Villain-Con Minion Blast (General Discussion)

[sonoma15]

When I hear reviews from users like this, part of me wishes Universal wasn't so concerned with preserving part of the building for a HHN black box and designed something at least on par with Midway Mania. Heck apparently early rumors had this be trackless dark ride. Some rides would simply work better as an actual ride and this is one of them.

I don't think making it a ride would make the shooting mechanics any less confusing for people who don't know how to play though. What it really needs is an active tutorial in the beginning. The instructions being only on screens or posters on the wall doesn't help most people in a theme park, especially if the line is short and you don't have time to watch or read them.

 

[TheUniC6]

I don't think making it a ride would make the shooting mechanics any less confusing for people who don't know how to play though. What it really needs is an active tutorial in the beginning. The instructions being only on screens or posters on the wall doesn't help most people in a theme park, especially if the line is short and you don't have time to watch or read them.

Midway Mania has a tutorial in the beginning.

 

[HandsomePete]

Midway Mania has a tutorial in the beginning.

The tutorial is basically pull the string and get a feel for the physics, it doesn’t really need it.

Successful shooter rides (Buzz, MIB, Toy Story) have obvious targets that basically scream THIS IS THE TARGET. Ones that aren’t as great (this, Spider-Man at DCA, and throw the gunner position on Smugglers Run in there) are exercises in randomly machine-gunning at a screen.

 

[Skold]

I thought it was fine. The app is neat, the conveyor belt worked surprisingly well, but not being able to keep the trigger pressed killed my hands

 

[Cwoolboy]

I agree that the shooter mechanics can be confusing. That said, I got the hang of it pretty quickly (like, before the end of the first room). You just need to pay close attention and it shouldn't be too hard to figure out which icon/symbol is yours.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

There is now a making of special for the ride and land on Peacock.

https://peacocktv.smart.link/g77mddx8h?key=pvid&id=0e1356a8-863a-3bd5-87d5-554d7ef447bf&action=PDP&type=PROGRAMME&source=share

 

[Jerroddragon]

There is now a making of special for the ride and land on Peacock.

https://peacocktv.smart.link/g77mddx8h?key=pvid&id=0e1356a8-863a-3bd5-87d5-554d7ef447bf&action=PDP&type=PROGRAMME&source=share

Yesss

More of this please

would love a yearly HHN special and hopefully behind the scenes of them building the new FF coaster and of course....Epic Universe. I mean its an easy Ad just make a special about all or most the lands coming to epic as well.

 

[Crypt Keeper]

Great shot of the show building layout. Also, the "flex space"

 

[Clive]

Great shot of the show building layout. Also, the "flex space"
View attachment 23642

Great grab. Flex space looks pretty sizable -- but one wonders when this particular shot was taken? How much of the unused space ended up being used for unanticipated needs (i.e. more computer processing equipment?)

 

[TheUniC6]

Great shot of the show building layout. Also, the "flex space"
View attachment 23642

They really crammed in a lot for what this attraction is. As the for the documentary, is there any footage of the demoing the former Shrek 4D attraction?

Great grab. Flex space looks pretty sizable -- but one wonders when this particular shot was taken? How much of the unused space ended up being used for unanticipated needs (i.e. more computer processing equipment?)

I think most of the computer processing equipment running the attraction would be upstairs and thus the flex space would not be impacted from that aspect. Maybe when the final product came out they realized that the space wasn't quite large enough for the type of HHN houses that wanted for it and that's why it hasn't been used yet?

 

[Crypt Keeper]

They really crammed in a lot for what this attraction is. As the for the documentary, is there any footage of the demoing the former Shrek 4D attraction?

No idea

I think most of the computer processing equipment running the attraction would be upstairs and thus the flex space would not be impacted from that aspect. Maybe when the final product came out they realized that the space wasn't quite large enough for the type of HHN houses that wanted for it and that's why it hasn't been used yet?

Supposedly, A&D has been using the space for storage. There's no reason to use the space for HHN unless they lose a house location or want to increase the house count to 11, which I doubt they're even considering right now.

 

[TheUniC6]

unless they lose a house location

I am guessing that the flex space would come into play beyond storage for special events when either the FFL stage or BMG theater go for USF park expansion. With the new sprung tents popping up to eventually accommodate Pokemon, I don't think any HHN house locations will be disappearing any time soon,

 

[Ahmanet]

Have they added Will Ferrell's character to the attraction in any way?

 

[TheUniC6]

Have they added Will Ferrell's character to the attraction in any way?

No. But I think Universal has said the attraction of capable of doing overlays. Correct me if I'm wrong on that though.

 

[DarkMetroid567]

Finally made it to Villain-Con.

I prefer Supercharged.

 

[Mad Dog]

Finally made it to Villain-Con.

I prefer Supercharged.

My wife and I actually liked Villain-Con, but hardly anyone else seems to like it. It is a bit confusing, and it's clearly just a C ticket at best. Shrek was actually more entertaining, especially the pre show. I would
have preferred SLOP, which easily fits in that space.......So I can see your point....But F&F was a ballyhooed D/E ticket headliner, and that's where it really fails. It left a big hole in the park's attraction line up. And it occupies a huge space in a park that doesn't have much expansion space.

 

[Rhian]

I've done this attraction a few more times recently. The lag between movement and shooting the blaster needs to be addressed because it definitely doesn't feel reactive enough.

I think this attraction might've been better as an addition to CityWalk rather than being in the park, but I'm also not positive I'd have paid for this separately like the mini golf or escape rooms.

My wife and I actually liked Villain-Con, but hardly anyone else seems to like it. It is a bit confusing, and it's clearly just a C ticket at best.

Yeah, I overheard a few guest nearby were confused as to which icon on the screen was theirs. They were still a little lost towards the end. Perhaps there should have been a training/tutorial first scene because it can be slightly overwhelming if it's your first time playing such a game.

 

[Mad Dog]

My

I've done this attraction a few more times recently. The lag between movement and shooting the blaster needs to be addressed because it definitely doesn't feel reactive enough.

I think this attraction might've been better as an addition to CityWalk rather than being in the park, but I'm also not positive I'd have paid for this separately like the mini golf or escape rooms.


Yeah, I overheard a few guest nearby were confused as to which icon on the screen was theirs. They were still a little lost towards the end. Perhaps there should have been a training/tutorial first scene because it can be slightly overwhelming if it's your first time playing such a game.

My wife liked it so much that we ended up doing it 7 or 8 times, at least. Since it was almost always a walk on, we didn't get any time to stand in the queue area where they give some game directions, so the first couple times it was confusing on what icon was yours. Also, the scoring. Turned out hitting minions was hardly any points, so it was best to avoid them.....But, it seems very unpopular due to the fact that it's generally a walk on even though its a new attraction, and a very popular IP. I'm surprised they're going to put it in some of the international Universal parks after such a poor debut....USF has been really unlucky on recent new attractions. Fast & Furious and Villains aren't the stuff of success in satisfying guests.

 

[TheUniC6]

My

My wife liked it so much that we ended up doing it 7 or 8 times, at least. Since it was almost always a walk on, we didn't get any time to stand in the queue area where they give some game directions, so the first couple times it was confusing on what icon was yours. Also, the scoring. Turned out hitting minions was hardly any points, so it was best to avoid them.....But, it seems very unpopular due to the fact that it's generally a walk on even though its a new attraction, and a very popular IP. I'm surprised they're going to put it in some of the international Universal parks after such a poor debut....USF has been really unlucky on recent new attractions. Fast & Furious and Villains aren't the stuff of success in satisfying guests.

The Minions are massive in Japan so it made sense to port it there. A recent YT review said they believed that even in Japan VCMB doesn't use all of the former Backdraft space.

If they didn't prioritize the HHN flex space we probably would have gotten a tracked omnimover akin to Pets. But that fact that the HHN flex space was so important in the eyes of Universal management makes me believe that they are bigger plans for USF expansion such as the possibility someday of expansion in the space behind what will become the F&F coaster that it (the VCMB flex space) became a necessary insurance policy