A thrill seeking attraction at Alton Towers is the first ever to be given a minimum age limit of 12A, similar to those found in commercial property cinema complexes.
The ride named ‘Nemesis Sub-Terra’ will only be open to riders taller than 1.4 metres and over the age of 12, unless accompanied by an adult. The age limit was set after the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) visited the commercial property and assessed the potential psychological impacts that the ride could have on younger riders.
Speaking of the age restriction, Murray Perkins, a Senior Examiner at the BBFC, said: “After experiencing the attraction first-hand, based on 100 years of experience and line with British public opinion, we would recommend that Alton Towers Resort classify the new Nemesis Sub-Terra a ‘12A’.
“Nemesis Sub-Terra contains some intense moments, in some respects comparable with scary scenes which may be experienced in horror or science fiction films at 12A/ 12.”
The BBFC only usually rates content based on films, DVDs, video games and digital downloads, so this is a first for the company.
Prior to developing the ride, the commercial property conducted research into people’s phobias. They found that one in five adults are still scared of the dark and as many as 75 per cent of people have a fear of being trapped underground. Nemesis Sub-Terra plays on these fears as the attraction is both underground and in darkness.
Alton Tower’s website describes the ride as: “A psychologically and physically thrilling experience, taking place in a dark, intense underground setting.
“This attraction is based around the back-story of the original Nemesis attraction, which opened in 1994. Set to be one of the Resort’s most terrifying attractions, Nemesis Sub-Terra takes guests down into the deepest, darkest location of the theme park for the experience of their lives.”
The ride, which opens on Saturday 24 March at the Staffordshire theme park, isn’t for the faint hearted, but there is a ‘chicken exit’ if it all becomes too much to handle.
Have you got the nerve to experience this terrifying attraction, or are you happy to wait on the side and hold everyone’s bags instead?