last of the fairy guardians!

Addie: Hey! Get your claws off them! Woah! What’s happening to me?

Balor: Silence beast! Ha!

Addie: Oh no! Ollie!

Balor: Now, say goodbye to the fairies!

Addie: You are our last chance. Focus all of your love of Ireland on the heart of Eire.

Balor: You think your love will stop me? Ha! What? Ugh!

Addie: It’s working!

Balor: Uh! Ah!

Addie: Keep it going!

Balor: Stop them at once! Ah!

Addie: Keep your focus on the heart of Eire.

Balor: The heart of Eire is mine! How can this be?! Nooooo!

Addie: Wow! That was brilliant! You’ve saved the magic of Ireland! And, you saved the rest of the guardians too! Come on! Let’s go home! Would you look at that? It’s starting to look like home again! The Ireland we know, and love wouldn’t be the same without your bravery here today. Be sure to keep the love of Ireland in your heart, and you’ll always be a true guardian of the heart of Eire. See you soon!

 

[warfelg]

I was pulled aside for a poll about the ride. I’m on my way to a wine and beer fest, but it was very ride specific. I’ll fill in some details and my feedback tomorrow!!

 

[warfelg]

Ok, so that poll I took:
Like I said it was very ride specific. Lots of questions about 'did you come for BfE specifically', 'would you ever come for this ride specifically', and things like that. How did you hear about the ride. What did you hear. Were your expectations high.

So as for what I could give feedback on:
One of the questions were about what they could do to improve the ride from a comfort standpoint. My personal feedback was with the masks to improve the comfort with some softer foam for padding, a little more in terms of the sizes, and let people wait longer before putting the mask on due to comfort reasons.

The next feedback point was about the VR. After answering some questions about having used VR and etc. But my feedback was that VR is still emerging technology, and that it was a good effort. I wrote that this was the best application in a theme park yet, but it still wasn't great.

Lastly there was questions on the story. In what I could give feedback on I told them that the story felt really incomplete, and that the pre-show should do more to set up the ride experience, and the 'slapstick' safety show could do more to integrate the story into the safety show.

I wish I could better tell them what I mean so here's a little clarification:
The other sized masks is an obvious pick. As for waiting to put it on, I get why they do it then, in case it doesn't fit. But they could make it so you don't need to wear it until the safety preshow. Even though my group moved quickly through the rooms, it would be nice to not have to wear it until the last minute.

I think the pre-show needs to be a little more in depth of who Balor is, why he's dangerous, and make the heart of Eire more important. That pre-show is a little too quick with bullet points rather than setting up the show a bit more.

The safety video. Do away with the slapstick. Do things like how to wear the mask, and tie it to where you are going is the other-world and how a properly worn mask helps you see that other-world as we aren't equipped to see it. Make some more backstory that sitting in your seat and putting on the seatbelt is a magical mount that will allow you to travel with Addie to where you need to go, and if you aren't properly buckled in you won't be able to make the trip.

My last change would be instead of the elf voice as you load, make it Addie and encouraging you to hurry, time is short, Balor is ready to make his move, the heart of Eire is in danger and needs your help. I think that can help make the actual ride better by not having to change the video, but you already have this sense of urgency when the ride starts. When you put the headset on, have Addie give some instructions on looking around, have her flying around in that screen, and lastly instead of just diving into it, have Addie fly up and so something (fairy dust?) that allows you to travel with her; with her telling you the time has come, she needs your help as she's now the last fairy left so Balor is sure to try for the heart now.

I think all of that would make the story more immersive and more in depth, but it doesn't make them re-write the actual ride experience. A stronger pre-show can go a really really long way to improve this ride.

 

[CastleOSullivan]

One problem with the feel of the ride is that if Addie showers me with fairy dust (which is the idea), why am I sitting in a chair? They really ought to explain that better. I know that the animators created a model of the simulator and sent the motions back to BGW's engineers, but the sensations still don't make sense in a seated position. If I am "enchanted," I should feel like I am floating by magic or flying on a dragon.

While I can understand that they don't want to copy Corkscrew Hill, CSH solved this dilemma by literally putting you in a box where you are strapped into tiny little seats. That's perfect since you actually are in a sort of box while seated in the simulator cabin. Some variation of this setup would make the experience less confusing, and possibly more believable.

The simulators may not be built to make you feel like you are a fairy in suspended flight, but some slight story alterations could make it work.

 

[Lord Robert]

That's pretty cool that you got a park poll warfelg. I do agree that the second pre-show (safety video) needs to be revised to fit with the tone of the first pre-show, it was quite off compared to the rest of the ride even when I saw it.

 

[warfelg]

That's pretty cool that you got a park poll warfelg. I do agree that the second pre-show (safety video) needs to be revised to fit with the tone of the first pre-show, it was quite off compared to the rest of the ride even when I saw it.

Yea, when I first saw it, I thought it was fun and a good idea. But on the 3rd, 4th, now 5th ride I've become more atune to the 'plot holes' and how they can do a better job of propping up the story without altering the ride. I think that the preshow and the loading track are the two places where this is going to be easier.

 

[Lord Robert]

Yeah, like have Addie narrate the 2nd pre-show and have the pages turn like usual and maybe have clever fade in effects to show the Emerald Masks and Enchanted Lenses and telling us how they work without going overboard with it's "silliness".

 

[CastleOSullivan]

Yeah, like have Addie narrate the 2nd pre-show and have the pages turn like usual and maybe have clever fade in effects to show the Emerald Masks and Enchanted Lenses and telling us how they work without going overboard with it's "silliness".

I think that would be very cool, but the projections aren't that advanced. Instead of using projection mapping like the plans seemed to hint, they have regular projectors playing on each surface. I'm guessing that was a cost-saving measure.

 

[Ghost of Pretzel Kaiser]

My mask was missing a magnet so the headset fell off in the middle of the ride.

 

[Zimmy]

terrible ride is terrible

 

[belsaas]

So, having gone again, I still got very sick (despite being very hydrated), but I wanted to say something nice about the ride. I love the fairy/flower lamps in the staging room. Very cool atmosphere.

 

[WDWRLD]

So....I gave it another try since the pre opening rides I took. Video worked throughout the ride, but was blurry as in out of focus at the top and bottom, probably more of a my eyes problem but dont remember it from previous rides. Still for me dont notice any motion with the goggles on, I know im moving but just cant feel it. We also had a new rider with us in the 18 year old range.....the review as we were walking out..."that sucked". Glad it was a walk on and we didnt have a wait.

 

[warfelg]

So....I gave it another try since the pre opening rides I took. Video worked throughout the ride, but was blurry as in out of focus at the top and bottom, probably more of a my eyes problem but dont remember it from previous rides. Still for me dont notice any motion with the goggles on, I know im moving but just cant feel it. We also had a new rider with us in the 18 year old range.....the review as we were walking out..."that sucked". Glad it was a walk on and we didnt have a wait.

Did you move your head around to look up or down or just your eyes? Because with 99.9% of VR's it takes moving your whole head and looking straight away to make everything be in focus.

 

[WDWRLD]

So....I gave it another try since the pre opening rides I took. Video worked throughout the ride, but was blurry as in out of focus at the top and bottom, probably more of a my eyes problem but dont remember it from previous rides. Still for me dont notice any motion with the goggles on, I know im moving but just cant feel it. We also had a new rider with us in the 18 year old range.....the review as we were walking out..."that sucked". Glad it was a walk on and we didnt have a wait.

Did you move your head around to look up or down or just your eyes?  Because with 99.9% of VR's it takes moving your whole head and looking straight away to make everything be in focus.

Yes, Ive ridden a number of times and this was the first ive had this issue. I had a very small area of focus slightly below center. It felt light I was wearing glasses with bifocals and I could only see clearly when looking through the lower bifocal part. I had to keep my head looking upward and looking out the lower part for a clear view. I wore the goggles the same as all other rides ive had. At the start where you point toward the various characters with the beam or what ever it is.....I really couldn't make out the characters, just could see them getting bigger.