Drafted by BSAArklay
Background
BIOHAZARD Nightmare was a Japan only amusement park attraction. Originally launched in July 18th 1998 lasting a year until July 17th 1999. This blog site suggests that Capcom co-produced with Toei Animation. Nightmare was originally based in Expoland Suita City, Osaka Prefecture. Two years later in 2001 the attraction reopened at Tobu Zoo in Suka, Saitama Prefecture and ran until October 31st 2001. Nightmare was a haunted house (Halloween Horror Nights style) re-creation of biohazard’s Arklay mansion. Featuring the exterior, main hall, corridors, stairway finally ending in a laboratory area. There was an entrance fee of 700 yen (child) 1000 yen (adult). Upon entering you were free to explore the mansion and while zombies would try to jump out and scare you they would even follow you if you tried to get away. The attraction was roughly around 10 minutes in total, there were no guns or interaction with the zombies, simply a walkthrough experience.
BIOHAZARD NIGHTMARE - VHS Capcom Fan-Club
In May 1996 Capcom began their CFC VHS fan club with Volume 001. The videos contained a behind the scenes look at all Capcoms current products including interviews with developers and gameplay footage. In 1998 on Volume 8 the VHS fan club included footage of BIOHAZARD Nightmare. The footage can be seen below many thanks to BiohazardFrance for perserving the footage.
The footage shows us an outdoor live-action performance with actors dressed up as Claire Redfield fighting zombies. Included in the video is a brief look at Nightmare’s interior.
BIOHAZARD NIGHTMARE - VHS Biohazard 2 Figure Video
Credit to japan.boy for uploading images of the Figure and VHS.
In late 98/99 Moby Dick released the Biohazard 2 William Birkin G-Type 2 figure that came with a VHS tape. Similar to the CFC fan club VHS the footage includes a look behind the scenes at various Capcom projects along with developer interviews, however this tape focuses solely on BIOHAZARD. Among the footage is another look at BIOHAZARD Nightmare. Many thanks to BiohazardFrance again for persevering this extremely rare footage.
1998 Expoland Version
Official Website
(First update August 1st 1998 – last update July 24th 1999)
*Caution: Expoland / BH Nightmare is no longer in operation. We will update it as soon as we know the development of the next Nightmare.
What is BIOHAZARD Nightmare?
Experience the escape attraction!
This attraction was built at the amusement park "Expoland" in the Expo Park (south) in Suita City, Osaka Prefecture, and is scheduled to operate for one year from 98/07/18 to 99/07/17.
It's a haunted house re-creation based on Capcom's view of the world of biohazard, but when you actually enter, you will be surprised and the feeling of fear is incomparable. It can be said that it is a real biohazard experience. However, you don't have any weapons, so just run away (laughs). You get to spend about 10 minutes inside. The stage will be the Mansion and Laboratory that appeared in biohazard. The setting of biohazard 2 is not included.
Location of Biohazard Nightmare
What is BIOHAZARD Nightmare?
Experience the escape attraction!
This attraction was built at the amusement park "Expoland" in the Expo Park (south) in Suita City, Osaka Prefecture, and is scheduled to operate for one year from 98/07/18 to 99/07/17.
It's a haunted house re-creation based on Capcom's view of the world of biohazard, but when you actually enter, you will be surprised and the feeling of fear is incomparable. It can be said that it is a real biohazard experience. However, you don't have any weapons, so just run away (laughs). You get to spend about 10 minutes inside. The stage will be the Mansion and Laboratory that appeared in biohazard. The setting of biohazard 2 is not included.
Location of Biohazard Nightmare
First of all, there is a big signboard in the admission ticket office, to get everyone excited.
If you go straight from the entrance of Expoland, you will see a zombie sign. They are posted all over. All of them have arrows so you won't get lost. To be exact, it is located at Picnic Square (the first one). It is located in the south of Expoland, and is on your right when viewed from the front entrance.
After seeing some zombie signs for a while, you should see Nightmare in front of you.
This is Nightmare at night. The atmosphere is good, probably because there are no brightly illuminated attractions in the immediate vicinity. (Summer only)
To enjoy Nightmare
This will get you in shape no matter what. Because there is a probablity of running quite a bit. The zombies never touch the customers... but they come as close as possible. If you run away, they will chase after you! Start running with fear... As many people actually do, get in shape and try not to sit down in the attraction.
It's also crowded, but it is the newest attraction, so there is usually a line. It seems that some have been waiting for more than 2 hours between July 18th and 31st. By the way, I had to wait 40 minutes at 3:00 and 8:00 on Saturday, August 1st when I took this picture. I had to wait for an hour and a half on 8/23 (Sun) after the Bon Festival.
Anyway, it gets crowded around noon in the summer, and it's hot, so it's possible that you won't feel like enjoying the atmosphere. It may be best when the sun goes down. Even if you line up in the queue, it's easy because there is no direct sunlight, and the atmosphere is exciting even before you enter...
Anyway, it gets crowded on Saturdays and Sundays. Aside from those who are far away, let's remove the days and times when it is a little crowded for people in the vicinity.
Please note that night games are only available on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays during August and from September 1st to 15th.
And if you're a bio fan, prepare extra money. Because there is a goods shop at the exit of Nightmare! Some goods are only for Nightmare, and some are new bio goods!
Walkthrough
If I write in too much detail, it will be spoiled and it will not be interesting, so a simple explanation will do.
Ticket vending machines and demo videos are playing near the entrance. If you don't have enough tickets when you line up, buy them here.
If there is a line at the ticket office, there will be a temporary office, so purchase there.
The demo video is just about the notes of the attraction, and the rest is the familiar opening video of biohazard.
To enjoy Nightmare
This will get you in shape no matter what. Because there is a probablity of running quite a bit. The zombies never touch the customers... but they come as close as possible. If you run away, they will chase after you! Start running with fear... As many people actually do, get in shape and try not to sit down in the attraction.
It's also crowded, but it is the newest attraction, so there is usually a line. It seems that some have been waiting for more than 2 hours between July 18th and 31st. By the way, I had to wait 40 minutes at 3:00 and 8:00 on Saturday, August 1st when I took this picture. I had to wait for an hour and a half on 8/23 (Sun) after the Bon Festival.
Anyway, it gets crowded around noon in the summer, and it's hot, so it's possible that you won't feel like enjoying the atmosphere. It may be best when the sun goes down. Even if you line up in the queue, it's easy because there is no direct sunlight, and the atmosphere is exciting even before you enter...
Anyway, it gets crowded on Saturdays and Sundays. Aside from those who are far away, let's remove the days and times when it is a little crowded for people in the vicinity.
Please note that night games are only available on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays during August and from September 1st to 15th.
And if you're a bio fan, prepare extra money. Because there is a goods shop at the exit of Nightmare! Some goods are only for Nightmare, and some are new bio goods!
Walkthrough
If I write in too much detail, it will be spoiled and it will not be interesting, so a simple explanation will do.
Ticket vending machines and demo videos are playing near the entrance. If you don't have enough tickets when you line up, buy them here.
If there is a line at the ticket office, there will be a temporary office, so purchase there.
The demo video is just about the notes of the attraction, and the rest is the familiar opening video of biohazard.
Credit to NewsBot for scans from Famitsu PS (Sep.11, 1998)
Let me briefly introduce the internal structure of the attraction. The entrance is a re-creation of the Mansion entrance of biohazard 1. There are S.T.A.R.S. members inside, and it is set for you to proceed where the members have an "S" mark on the door. The floor is made of wood to give the asthetic of the Mansion, and the passages are decorated with the decorations of biohazard everywhere, such as lamps and paintings, and sometimes you can see walls with blood on them.
Credit to NewsBot for scans from Famitsu PS (Sep.11, 1998)
As an atmosphere, you should think that the narrow and curved passage in the eastern part of the Mansion continues. The interior of the building has two floors, and the stairs leading to the second floor seem to resemble the stairs in the east of the Mansion.
Credit to NewsBot for scans from Famitsu PS (Sep.11, 1998)
There is also a laboratory, and there are many structures that I have seen somewhere before.
Credit to NewsBot for scans from Famitsu PS (Sep.11, 1998)
What happens in the production after that... I want you to see it with your own eyes.
Evolving the attraction
Actually, I had an opportunity to talk with Inafune producer on 8/7, but it seems that Nightmare is improving little by little. In other words, the content is not always the same for the whole year!
If you are a bio fan in the suburbs of Osaka, and could come here often. There may be some changes! Of course, there is a high possibility that the production of fear will be evolved!
Changes have been seen. In addition, there are some variations in how to scare you in order to match the rush, and it seems that the place to scare is constantly changing. This means that you cannot enjoy all the production just once!
Face painting
Evolving the attraction
Actually, I had an opportunity to talk with Inafune producer on 8/7, but it seems that Nightmare is improving little by little. In other words, the content is not always the same for the whole year!
If you are a bio fan in the suburbs of Osaka, and could come here often. There may be some changes! Of course, there is a high possibility that the production of fear will be evolved!
Changes have been seen. In addition, there are some variations in how to scare you in order to match the rush, and it seems that the place to scare is constantly changing. This means that you cannot enjoy all the production just once!
Face painting
How about taking a scream home with you? There is a place where you can get horror makeup in the tent on the side of the suspended coaster "Orochi". Why don't you get your make-up and go home? It costs about 700 to 1000 yen per person. It was only available in the summer and ended by the end of September.
Internal sound
They have also installed internal sound (RealAudio) so that you can enjoy the atmosphere. You should be able to hear it right away. In addition, Nightmare is strictly prohibited against photographs. However, even if you have permission to shoot, if it is unclear and the inside is so dark, it will be difficult to shoot (if it is bright, the atmosphere will be ruined (photos included in magazines).
Expoland Introduction & Location
It's nice to go to Expoland to enjoy Nightmare, but Nightmare lasts less than 10 minutes... It's an amusement park, so enjoy other things too! That's why it was introduced at Expoland.
As the name suggests, "Expo Park Expoland" is located in Senri Expo Park. This Expoland is the site of the Osaka Expo, which was held for the first time in Japan in 1970, and the amusement park facility that opened at the time of the Expo.
Expoland Co., Ltd. 565-0826 1-1 Senri Banpakukoen, Suita City, Osaka Prefecture TEL 06 (6877) 0560
Entrance fee - Adults (13 yrs and over) 1100 yen Children (4-12 yrs) 600 yen
Business hours - 9:30 AM-5: 30PM (Admission is up to 1 hour before closing time)
Night games – Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 09/01 to 09/15 9:00 PM closed
Internal sound
They have also installed internal sound (RealAudio) so that you can enjoy the atmosphere. You should be able to hear it right away. In addition, Nightmare is strictly prohibited against photographs. However, even if you have permission to shoot, if it is unclear and the inside is so dark, it will be difficult to shoot (if it is bright, the atmosphere will be ruined (photos included in magazines).
Expoland Introduction & Location
It's nice to go to Expoland to enjoy Nightmare, but Nightmare lasts less than 10 minutes... It's an amusement park, so enjoy other things too! That's why it was introduced at Expoland.
As the name suggests, "Expo Park Expoland" is located in Senri Expo Park. This Expoland is the site of the Osaka Expo, which was held for the first time in Japan in 1970, and the amusement park facility that opened at the time of the Expo.
Expoland Co., Ltd. 565-0826 1-1 Senri Banpakukoen, Suita City, Osaka Prefecture TEL 06 (6877) 0560
Entrance fee - Adults (13 yrs and over) 1100 yen Children (4-12 yrs) 600 yen
Business hours - 9:30 AM-5: 30PM (Admission is up to 1 hour before closing time)
Night games – Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 09/01 to 09/15 9:00 PM closed
Sega Saturn Magazine 1998 Vol.24
The BIOHAZARD haunted house that we had announced before is finally complete! I immediately visited the horror hall that appeared in Osaka Expoland. The fear can be inferred from the fact that the our staff shed tears and ran away. This time, we will introduce a part of the world of bio that has been faithfully reproduced.
Zombies approaching along the corridor. It doesn't seem to be difficult to escape, but...
Zombies lay in the corridor. Are they going to move anymore? We cannot avoid this and move forward. Be careful and be careful with legs.
They also sell bio-related goods that are also popular with fans. Goods that can only be bought here and are a must Buy!
The beginning is, yes, the staircase. There is also a typewriter, but you can't save.
Cosplayers dressed as R.P.D members. Thank you for your hard work during the attraction.
Zombies approaching from the end of a narrow corridor. These are real actors, so it's a powerful performance.
Of course, the familiar monster, Cerebus, also appears. The crow is also there.
There is tofu in Nightmare! To find out more in the meantime, see our sister magazine released today!
You never know where the monsters and zombies will come from. As seen above.
Yoshiki Okamoto
“My finger is on the trigger ready for the zombies.”
“My finger is on the trigger ready for the zombies.”
Shinji Mikami
“I'm not scared, I'm looking forward to it (by the way, I’m very scared).”
“I'm not scared, I'm looking forward to it (by the way, I’m very scared).”
Keiji Inafune
“There is a real zombie in there look for it! if you find it, it will give you Mikamis signature (lie).“
“There is a real zombie in there look for it! if you find it, it will give you Mikamis signature (lie).“
Famitsu PS (Sep.11, 1998)
Mikami, Okamoto, Sugimura, Inafune Interview
(Credit NewsBot for translating the entire interview found on our Patreon. I would like to quote just the reference to BIOHAZARD Nightmare.)
Inafune: This goes for "Nightmare" as well, but as long as the world of "BIOHAZARD" is solid and they fit that worldview, we don't have to stick to the traditional BIO format. It's okay to have innumerable forms of BIO.
Inafune: This goes for "Nightmare" as well, but as long as the world of "BIOHAZARD" is solid and they fit that worldview, we don't have to stick to the traditional BIO format. It's okay to have innumerable forms of BIO.
Interview with Yoshiki Okamoto and Noboru Sugimura
(Credit to NewsBot for translation available in full at our Patreon)
The interview was published in 1998. Noboru Sugimura and Yoshiki Okamoto state the following:
Sugimura: The BIOHAZARD attraction at ExpoLand, Okamoto and I even went to the attraction's home in the United States to inspect it.
Okamoto: I am very excited about this one, so please look forward to it.
Sugimura mentions a version in the United States as of 98, however I am unable to find any Resident Evil theme park attractions during this time.
The interview was published in 1998. Noboru Sugimura and Yoshiki Okamoto state the following:
Sugimura: The BIOHAZARD attraction at ExpoLand, Okamoto and I even went to the attraction's home in the United States to inspect it.
Okamoto: I am very excited about this one, so please look forward to it.
Sugimura mentions a version in the United States as of 98, however I am unable to find any Resident Evil theme park attractions during this time.
Additionally there are some exclusive images over at BiohazardFrance
2001 Tobu Zoo Version
Official Website
A walk-through horror attraction "BIOHAZARD Nightmare" where you can experience the horrorific world of "BIOHAZARD" is being held at Tobu Zoo in 2001.
The sophistication of a set that realistically reproduces the game environments. Also combining with lighting, sound, and special effects.
A series of horrors with zombies created by special modeling artists and suit actors continue to give the full experience.
The fear of going through a maze-like hall with your own two feet and opening the doors one by one with your own hands.
Can you bear this horror experience!??
■ Place Tobu Zoo 110, Suka, Miyashiro-cho, Minamisaitama-gun, Saitama Prefecture
■ Period until October 31, 2001 (Wednesday)
* Closed for maintenance from June 11th (Monday) to July 6th (Friday)
■ Admission fee 1,000 yen (Admission fee to Tobu Zoo is 1,500 yen for adults [junior high school students and above], 700 yen for children [4 years old and above])
The sophistication of a set that realistically reproduces the game environments. Also combining with lighting, sound, and special effects.
A series of horrors with zombies created by special modeling artists and suit actors continue to give the full experience.
The fear of going through a maze-like hall with your own two feet and opening the doors one by one with your own hands.
Can you bear this horror experience!??
■ Place Tobu Zoo 110, Suka, Miyashiro-cho, Minamisaitama-gun, Saitama Prefecture
■ Period until October 31, 2001 (Wednesday)
* Closed for maintenance from June 11th (Monday) to July 6th (Friday)
■ Admission fee 1,000 yen (Admission fee to Tobu Zoo is 1,500 yen for adults [junior high school students and above], 700 yen for children [4 years old and above])
Photos from various websites
