Universal Orlando simulator ride review: Transformers: The Ride

Brady MacDonald / Los Angeles Times

Out front, a towering portrait of Optimus Prime and Megatron in mid-battle hangs over the main entrance of the Transformers ride at Universal Studios Hollywood.

George Skene / Orlando Sentinel

Optimus Prime walks the red carpet. Grand opening ceremonies for Transformers ride at Universal Studios. .June 20, 2013.B583001381Z.1.(George Skene/Orlando Sentinel)

George Skene / Orlando Sentinel

Director Steven Spielberg, left, uses his iphone to record the opening. Grand opening ceremonies for Transformers ride at Universal Studios. .June 20, 2013.B583001381Z.1.(George Skene/Orlando Sentinel)

George Skene / Orlando Sentinel

Grand opening ceremonies for Transformers ride at Universal Studios. .June 20, 2013.B583001381Z.1.(George Skene/Orlando Sentinel)

Brady MacDonald / Los Angeles Times

Visitors on the behind-the-scenes tour of the Transformers ride at Universal Studios Hollywood are dwarfed by a ride vehicle and the towering screen.

Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel

Optimus Prime now guards the entrance of the yet-to-open Transformers: The Ride -- 3D attraction, which is set for a June 20 grand opening.

George Skene / Orlando Sentinel

Frank Welker, voice of Megatron gets his perspiration mopped as Peter Cullen, voice of Optimus Prime stands at right. Grand opening ceremonies for Transformers ride at Universal Studios. .June 20, 2013.B583001381Z.1.(George Skene/Orlando Sentinel)

George Skene / Orlando Sentinel

Cori Imandi of Clermont made her own transformer mask. Grand opening ceremonies for Transformers ride at Universal Studios. .June 20, 2013.B583001381Z.1.(George Skene/Orlando Sentinel)

George Skene / Orlando Sentinel

Grand opening ceremonies for Transformers ride at Universal Studios. .June 20, 2013.B583001381Z.1.(George Skene/Orlando Sentinel)

George Skene / Orlando Sentinel

Bumblebee walks the red carpet and greets guests. Grand opening ceremonies for Transformers ride at Universal Studios. .June 20, 2013.B583001381Z.1.(George Skene/Orlando Sentinel)

George Skene, Orlando Sentinel

Director Steven Spielberg uses his iPhone to record the opening. Grand opening ceremonies for Transformers ride at Universal Studios on June 20, 2013.

Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel

The Transformers ride is scheduled to open sometime this summer, Universal officials say.

Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel

Optimus Prime now guards the entrance of the yet-to-open Transformers: The Ride -- 3D attraction, which is set for a June 20 grand opening.

Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel

Optimus Prime now guards the entrance of the yet-to-open Transformers: The Ride -- 3D attraction, which is set for a June 20 grand opening.

George Skene / Orlando Sentinel

Director Steven Spielberg uses his iphone to record the opening. Grand opening ceremonies for Transformers ride at Universal Studios. .June 20, 2013.B583001381Z.1.(George Skene/Orlando Sentinel)

George Skene / Orlando Sentinel

Jets were used in the opening ceremonies and dis a flyby. Grand opening ceremonies for Transformers ride at Universal Studios. .June 20, 2013.B583001381Z.1.(George Skene/Orlando Sentinel)

George Skene / Orlando Sentinel

Merchandise shop is at the end of the ride. Grand opening ceremonies for Transformers ride at Universal Studios. .June 20, 2013.B583001381Z.1.(George Skene/Orlando Sentinel)

George Skene, Orlando Sentinel

Director Steven Spielberg waves to fans at the opening. Grand opening ceremonies for Transformers ride at Universal Studios. .June 20, 2013.

George Skene / Orlando Sentinel

Grand opening ceremonies for Transformers ride at Universal Studios. .June 20, 2013.B583001381Z.1.(George Skene/Orlando Sentinel)

Brady MacDonald / Los Angeles Times

Megatron and Optimus Prime battle in a 2-D scene inside the Transformers attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood. Note: The 3-D images were temporarily turned to 2-D to allow for photography.

Brady MacDonald / Los Angeles Times

Universal Studios Hollywood visitors are encouraged to push all the buttons and flip all the switches in the Transfomers ride queue.

George Skene / Orlando Sentinel

Grand opening ceremonies for Transformers ride at Universal Studios. .June 20, 2013.B583001381Z.1.(George Skene/Orlando Sentinel)

George Skene / Orlando Sentinel

Grand opening ceremonies for Transformers ride at Universal Studios. .June 20, 2013.B583001381Z.1.(George Skene/Orlando Sentinel)

Brady MacDonald / Los Angeles Times

Visitors will pass through a foyer with the Transformers logo as they enter the attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood.

George Skene / Orlando Sentinel

Peter Cullen, voice of Optimus Prime. Grand opening ceremonies for Transformers ride at Universal Studios. .June 20, 2013.B583001381Z.1.(George Skene/Orlando Sentinel)

Brady MacDonald / Los Angeles Times

The Transformers ride queue at Universal Studios Hollywood fills riders in on the attraction's back story, with rooms dedicated to the Autobots, Decepticons and the recent attack on NEST headquarters.

Brady MacDonald / Los Angeles Times

The cab of a military transport vehicle missing its virtual back end pokes out of a blank screen during a behind-the-scenes tour of the Transformers attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood.

George Skene / Orlando Sentinel

Optimus Prime walks the red carpet. Grand opening ceremonies for Transformers ride at Universal Studios. .June 20, 2013.B583001381Z.1.(George Skene/Orlando Sentinel)

George Skene / Orlando Sentinel

Bumblebee and Optimus Prime drive in front of the attraction. Grand opening ceremonies for Transformers ride at Universal Studios. .June 20, 2013.B583001381Z.1.(George Skene/Orlando Sentinel)

Brady MacDonald / Los Angeles Times

Visitors on the behind-the-scenes tour of the Transformers ride at Universal Studios Hollywood stand in front of a projection screen inside the attraction. Note: The projected image appears fuzzy because it's a 3-D image.

George Skene / Orlando Sentinel

Cori Imandi of Clermont made her own transformer mask. Grand opening ceremonies for Transformers ride at Universal Studios. .June 20, 2013.B583001381Z.1.(George Skene/Orlando Sentinel)

George Skene / Orlando Sentinel

Grand opening ceremonies for Transformers ride at Universal Studios. .June 20, 2013.B583001381Z.1.(George Skene/Orlando Sentinel)

Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel

Optimus Prime now guards the entrance of the yet-to-open Transformers: The Ride -- 3D attraction, which is set for a June 20 grand opening.

George Skene / Orlando Sentinel

Bumblebee walks the red carpet and greets guests. Grand opening ceremonies for Transformers ride at Universal Studios. .June 20, 2013.B583001381Z.1.(George Skene/Orlando Sentinel)

George Skene / Orlando Sentinel

Merchandise shop is at the end of the ride. Grand opening ceremonies for Transformers ride at Universal Studios. .June 20, 2013.B583001381Z.1.(George Skene/Orlando Sentinel)

Brady MacDonald / Los Angeles Times

A hulking 12-seat ride vehicle sits motionless along the Transformers track, seemingly ready to transform into an anthropomorphic robot at any moment.

Brady MacDonald / Los Angeles Times

The heavily themed Transformers queue at Universal Studios Hollywood takes riders through the headquarters of the NEST military organization, which is under attack by the Decepticons.

George Skene / Orlando Sentinel

Grand opening ceremonies for Transformers ride at Universal Studios. .June 20, 2013.B583001381Z.1.(George Skene/Orlando Sentinel)

Brady MacDonald / Los Angeles Times

The ride queue at Universal Studios Hollywood circulates around the AllSpark Chamber, which holds the source of life for all Transformers.

Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel

Optimus Prime now guards the entrance of the yet-to-open Transformers: The Ride -- 3D attraction, which is set for a June 20 grand opening.

Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel

Optimus Prime now guards the entrance of the yet-to-open Transformers: The Ride -- 3D attraction, which is set for a June 20 grand opening.

Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel

The Transformers ride promotion on a downtown building was updated Thursday to reflect the attraction's grand opening date.

The Universal Soldier takes on Universal Orlando's simulator rides. Read his review of Transformers: The Ride-3D:

The pre-show: Much like the Spider-Man and Simpsons rides, the Transformers queue is a bit of a snoozer. Guests wind through the industrial NEST (Nonbiological Extraterrestrial Species Treaty) base while military personnel on TV screens recruit you on a mission to stop the Decepticons. Later down the queue, an onscreen Optimus Prime gives a history lesson about his planet and explains that the pesky Decepticons are back to get the All Spark. The line winds past the All Spark in its futuristic glass canister. (Not a very safe place to keep it, Optimus!) More screens identify the various Autobus and Decepticon members. The flashing red lights near the boarding area mean you’re on high alert, and you need to put on your battle (3D) glasses.

Wait experience: 6/10

The concept: The plot is simple. Decepticons take the All Spark. You retrieve the All Spark. Let's have a mechanical building-crushing wrestling match to see who keeps the All Spark. After entering your car, which happens to be Autobot Evac, you head straight into a security breach. Decepticon Ravage grabs the All Spark, jumps on your car and bounds away. The chase ensues with Evac keeping up a constant banter, giving you instructions on what to do next. As Bumblebee and Sideways fight, Evac (meaning your car) ends up with the All Spark. You speed through the city, often in reverse, while various Autobots and Decepticons tear each other's limbs off in the battle. Megatron chases you, grabs your car and shoots missiles at you. Giant evil vacuum cleaner Devastator sucks you into its garbage disposal maw. And Starscream drags you crashing through skyscrapers. When Megatron grabs you on top of a high rise, Evac shoves the All Spark in his chest. Megatron falls but drags you to the ground with him. The harrowing fall is stopped at the last second by Bumblebee.

Story experience: 6/10

The mechanics: Prepare to be woozy. The same amazing mechanics as the Spider-Man ride are at play on Transformers, allowing for six degrees of freedom, 360-degree spinning and swift track transitions. The track is on two different levels and a vertical transport unit lifts the ride car while keeping guests within the immersive environment. The 13 60-foot-tall, high-definition 3D screens are vibrant and crisp, but the twisting, rolling metal battle is so fast and in your face, trying to keep up with the action may cause a nosebleed. Audio effects, however, are crisp. The squealing tires make for an especially realistic ride through the streets. The signature Transformer super slo-mo explosion shot is a fun addition. Plenty of 4D effects such as smoke, water and fire and practical sets add to the realism. Though similar to Spider-Man in execution, Transformers’ bewildering, overblown 3D action becomes a sensory blur that leaves me with a headache.

Simulator experience: 8/10

Overall experience: 20/30

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The Universal Soldier is on a reconnaissance mission for essential intelligence so that your foray into Universal Orlando Resort is victorious. You can reach him at [email protected]

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