Hex: The legend of the towers

Here is my review of Hex the best dark ride in the country, in my opinion:

So is the story true or false over the last few days I have been investigating this question and I found out what’s real and what’s not and looked deep into the videos that are shown to the guests.

The ride story has been set up amazingly ,I think, and it has a lot of truth in it. The original legend has been “sexed-up” by Alton towers. For a start a video shown in the queue line is said to be found during restoration work shows the oak (the tree in which the hex story revolves around) has been recreated by Alton towers. Apart from cameras not being around at the time of the legend the video doesn’t look all that old but it is very realistic. If I hadn’t really concentrated on the video I would think it is real. A copy of the video is here.

The overall story of Hex is amazing, like I have said before. I really like the whole feel of it and I felt really scared before I first rode hex due to the daunting feeling of the entrance . Here is a video showing the Alton towers version of “The legend of the towers”. It has been set up really well with good effects the only unbelievable part of the video is the part where he starts doing mad experiments.

The vault which I believe was actually found in the towers was said to contain “a single branch of the oak tree”. This just doesn’t seem right to me. Here is a video of what is the vault. I just don’t think that somebody would lock a tree branch in a secret vault unless they where very superstitious, the same with the chaining of the oak. It looks really interesting, real or not, on how the video has been made and adds yet more excitement to the rider as they edge ever closer to the final part of the hex story the spinning room…..

Here is a video showing the spinning room in all it glory. Obviosly it has a lot better effect in real life but it shows some of the atmosphere of the climax of the amazing Hex legend. The illusion of you going upside down looks and feels great as the room spins around you.

The building that surrounds hex looks really good and adds great atmosphere to an already great ride. The queue line gives the best feel to the actual ride in my opinion. As you wait you see TV screens with information on the legend and restoration work. Statues are covered either side of the queue which I have never really understood.

I have never seen any real down points to hex. It has great theming, great effects and of course a great legend to go along with the ride. After all don’t the most magical rides in the world have a good story that goes along side them?

Just look at this entrance it adds great feeling before you ride or even begin queuing:
http://www.towerstimes.co.uk/rides/hex/hex-entrance.jpg

The octagon room looks really good with all the lights active adding atmosphere as a pre-climax: http://www.towerstimes.co.uk/rides/hex/ ... erator.jpg

And finally heres a artist impression of the spinning room the highlight and climax of Hex: The legend of the towers!!: http://www.towerstimes.co.uk/rides/hex/hex17.jpg


Images and videos courtesy of http://www.towerstimes.co.uk and http://www.atmania.com

Hi I'm Jonathan.

I'm new here and this is my first reply to this forum.

I know some people think the Hex is rubbish and all that but I believe the Hex is THE BOMB baby. It has great atmosphere all the way through from the que line to the ride because it gives you that strange feeling as if you're about to enter the darkest parts of our imagination. The story is very impressive as it is based on a true legend but the story we see on the screen is what I call a altenate story to what really happened that very night 185 years ago. The effects in the octagon (the 2nd room) was really cool. When the TV screens started flickering and then just went black, did anyone think (even though its just a spooky ride) that something supernatural entered the room? What I saw and what I heard was really spooky. Th old woman on the scafolding speaking the ancient curse in a language which I think is latin really gives it an ummph. The ride itself is absolutely incredible. When I first went on the main ride which is to be the vault with the branch in the middle, I was terrified because I believed it was going to spin all the way roung and turn me upside-down. During, I couldn't tell if I was upside-down or not. May I ask what is it with the face that we see as the room goes round? I sometimes hear that it is supposed to be a face of the chained oak tree or it's roots. What I think is that the face is the supposed to be the old woman and the tree rolled into one(spooky eh?). The music which we hear on the first film and on the ride really tops the icing on the cake. It gives the story and the ride great atmosphere. I'm listening to it right now while typing what I call a review of the spookiest ride in all of the park. At the beginning of the music you can hear voices which are chanting the curse as the music begins to grow louder. Doesn't the music give you that feeling that you are in the world of the supernatural and you're just fighting to escape it. Thie climax at the end of the tune is my favourite part because it feels like the old woman is being defeated when I hear it and when I hear these strange noises and sounds after that, it make me feel . well it makes almost everyone feel as if everything is returning to normal and we are returning back to our reality. That is what I think.

The entire ride from beginning to end is what I call my favorite dark ride I've ever been on. The Hex rocks. Everytime I come to Alton Towers, I head straight to The Hex. The Hex will remain a great spooky ride to the young and the old for many years to come.

Please reply to tell me what you think of my review of this ride.

Thanks very much.

Jonathan

Hex

As they say, 'a tale with a twist'.

Starting in the re-nowed towers you can feel the edge the ride holds over other dark rides. The estate has a history and this ride is about to share it.

The pre-show screens build up tension for the haunting tale ahead. Watching the recreation of that dreaded night you can see the anticipation on riders faces. As the lights dim the atmosphere builds and the tale reveals its curse sending a chill down many peoples backs, hesitating to move through to the Octagon many people clutch to each other for saftey.

The impressive Vault with the outstanding soundtrack manages to confuse most riders into actually thinking they go upside down - surely this is one of the best illusions ever created?

Its deffinatly a tale that ends on the other side.

Hex is probably the best dark ride in the United Kingdom, perhaps just shaving Valhalla at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, although in reality it's unfair to compare the two as they are completely different styles of ride.

So far as mad houses go, Hex beats Drayton Manor's 'The Haunting' since it is much better quality and the main chamber is far superior. It beats 'Fluch der Kassandra' at Europa Park because it has fantastic pre-shows and the main chamber spins a lot more and the music is also better.

Overall, Hex is one of only a small select group of UK rides that I would award 10/10 to. Of course, if you are unlucky enough to visit when something is broken then this may alter, but the fact is - at full operational order, Hex is a superb, enjoyable and almost supernatural experience.

The fact that the ride utlises the Towers themselves is one of the main reasons why Hex is so amazing. So, onto the ride itself:

Upon approaching the ride entrance from the Square, you notice the large Hex banners either side of the immense doorway. Inside, it looks dark and eery. As you walk up the original stairway, you make your way through a large hallway, weaving round a queue which is highly themed with busts, television screens explaining a local legend, stained glass windows and an eery theme.

When you reach the end of the queue, you make your way through into a batching area, where a certain numer of riders will be waiting. Shortly after, a voice begins to explain an introduction to the attraction, and you notice that there is scaffolding above two sets of doors, and that you are 'in a building/construction site', but still inside the dark Towers.

At the end of this first introduction, you make your way into the 2nd pre-show. Once everyone is inside this pitch dark room, the doors close behind the group, and a large cinema-style screen begins to play a real local legend, about the Chained Oak.The atmosphere is generally quite tense and eery at this stage, so long as you are not in with a group of rowdy people which can sadly damage the experience from time to time.

After you watch the show, again, two sets of doors open infront of you, as you make your way into an Octagonal room, which is impeccably atmospheric. The realistic use of the original building is one of Alton Towers' best ever projects. Some small television screens surround the octagon, and people begin to watch. Suddenly, the show is interrupted with lightning and thunder effects. The window on the right hand side begins to blow open as the lights flash on and off. After a short pitch dark moment, an eery voice encourages you to move up some stairs, down an archeological corridor with dim lighting and atmospheric smells.

You enter the main chamber of Hex, through left or right. As you sit down, the bars will lower and you will look around at the intricate theming across the ride chamber. The doors close, and the music starts. You will gently rock backwards and forwards, as the entire chamber revolves around you, creating an incredible illusion - all the time accompanied with the wonderful Hex music. The use of strobes and other lighting add to the effetcs. The finale is met with a fantastic end to the music and the lighting up of the fallen branch in the middle of the chamber.

As you leave this room, you make your way through another archeological corridor, before walking back out through the Towers gardens, and back into the hustle and bustle of the park.

All in all, this is an absolutely impeccable attraction that competes with some of the worlds very best dark rides, and is one of the best dark rides in Europe. Simply class.

Hex compared with Villa Volta(Efteling):

Entrance
Hex has the old theming of the castle, and Villa Volta has a 18th century Villa, both are nice, but Hex looks greater.
Villa Volta's Villa ( ) has the nice detail, the white woman on the roof.
She waves here arms very slowly, and most visitors even don't see it moving.
Hex: 9/10
Villa Volta: 8/10

Q line
Hex has a nice entrance, and so is corridor behind it.The entrance incl. the corridor don't tell you too much, you don't know what to expect.
7/10
Villa Volta don't has an entrance, and the Q line is very little themed, but the Queue line still is nice because of a preview of the main Soundtrack and the story(really hapenned!) is written on the wall.
6/10

Pre Shows
In Hex' first Preshow, the Video is nice but an animatronic telling the story had been better, because a videoscreen doesn't match with the Castle.
7/10
Villa Volta's first preshow is in a 18th century room where you hear some civilians telling eachother about ''De Bokkerijders'' (a gang of robbers which terorrised parts of the Netherlands and Belgium). Meanwhile the same soundtrack as in the Queue line is played quiet.
There are also a few small special effects.
7,5/10

The next preshow in Hex is impressive, the special effects are simple but nice, the atmosphere is very dark here, but the sounds are too loud.
7,5/10
The next preshow in Villa Volta is a room again, but this time it's full of treasures, stolen by the Bokkerijders from churches etc.
Hugo sits in a corner of the room together with his gold.
He tells the Story that they robbed a church, and a white woman (who stands on the building outside wavind her arms very slow!) cursed him:
Nowhere in the world, he will be safe in his house until somebody with a clear soul will enter it.
Hugo tells: Enter the next room with a clear soul, and recover the peace which I desire so long.
The music is played again.
8,5/10

Mainshow
Both rides have great mainshows, Hex with the laboratory and Villa Volta with the 18th century living room.
Hex has great theming and some cool special effects, but Villa Volta also has great theming and even more special effects, one of them in very suprising.
One bad thing in Hex is the music, too loud again, my ears where popping.
Hex: 8/10
Villa Volta: 8,5/10

Soundtrack
Both rides have great music, but Villa Volta is just some greater than Hex.
The Hex music misses something, but I don't know what.
Villa Volta's music is one of the best soundtrack's I know, very spectacular and professional.
Hex: 8,5/10
Villa Volta: 9,3/10

Overall rating:
Both rides are very good, and both they have good things and bad things.
I think Villa Volta is just something better, the atmosphere is very nice and exciting, and the whole ride is full of very small details (an old-looking painting of it's designer). Hex has it's own beatifull castle and the (H)extremely dark atmosphere.
Hex: 8,5
Villa Volta: 8,6

Sorry for bringing back this topic but I had to write a review on what I consider one of Tussauds Masterpieces!

Hex: The Tale with a Twist!

Hex is one of those rides you do not really know much about when going to the park, you just notice it and go and have a ride on it. You think that its just some sort of ride, but Hex is so much more.

Hex has the most impressive location for any dark ride in Europe, the setting is just perfect. Hex would not be the same in any other location, just by looking at the entrance with it being the Towers itself it really gives you a sense that this ride is something special.

You enter into a rather dark and weird queue line, it has and has always had this weird presence, from the moment you walk in it just takes you out of reality and into another world, the theming and general look of the queue line can keep you occupied throughout your entire queue time, if not you have a fantastically produced video, it really builds up the suspense between everyone.

You enter through the little turnstile and normally stand around for a minute or so wondering whats going on, you notice the doors but your not quite sure what will happen. Then the audio plays and you are treated to a little pre-show that gives you a nice bit of information to set up the ride and its setting. Now the really strange thing about this is that most people do not notice it while in the queue line, I never notice it, I'm literally so occupied by the televisions and theming pieces I completely forget everything else around me. You then proceed through the doors.

You then enter another interesting room, you then are treated to the main pre-show that tells the tale with a twist, Hex without a doubt has one of the best storylines to any ride in the world, its just so unique and just such a great story that completely captivates you. The video has been done really well also and it gets everyone talking as soon as its finished. It leaves you wanting more, you know this ride will be special from just watching this video. The story alone is enough to make Hex a success.

Then you enter the Octagon room, this is a rather strange room, most people think its just a walk through room and they go straight to do the doors not knowing its another show. Once the televisions start to play everyone settles down and you begin to watch, then the video finishes and the audio continues and you are treated with a series of effects that really freak you out especially if its your first go. There is only one problem with this room and that is sometimes the curtain in the window/doorway thats meant to blow in the wind has been knocked to the side so its just one lump of curtain blowing in the corner of the door way which is something that can be easily fixed and would just look a lot more better once fixed. This is another great room that has been themed and done superbly and it really makes me go "wow" that Tussauds and Alton Towers put so much effort into it.

You then walk through round the corridor behind the book case, yet again the great attention to detail continues, Alton Towers could of just had a simple corridor but its themed to perfection, and really makes me feel proud to know this ride is in the United Kingdom, its one of very few rides in Europe I consider to match that of Disney Standards and that really says a lot about how fantastic Tussauds can be if they bother to put some effort into things, they are capable of building masterpieces but lately they have lost there way as rides like Hex are what made them the success they are today.

Then you board into the final room, if this is your first ride your now completely baffled about whats going to happen, most first time riders are quite worried about whats about to happen. Once the ride starts you are treated to a truly great ride that messes with the mind, you are also treated with an array of great lighting effects and also one of the best ride soundtracks I have heard to date. The ride, like everything else in Hex is beautifully themed and contains a great variety of effects that will truly leave you with one unforgettable memory of one legendary ride.

Hex offers a sensational experience that leaves people most of the time in astonishment, ever since my first ride Hex has remained one of my top rides, it also started my fascination for not just Alton Towers in its current state but the History of the Towers.

Hex is a ride that shows the ability of Tussauds at its best, Hex is the best dark ride in the United Kingdom and probably one of the best in Europe. People walk in not expecting much, infact very little but the large majority will walk off with a huge smile afterwards as Hex truly is something extraordinary.

Well what can I say about Hex?
It was really good, the last bit was the best bit by far, seen as the first two bits weren't all that thrilling.

First off - I hadn't been on this ride before. My boyfriend and my best mate came on with me as they both said it wasn't scary. So off we plodded onto this ride, I entered and felt very weird as I walked in, it was a very weird feeling indeed. Little TVs were dotted around in the hallway. The TVs show a story about the legend of Hex, but as the queue was only 5 mins literally, I didn't get the chance to watch the videos - I just heard noises and smelt weird smells.

We stood by these doors, there was one on each side. They then opened. Inside was a massive floor with a mini cinema screen above you and two curtains on each side. You then all gather inside, the room goes dark for several seconds and then the video starts which portrays story of the legend. This video did quite freak me out as it had a very eerie feel to it.

Then you enter the next room. You have some sort of pole in the middle, TVs on each side of the stairs and also a shadow on the right of the stairs which is very weird. There is also a portrait of old lady. You all enter this room and stand anywhere you wish as there's no queue line or lines to say 'stop here' so we all stood dotted about this room, looking quite nervous by this point as we were wondering what was happening. So on this video some music had started and weird noises like horses and an old woman chanting. We all the n hear louder noises and all start looking about this room wondering what's happening and then the woman glows and says something, it's all very freaky.

Then we moved onto the third and final room. You have to step up these stairs first and through a bookcase or door of some sort and walk to your left as I recall through a creepy walk through, and stand outside either side of these doors entering into the third room. These doors then open to reveal benches and a vault at the end of this branch wrapped in chains. So the room lights up and is not dark at any point. Then as you wait music starts to play and I can't explain this music as its very peculiar. Then you feel something very freaky, you move but you feel as if your lowering down and no one can explain that feeling. As you start to lower down, you start to rock back and forth but then something happens, you move and the wall appears to be moving too. By the time you start to move - a face appears on the wall just behind the opposite people. You can't actually tell if you are upside down or not as it's pretty hard to figure out. Amazing! I can't explain how all this works as the room is sooo well done and the music really adds to the affect.

Really good ride overall as the effects and the smells etc. were amazing.

The whole ride is great and everything. I have nothing against it. On Google Earth, i have noticed a different story to Hex. The hidden passage way coming off the octagon is clearly a modern extension recently added to the towers. The main ride with the revolving room is based in a building that looks a bit like a warehouse. There was originaly no hidden passage way, putting a whole new perspective to the legend. Anyway, the ride is good and it certainly made me wonder. I'd give the ride a 10 out of 10, or a hundred percent, great.

you should check out The Hex on Google Earth though.

Hex - The legend of the towers is a fantastic dark ride in a beautiful setting. With Hex being situated in the towers itself it adds to the ride experience and also feels very cold in the rooms. The special effects and lighting change the mood of the ride throughout which is fantastic. Once reaching the octagon room this continues, but when the curtain opens to go through to the bookcase people just stand there waiting for something to happen. Once you reach the swing, all the past parts of the ride tie up together in a fantastically themed ride with effects. People are unsure what is happening which is great. Hex is one of the best themed/story rides I've rode. 9/10.

I love Hex. I always have done. With a Combination of excellent theming, a great backing story, and of course, the spinning room, I believe it to be one of the highlights of any trip to Alton Towers.

The Entrance to Hex is so perfectly blended into the Towers ruins that you don't question it's authenticity. With the high roof for the entrance hall/Qline, it really adds atmosphere. Adding to this effect is the completely lack of artificial lighting, with only very little so you can at least see your way along. The Qline video really is something, It's basically a mockumentary made by AT to add to the build up of the ride, Simply awesome.

once you get past the Qline, you join a group of other visitors ready to enter the antechamber. Once through into this room, A video explaining the story behind the Hex. you then move on into the octagon room.

This really is a little gem. It's been mocked up to look as if construction workers have basically abandoned it, and with the strobe lighting, and the other other effects, the result is absolutely epic. By the end of this sequence, a cowled figure has appeared pointing you through a book case, where you go down the corridor and into the ride chamber.

basically, you sit down the restraints fall into place, (Although, i feel the safety checks do kind of take away from the atmosphere, but they're necessary, and I wouldn't have it any other way, so I won't complain), and the ride begins. It feels as if you have gone completely over, and you are now upside down. although in reality, the room has spun, and your just on a gondola that goes to about a 50 degree angle maybe. It all culminates with the room spinning to a stop and seeing the roots of the chained oak, with cool red eyes, and the room gently coming to a stop and exiting the ride via the gardens.

Truly, one of the best rides I've ever been on, and arguably the best dark ride in the UK. 10/10

considering its usually one of the first rides i go on when i go to AT, i like it. in the queue line, i do tend to act more scared than i am, but thats cus i go way over the top with excitment, i dont get to go to alton towers much. Although, i hated it last time, cus i was next to this group of school kids who did nothing but scream all the way through. i couldnt hear the music (the best bit). shame, this ride is awesome though!

Lol, went to AT beginning of May (My First Visit) and went on Hex because we happened to be walking past it... first of all, was amazed by the amount of weaving I had to do to get to the front (There was no queue) and then stumbled by the Turnstile with a number in front of us. Scared the shite out of us when the operator suddenly flicked on a Torch, as we didn't realise they were there.

First bit, watched with interest, although by this point I thought I had walked into a walk-through documentary. Loved the music and themeing, very good and dark. Once in the room, slightly confused as to why the seats had handrales and though, ahh its gonna rock us side to side a bit. Then when the room was up-side down I was speechless, me and my mates were like WTF!!? We walked out speechless and didnt say anything for a good 5-10 mins, trying to work out what happened. Figured it out after the 2nd ride.

Went back to AT a week later with some friends from work, and took them on it (A few had already been but a large group of them hadnt) and it was soo funny to see they're faces.... Totally unexpected, total genius in my opinion ^^

Hex is the most amazing ride. I went on it three times. I love the music, the whole feel to it, its just spellbinding!

I first went on this ride when i was about 16 i think and at the time was kinda dissapointed of the ride following the build up story. However looking at back and riding it again these days its one of the best themed rides in the park and the story works well with the ride. Is it me or does the room seem to be better than what it used to be? which is a good thing i suppose!

Going off topic but in the 1st holding room my gf did get stones thrown at her and later found out this is a supposed paranormal occurance by the children that are supposed to haunt that part of the building. It one of them things at the time of it happens it just goes unoticed but looking back spooky too!

Overall:

Ride excitement 7/10
Ride storyline 10/10
Themeing 9/10 (would be a 10 but sometimes all the themeing isnt on)
Re ride value 5/10 its not the same 2nd time round in the same visit to the park

hex: a tree in chains.
i think hex is class for all the family to enjoy with the q line that the put a number of people through first and try to make the waiting time short ( i know that didnt make sence so 9/10)