So, you Will Smith-wannabes think you have the stuff to join the Men in Black? Slip on the black shades, enter the "recruitment program" at MIB Alien Attack and find out. Capitalizing on the latest theme park trend, MIB takes interactivity to the next level. Issued laser guns, passengers travel in ultra-sophisticated vehicles through an alien-infested New York City streetscape and rack up points by blasting the otherworldly bugs. The bugs, however, blast back. It's zap or be zapped time.
- Guide Rating (0=Yich!, 10=Wow!): 8.5
- Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy!, 10=Yikes!): 4
- Type: Interactive dark ride
- Height restriction (minimum, in inches): 42
The fun begins outside the building. Designed like a cheesy, brave new world's fair pavilion, circa 1964, signs and posters advertise "The Universe and You" Expo exhibit. A retro theme song plays as guests enter a glitzy, 60's-era room.
A recorded voice begins a syrupy presentation about the search for life in the cosmos, but it soon grinds to a halt when Agent Zed (Rip Torn, reprising his role from the film) instructs the "scrubs" to enter a secret elevator. Once inside, Zed apologizes for the "phony theme park nonsense." It's just a pretense to protect the identity of the shadowy MIB headquarters. You have to love Universal for its cynical and self-depreciating sense of humor.
The elevator takes recruits to Intergalactic Alien Immigration Services and the real action. Referencing the film, the inside queue snakes past a break room with startlingly lifelike and funny wormy guys. Trainees then pass through Immigration Control, complete with large-screen video announcements of narrowly averted impending doom. It's all in a day's work for the MIB.
Once aboard the vehicles, recruits enter a training simulation. After taking a few potshots at pseudo alien targets however, Zed breathlessly announces that an alien transport ship has crashed in Manhattan (Oh no! Why do these grave emergencies always pop up in the middle of theme park rides?). Of course, it's up to the trainees to defend the earth from the escaped insect prisoners. From that point on, it's a cacophony of alien bugs, lasers, and vehicle spinouts. (When the bugs fire, the ride's vehicles spin wildly if they land their shots first.)
Be forewarned: As if the hordes of bugs hiding throughout the cavernous ride aren't enough of a challenge, the passengers in the vehicle riding alongside yours are actually bugs in disguise. Of course, they think you and the riders in your vehicle are also aliens.
Hyper-interactive
With aliens lurking everywhere, it's hard to get a handle on the game play. Video game mavens may have an easier time scoring points than those of us who weren't weaned on Nintendo. The laser guns do not emit a trail, and the aliens do not have clearly marked targets. The bugs respond more to shots around their foreheads and chests.
It is also difficult to focus on the game aspect because the ride is crammed with elaborate animatronics, richly decorated sets, and sly visual puns. (Be on the lookout for the alien bug with Steven Spielberg's head.)
With all due respect to Shakespeare, when it comes to theme park rides, the story's the thing. The latest whiz-bang technology wears thin quickly if it doesn't serve a great story. With its highly articulated animatronics, sophisticated ride vehicles, and engaging, recognizable story, MIB is a load of fun. It's more ambitious than the similar shoot-em-up Buzz Lightyear attraction at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.
Like many Universal Studios attractions, MIB has a high-impact, in-your-face ending. Taking guests, literally, into the belly of the beast, they have to blast their way out with major artillery. (Hint: This is the time to use that blinking red button on the vehicle's dashboard.)
Depending on each vehicle's collective score, the ride offers multiple endings. Despite repeated attempts, my team merited the same losers' sendoff: Will Smith offered a condescending, "Better luck next time, Slick" before he "neuralized" us. Maybe you'll have better luck, scrubs.
Photos: (C) 2000 Universal Orlando. Reprinted with permission.
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