The Wild West Shoot Out is the u.ks first laser operated car ride, so grab your gun and come on down yonder Cactus Valley for some Rootin' Tootin' Shootin'

The principal is to use a lazar gun to try and hit a series of targets around cactus valley (in other words Lazar Tag on wheels!) Since many more rides of the genre have opened with Alton Towers being blessed by Duel (reincarnation of the Haunted House) and Chessington with Tomb Blaster (reincarnation of the Terror Tom which was itself a revamp of the Fifth Dimmension). However while these rides are longer and more extensive, both example seem slightly patchy proving that a leopard cannot hide its spots. In other words they feel like their former rides with the addition of fairy lights intrudung on the required atmosphere and plastic guns bodged on. Luckily The Wild West shootout was never anything but an interactive dark ride leading to a more complete experience in which hititng the bulls eye of a target invariably triggers an interactive effect-for example tin cans fall over while signs whirl round.

In true Drayton Manor fasion she completely clashes with her surrounding perched next to the Haunting and opposite Apocalypse, however we soon forget this as we near the station. The queue is little more than a cattle (or biason) grid, however when topped off by a straw roof and a water mill below it has a surprisingly happy go lucky effect, not to mention the irritatingly jolly overture. So far riders may conclude that this is going to be a candied family experience, which is correct, however it is perhaps deseptively difficult and harder than either of the other examples in the UK. While the others plant targets nilly willy, here they are strategically placed amoungst the scenary many they are comparititively few and far between and lead to a more refined look. It is also remembeing that ideally you want to place the gun head on a horizontal plane to the target as this eems to be the most effective way of hitting them.

As can be expected of this type of ride the experience is greatly enhanced when riding with friends or family as this adds an extra competetive edge. Each target can only get hit once by riders in a given car. Therefore it is best to sit in the front as otherwise you risk shooting at dud targets the rider in front has already hit.

As we round a bend we hope to enter another equally mad cap scene ,but to no aveil. It is perhaps a shame that the ride is quite short and only features a single scene. The final attraction (or dettraction depending on your success)is to see a score board. The flash display marks the winner while the high score of the day, month and year are also displayed.

CF / MM / DMP Plus /