Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Rating the ups and downs of Vegas’ motion-simulator rides

It used to be that you had to ride an extremely tall, fast and twisty roller coaster -- or really tie one on -- to experience the thrills, chills and, ultimately, spills of motion sickness.

Leave it to technology to fill the gap.

Now with motion-simulator rides, you can get all the bumps, shakes and sudden stops your heart desires, all while sitting in reasonably comfortable seats in air-conditioned rooms.

Never missing a trend -- especially if it means extra bucks -- many Las Vegas hotel-casinos have added these rides as amusements; some go so far as to tout them as their featured attraction.

The rides themselves are deceptively simple. Riders are put in large hydraulic-mounted units -- usually resembling a vehicle of some sort -- and take a part in a race, journey or simulated adventure. Once the riders are properly fastened in, the ride "takes off" as a movie is projected in front -- or around -- the vehicle on a screen. This is where some of the differences come into play. Some of the rides rely on simply flat-screen theaters, and may offset the lack of feeling surrounding 3-D films; others offer IMAX screens, which are larger and curved, providing more of a feeling of being "in the action"; one even offers a mixture -- an IMAX in 3-D.

All the rides, in unison with the action unfolding on screen, shake and shimmy: When you collide with something on screen, the vehicle quakes; when you take a quick turn or dive, so does the vehicle.

The object, of course, is to make the riders feel as though they are really experiencing what they see on the screen in front of them. As the rides have gotten more sophisticated -- and thus able to provide a better sense of realism -- they have gotten more popular.

Here is a list and reviews of some of the motion-simulator rides Las Vegas has to offer, with ratings for fun, excitement, theme (how much detail and thought went in to making you feel a part of the illusion) and "bounce factor" (how much shakin' goes on). The ratings are on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest:

Excalibur -- Magic Motion Thrill Ride

Price: $4 per person, per ride

Height: Minimum 42 inches

Times: 9 a.m.-midnight

Call: 597-7777

* Magic Motion Film: "Alpine Express"

Fun: 5

Excite: 5

Theme: 4

Bounce: 6

Magic Motion Film: "Street Luge"

Fun: 7

Excitement: 8

Theme: 4

Bounce Factor: 8

"Alpine Village" is not very thrilling at all, lacking the bumps and on-screen collisions of "Luge." The idea is that you're a race car zipping through the Italian Alps at "breakneck speeds" and the camera has obviously been sped up during the winter.

Of the two films, "Street Luge" was clearly more fun. As a luge rider participating in an illegal race through a curvy Malibu, Calif., highway, you travel at 80 mph smashing through embankments and tall grass while avoiding cars, semis and pedestrians -- not to mention Johnny Law.

Even with a flat screen, the first-person perspective created from the camera is thrilling at times, and combined with the shakes from the simulator, provides enough realism to, at times, make you feel as if you're there.

Other films include "Desert Duel," an off-road truck race through the desert; "Glacier Run," a race through ice runs and caves; "Kid Coaster," a roller coaster through a child's bedroom; and "Grand Prix Raceway," in which five cars race through cities and icy roads.

* Luxor -- "In Search of the Obelisk"

Price: $6 per person

Height: Minimum 42 inches

Times: 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 9 a.m.-1 a.m. Friday and Saturday

Call: 262-4555

Fun: 8

Excite: 8

Theme: 9

Bounce: 9

Although the ride is not in 3-D, "In Search of the Obelisk" packs a virtual wallop with its nearly seven-story-high IMAX screen, which helps envelope the riders and provide intense bouncing action.

The story concerns a group of archaeologists who are venturing down into a pyramid to retrieve the crystal obelisk, which is alleged to have magical properties. Of course, there's a villain in their midst -- Dr. Osiris -- who hopes to claim the crystal for himself.

Combining real people with both animated and special effects, the ride has a certain '50s serial feel to it, especially with the hammy acting. Still, it's a fun and entertaining ride with enough thrills for almost anyone.

* Caesars -- "Race for Atlantis"

Price: $9.50 for adults, $6.75 for children; $8 for Nevada residents

Height: Minimum 42 inches

Times: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 10 a.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday

Call: 733-9000

Fun: 8

Excite: 9

Theme: 8

Bounce: 8

Billed as the first giant-screen 3-D IMAX motion simulator thrill ride, "Race For Atlantis" is a great choice if you only have time to visit one ride. This motion simulator has it all: great 3-D effects, an imaginative storyline and plenty of thrills and bumps.

The story involves a high-speed chariot race to claim the rights to the city of Atlantis that takes riders through the city itself, caverns and various otherworldly sites the animators dreamed up. There are various creatures to contend with, not to mention a villainous racer bent on claiming the city for his demonic master.

The sensation as you soar above, below and through the city is, at times, breathtaking -- although it seems to end much too quickly.

* Venetian: Theaters of Sensation -- 3-D Motion Adventure Rides

Price: $7 per film, except "Escape From Venice," which is $9

Height: Minimum 48 inches

Times: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 10 a.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday

Call: 414-4500

* Sensation film: "Escape from Nemo"

Fun: 4

Excite: 4

Theme: 2

Bounce: 5

Sensation film: "Doomed Castle"

Fun: 5

Excite: 5

Theme: 2

Bounce: 4

Sensation film: "Red Hot Planet"

Fun: 5

Excite: 5

Theme: 2

Bounce: 4

Sensation film: "Escape From Venice"

Fun: 7

Excite: 6

Theme: 4

Bounce: 6

Theaters of Sensation -- 3-D Motion Adventure Rides offers four films in two theaters. "Venice," shown in the wide-screen Titan Theater, is the longest and best of the films, with fairly decent 3-D animated effects and "bounce factor." But it suffers from the same "Doom"-like computer graphics as the others, which never really elevate the riders into feeling a part of what's going on in front of them.

"Escape" transports the riders into a journey through Venice and King Tut's tomb; "Doomed" transports riders into a mysterious castle around the time of King Arthur; "Planet" sends riders into the Mars of the future, with both colonies and aliens aplenty; and in "Nemo," perhaps the lamest of the lot, you journey aboard Nemo's sub. (What? The Love Boat was off limits?)

Overall, there's no real plot to any of these rides, other than a journey into what is supposed to be mysterious and frightening places that comes off as an experiment in computer animation circa 1995. In addition, there's little music to conjure emotion or generate thrills.

* Circus Circus -- IMAX RideFilm Cineplex

Price: $5 per person

Height: Minimum 42 inches

Times: 10 a.m.-midnight daily

Call: 794-3939

* Circus Circus film: "Fun House Express"

Fun: 7.5

Excite: 8

Theme: 6

Bounce: 8

Circus Circus film: "Reboot: The Ride"

Fun: 7

Excite: 8

Theme: 5

Bounce: 8

Both IMAX RideFilms are worth checking out. The IMAX screen is big enough to provide a sensation of realism, and the simulator ride gives more than enough jolts to match the on-screen activities.

"Funhouse," which is a runaway roller coaster in a twisted carnival, relies on stop-motion photography, a la "Nightmare Before Christmas," to create its illusion.

"Reboot," based on the Saturday morning cartoon series, relies on state-of-the-art computer graphics for its images.

It also offers fluid animation and enough character and story to provide a purpose to the ride. The "Reboot" soundtrack, like "Funhouse," is great and the camera does a nice job of taking riders in places where normal travel would be impossible.

Overall, both offer a nice diversion from the rest of the rides in the Adventuredome at Circus Circus.

* NASCAR Cafe at the Sahara casino-hotel -- Motion Simulator Theater

Price: $3 per ride

Height: Minimum 42 inches

Times: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Call: 734-7223

* NASCAR film: "Off-Road Ironman"

Fun: 6

Excite: 6

Theme: 6

Bounce: 9

NASCAR film: "Petty Nascar Hijinks" Stock Car

Fun: 5

Excite: 5

Theme: 6

Bounce: 7

With two theaters, the Motion Simulator Theater rotates through three films -- one every hour. At least that's what's supposed to happen; unfortunately, on a recent afternoon, a worker failed to show up, so only two films were being screened. The third film is "Indy Challenge."

Nevertheless, it was fairly obvious that these rides are geared for those who love NASCAR and any off-road activity. For those, however, who don't care for racing, this is best left off your "to-do" list.

The "plot" to both films, as it is with the others at the theater, is: race to win.

Although the movies are in 3-D -- complete with the 1950s-style 3-D glasses -- "Off-Road Ironman" and "Petty Nascar Hijinks" were fairly uninvolving. The 3-D effects are good at best, but do little to put you into the film. There was considerable "bounce" factor, however, which elevates these rides to above-average status.

Las Vegas Cyber Speedway

Price: $8

Height: Minimum 48 inches

Times: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Call: 734-7223

Fun: 8

Excite: 9

Theme: 4

Bounce: 6

A different type of motion-simulator ride, in that it plays more like an arcade game where you control the action, Las Vegas Cyber Speedway at the NASCAR Cafe deserves mention.

Each rider sits in one of 24 model stock cars mounted on hydraulic motion bases that swerve with a sudden spin of the steering wheel and shake with every collision -- both from other racers and the walls. In front of them is a 20-foot wraparound screen -- one for each car -- where a visual replica of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway or road course through the Strip is shown in nicely rendered computer graphics.

With blaring speakers in each car and realistic controls (a gear shift -- in both standard or automatic mode -- brakes, accelerator and a rear-view mirror that displays graphic images of who's gaining on you) this is about as close as most will ever get to being a participant in a NASCAR race.

* Las Vegas Hilton -- "Star Trek: The Experience"

Price: $19.95 per person; $16.95 for Nevada residents.

Height: Minimum 42 inches

Times: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. daily

Call: 732-5111

Fun: 8

Excite: 8

Theme: 10

Bounce: 8

Sure, "Star Trek: The Experience" is geared for Trekkies (OK, Trekkers), but this ride should appeal even to those who aren't fans of the sci-fi series, in all its myriad forms.

The basic premise is that riders from the present are "beamed" aboard the USS Enterpise D in the 23rd century to prevent changes to the future from happening. After a briefing on the bridge, the passengers are whisked to a shuttlecraft and launched into space where they're to be returned to their time, but not before some Klingons try to destroy the shuttle and alter the future.

The motion simulator ride is not in 3-D, but with two domed screen theaters -- 60 feet across -- there is a definite feeling of cruising through space while Klingon ships blast away at you and the Enterprise. Several jarring shakes enhance the ride, as do great effects -- both special and sound.

The ride itself, however, at four minutes, seems short -- especially given the build-up. Still, it's out of this world and probably the best overall simulator in Las Vegas.

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