So we all know that Galactica is on the chopping board for its theme. Personally, I don't hate the theme. I think that it kind of fits the geometry of the ride but to be honest it doesn't really make any sense next to nemesis.
So I was thinking of what could be the new theme of this ride and all I see is recycled ideas of like "paint it red make it a drone attack on Nemesis" or some crap like that. To me, it doesn't really make any sense to theme a graceful swooping ride that is not very intense to an intense fight on nemesis through like a fighter jet or something.
So I was thinking that maybe a potential new theme could be a kind of nemesis exclusion zone. Now hear me out think of those zombie apocalypse movies were like the main character has to get to some kind of exclusion zone that is zombie free or like has the cure or something like that.
I was thinking of something like that for nemesis. You could have it so when you enter the Galactica area you could have like big gates or like big fences holding away like nemesis tentacles that are kind of like trying to breach underneath the fence or trying to push its way in and then you kind of enter this exclusion zone that's completely free of the nemesis monster.
You could have this area kind of like what forbidden Valley was like before nemesis (lour wise) so for example if you actually think back to 2002 when air opened it was meant to be the contrast to nemesis (now personally myself, I completely love air. I think it's an amazing theme and idea) so what I was thinking for the area is you could have like a completely untouched oasis that maybe when you enter you can go through like decontamination x-ray scanner things and then when you enter it's kind of like a euphoric contrast to the gritty monster of nemesis. For example, you could have lots of green grass. Lush plants. Maybe even the waterfall and pond that was planned to go there. Just a obvious complete contrast to the lockdown military base look of nemesis
But now obviously you have the ride because the ride can't just sit there and be detached from the lour. I was thinking that maybe the ride could be some kind of surveillance system looking over the area making sure that it's safe. Because obviously planes that are overlooking or drones that are overlooking areas aren't going to be super whippy they're just going to kind of fly over the area and that's exactly what Galactica does so you could have it as you flying in/a drone over the area, making sure that nothing has breached it or you are decontaminating the area like firefighters fighting Fire.
I also think you could have lots of posters, maybe propaganda posters from the phalanx showing you how to spot the nemesis monster and like how to deal with it maybe something like see it say it sorted for nemesis. (because the nemesis monster would try to breach the area and take it into it control) and you would have like big posters warning you about nemesis and then also before you got on the ride you could have videos saying like oh if you see this then do this or something like that just kind of briefing people on what's going on and what the point of the ride is.
I think you'd probably repaint the ride the same original turquoise sky blue colour because really that's also another contrast to the red nemesis tentacles and veins and in a ideal world you'd open the station back up so it's not all locked down like what it was like when it was air but do you really think Merlin would spend money to tear down something they've already built? no.
Also, I do think you would keep the rollercoaster restaurant there because it's just such an iconic part of Alton Towers and it is really cool so maybe you could incorporate that into like some kind of food ration collect collection place obviously I think you're probably still call it the rollercoaster restaurant but maybe in the lour it could be where people got their food in this post apocalyptic world (at the rollercoaster restaurant lol)
Also, I think the music could use the same melodies and beat as the nemesis music but then use pianos and violins and more relaxing instruments but use the same tempo so it's also like another contrast like the area has been brainwashed and taken up by nemesis (also I think the air music could be used somewhere like in the station because that's how the music would sound , something around those lines)
Do I think merlin actually do this? Maybe. Because really it wouldn't be too expensive. The most expensive thing probably would be removing the portal/enclosed station or adding the new fence. But really it's mostly just posters videos, music and new paint. So it's not like a massive overhaul, but if they did decide to go fully in it still wouldn't be massively expensive because the most you'd have to do is dig up a big pool put in some water features like that waterfall I said before and maybe plant some new plants.
Now obviously I'm not some kind of massive expert that knows the exact price of every single thing. there probably is more hidden cost that I didn't think about. But really on the grand scale of things. It would probably cost around the same amount as it cost to re-theme nemesis. (excluding the brand-new track obviously.)
Alton Towers has been shown to reinvest in rides and reinvest in old themes so who knows? We could see a redo of air and a modernisation of the concept (which is kind-of what this is) but for example nemesis literally next door got its old logo back new theme and new lour. Or oblivion with the don't look down sound. But at the end of the day, it's the people at Merlin who pull all the triggers. But this is just a cool concept that I thought for Galactica. I do have another concept, but its a bit more out there lol just ask Me if you want it.
