Universal Studios' Transformers The Ride (photos)

by John Chan | 3 December 2011 12:15pm SGT

Theme park Universal Studios Singapore has a new attraction Transformers The Ride. Based on the recent movies by director Michael Bay, this ride stars a new Autobot called Evac. In the story crafted for the simulator, Evac specializes in transporting personnel and classified materials at high speeds.

**Photo & caption by** John Chan/CNET Asia

Michael Bay (center) was at the opening of the ride fielding questions about the ride. He acted as the creative consultant and was roped into the process of designing the attraction when the project started.

Transformers The Ride made its debut in Singapore, but an identical version will found at Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles, California, next year. Thierry Coup (right), senior vice-president of Universal Creative, said the reason why Singapore got the ride first was because a space had already been allocated for it at the Sci-Fi City zone in the theme park.

**Photo & caption by** John Chan/CNET Asia

"Hey guys, I think there's something behind us."

Here's Evac again with three humans in front of him for scale. From left: Tom Williams (Chairman and CEO of Universal Parks & Resorts), Michael Bay (Director) and Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay (Chairman of the Genting Group and Resorts World Sentosa)

**Photo & caption by** John Chan/CNET Asia

At the entrance to the ride is Autobot Bumblebee perched on the sign.

**Photo & caption by** John Chan/CNET Asia

As with any theme park ride, a long queue awaits thrill seekers. The decor of the building housing the snaking line serves to make the wait more tolerable. Here, you see screens on which the back story of the ride will be played back.

**Photo by** Universal Studios Singapore
**Caption by** John Chan

Key to the plot is this AllSpark fragment. Like in the movies, this item is highly coveted by the Decepticons and is the cause of all the fighting you'll witness during the ride.

**Photo by** Universal Studios Singapore
**Caption by** John Chan

As you near the end of the line, a briefing on the enemies to be encountered is also given. The encased metal objects are supposed to be parts of the Decepticon Ravage.

**Photo & caption by** John Chan/CNET Asia

Here's where you pick up your "Battle Glasses", theme park talk for passive 3D glasses.

**Photo & caption by** John Chan/CNET Asia

Here's Evac in vehicle mode. There are multiple cars that travel along a fixed path though only one will move off at any given time.

**Photo & caption by** John Chan/CNET Asia

Each vehicle can sit 12 passengers. Like many other rides, you'll need to be in good health and not be pregnant to participate. The minimum height requirement is 1.02m.

**Photo & caption by** John Chan/CNET Asia

Because it doesn't move as vigorously as, say, a roller coaster, you are allowed to carry your bag onto the vehicle. There are also pockets to place your loose items so they don't fall off the car.

**Photo & caption by** John Chan/CNET Asia

Here's one of the 3D scenes played out on huge projection screens. The Evac vehicle, being a motion simulator, will move in tandem with the 3D imagery for greater immersion. In this shot, you see Megatron (left) firing a projectile at Evac while Optimus Prime tries to stop him.

**Photo by** Universal Studios Singapore
**Caption by** John Chan

In another scene, Bumblebee stops a small Decepticon as it lunges toward the riders. Though the vehicle doesn't perform death-defying loops and drops like a roller coaster, the feeling of flying through a city or falling off a tall building is augmented by the 3D movie.

**Photo by** Universal Studios Singapore
**Caption by** John Chan

Of course, you can't have a theme park ride without an accompanying store. Aside from your usual T-shirts and caps, the Transformers The Ride store stocks action figures and other related toys, too.

**Photo by** Universal Studios Singapore
**Caption by** John Chan

About the author

Editor John Chan's love for gadgets can be traced back to the days when he disassembled his toys and couldn't put them back together again. He practices great restraint in not opening up every review product that comes through the CNET Asia Labs, and before that, in his previous job at HardwareZone. He has reviewed items big and small, from mobile phones to projectors and feels everyone should carry a multitool at all times in case of MacGyver situations.

John Chan, Editor

Universal Studios' Transformers The Ride (photos)

About the author

Be the first to comment