With more than 150 amusement games and nine rides spanning two storeys and 76,000 sq ft, The Dubai Mall’s newest entertainment centre, Sega Republic may be the city’s most comprehensive arcade (and with prices for the adrenaline-pumping attractions ranging from Dhs15-Dhs30*, it may also be one of the most expensive). Visitors can shoot hoops, or shoot ’em up, free fall down a nine-metre drop, surf, snowboard or sing karaoke. We dropped, spun, flipped and crashed on the various attractions, and nearly lost our lunch in the process.
1 Halfpipe Canyon: A simulated skateboard ride where you get points for any tricks you do at the edge of the ramp. Two can go at a time and compete against each other. Trust me, it’s harder than it looks. My stomach is still sore from all those attempted ollies (180-degree flips, for all you non-dudey types).
Minimum height: 140cm
2 Storm G: This is fun, providing you play it with an empty stomach. It’s a bobsled racing game that lurches and spins as much as 360 degrees. At one point, I found myself upside-down. Sadly, this wasn’t on purpose. Doubly embarrassing as I lost the race to an eight-year-old boy two pods over.
Minimum height: 140cm
3 Initial D4 Limited. OK, this was cool. Sega flew in real cars for this racing game, and you can even choose between manual and automatic. The experience was so real I had driving flashbacks (after four accidents in a row in my first car, I pretty much gave up on driving. Needless to say, I didn’t fare too well in this game, either).
Minimum height: 110cm for passengers, 140cm for drivers
4 Spin Gear: A ride with a plot (well, sort of). The idea is that Sonic’s nemesis, Dr Eggman, has created an evil machine to capture Sonic. It would undoubtedly work too; a full minute of spinning through the track would probably make the hedgehog too sick to move.
Minimum height: 110cm
5 Sports Zone: Part of the Redemption Zone, the Sports Zone boasts virtual versions of pretty much every game imaginable. I missed physically knocking down pins in virtual bowling, so switched over to billibowl, a game that combines billiards with bowling.
No restrictions
6 Sonic Hopper: Your classic free-fall ride, though to spice things up, the Sega Republic engineers have made it twist on the way down. The nine-metre drop is meant to mimic Sonic’s signature hop.
Minimum height: 90cm
Sega Republic (04 448 8484; enquiries@segarepublic.com; www.segarepublic.com). The Dubai Mall, 2nd floor. Open Thu-Sat 10am-midnight, Sun-Wed 10am-10pm. Power Pass* costs Dhs100 and gives unlimited access to all nine rides for the entire day (available for a limited time only). A Pay-and-Play Pass*, which you top up, is available at a minimum start charge of Dhs10, with the various attractions ranging from Dhs15 to Dhs30. * Prices are subject to change.
