"From now on, you are a new agent of MONARCH." As the announcement plays, red warning lights flash, and a monitor detects the movement of unidentified giant creatures. Visitors waiting for the ride become new agents of the secret research organization MONARCH.
The new attraction, 'Kong x Godzilla: The Ride,' opened on July 24. This dark ride immerses guests in the world of Legendary Entertainment's 'Monsterverse' from the waiting area to the boarding and exit paths.
MONARCH Mission Begins in the Queue
Upon entering, guests encounter research labs, maintenance facilities, and exploration equipment. The walls are covered with Titan-related materials, and warning sounds and mechanical noises fill the air.
This area is named 'M-42,' representing the 42nd base of the secret organization MONARCH from the film.
As the pre-show video begins, the mission is revealed: to enter the unknown underground world of 'Hollow Earth' and investigate the Titans.
Along the queue, new research equipment and videos appear sequentially. By the time guests reach the pre-show, even those unfamiliar with the film can grasp the relationship between MONARCH, the Titans, and Hollow Earth.
At the boarding area, an eight-passenger vehicle modeled after the film's aerial exploration vessel, H.E.A.V., awaits. Two vehicles depart together.
The trackless system means no visible rails on the floor, making it difficult to predict the vehicle's direction, prompting guests to grip the safety bar tightly before departure.
Kong Appears Before Your Eyes
As the safety bar lowers and the surroundings darken, the exploration vessel delves deep into Hollow Earth.
Initially, the ride passes through caves, carefully observing signs of Titans. Low vibrations and distant roars create a sense of tension.
When the lights come on, a massive Kong animatronic appears right in front of the vehicle. The animatronic stands up to 5 meters tall and 11 meters wide, with its fingers moving and facial muscles twitching. The addition of heavy breathing creates an overwhelming presence, as if a giant creature is blocking the vehicle's path.
Next, the 22-meter giant screen is engulfed in blue light as fierce battles between Titans commence. Amidst the chaos of erupting volcanoes and collapsing cliffs, the exploration vessel is drawn into the heart of the battlefield.
As the screen displays attacks, the vehicle is pushed back and tilts significantly. Although the ride does not involve a real drop from a height, the combination of the screen, wind, and the vehicle's tilt gives the sensation of falling from a cliff.
The speed is not fast; instead, the ride synchronizes the screen's attacks with the vehicle's rotations and vibrations. Guests' attention shifts from the screen to the physical figures and back to the battle on screen, making it hard to predict the next scene.
As the crisis spreads to the surface, Godzilla appears, emitting a blue atomic breath. While the battle between Titans continues, the exploration vessel maneuvers between giant feet and tails, navigating through the chaos.
Why 11 Minutes Feels Short
The ride lasts about 11 minutes. While this is relatively long for a dark ride, it does not feel lengthy.
Just when guests think they have escaped danger, another Titan appears, and when the vehicle seems to slow down, it quickly changes direction again. The rapid transitions between volcanoes, waterfalls, caves, and battle scenes keep guests' eyes darting to the next moment.
Once the safety bar rises, the first thought is, "Is it already over?"
Those expecting a roller coaster-like speed or sudden drops may find it feels smoother. Instead, the focus is on the experience of moving through the film's world, blending the screen, physical figures, and the vehicle's movements for an engaging experience.
3 Years and 10 Months of Development and Record Investment
'Kong x Godzilla: The Ride' took approximately 3 years and 10 months to plan and develop. It occupies about 5,124 square meters (1,550 pyeong) on the third floor of Lotte World Adventure, with a total ride length of about 320 meters. A total of 16 vehicles (8 sets) are in operation.
The attraction features a giant screen measuring 22 meters in length and animatronics up to 5 meters tall and 11 meters wide, along with 39 high-performance video devices that power the experience.
Kwon Oh-sang, CEO of Lotte World, stated, "Previously, about 50 billion won was invested in Pharaoh's Fury, which was the largest scale, but this time we invested even more."
The production involved collaboration with American Legendary Entertainment, Japan's Toho, and American dark ride specialist Sally Dark Rides. This is the world's first multimedia dark ride based on Legendary's 'Monsterverse' and Lotte World's first attraction utilizing an external film IP.
The key technology lies in the precise synchronization between the vehicle and the video.
Kwon emphasized, "The trackless system allows the vehicle to recognize its position in real-time, precisely matching the video scenarios and movements, creating an immersive experience as if guests have entered the screen. We applied the highest level of technology among domestically produced trackless attractions."
After the ride, guests can visit a large photo zone and a limited-edition merchandise shop. There are also dedicated food and beverage outlets, 'Titan Snacks' and 'Beast Station,' nearby.
Kwon noted, "Following the opening of Maple Island Zone in April, we continue to invest in differentiated content, aiming to attract a wider audience, including movie fans, foreign tourists, and young adults in their 20s and 30s, based on global IPs."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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