Poseidon's Fury (originally known as Poseidon's Fury: Escape from the Lost City), was a part-show part-walkthrough that was located in the Lost Continent area of Universal's Islands of Adventure. Unlike the vast majority of attractions Universal has put out in the past, this was among the very few to not be based off of an intellectual property. Instead, the attraction was an original creation that takes inspiration from Classical Mythology.
When the attraction opened with the park on May 28, 1999, its story was based around a tour of the Temple of Poseidon, led by an eccentric yet kind old man known as "The Keeper". He begins by weaving the tale of the Greek gods, specifically mentioning a great battle that occurred 10,000 years ago between Zeus and his evil brother, Poseidon. After that, he leads the guests through the temple until things take a different turn when they find themselves transported to the underwater city of Atlantis. There, they are met with none other than Poseidon himself (voiced by Jeremy Irons). Immediately, he reveals his sinister intentions to force the guests into serving as his own personal army that he will use to exact his revenge on Zeus. The Keeper, not willing to let this happen, sheds his human form, revealing himself to be Zeus (voiced by Earl Boen). The two gods engage in yet another battle, and in the end Zeus emerges triumphant as he banishes Poseidon away and transports the guests back to where they started.
Due to low guest ratings, the attraction was given an overhaul in 2001 that, while keeping most of its sets and special effects intact, saw its storyline completely revamped. In the new version, Poseidon now serves as the hero of the attraction, while the role of the villain is given to a new character known as Lord Darkenon (played by Jeffrey Combs). The premise of the attraction was changed to have it be set in the present day, focusing on the "Global Discovery Group", an archaeologist group that's investigating the recently-resurfaced temple. Guests are introduced to Taylor, a geeky young adult who ends up being the one to give guests a tour of the temple when the group's leader, Professor Baxter, disappears under mysterious circumstances. Guests are first given details of how Poseidon and Darkenon became enemies along with the destructive war that erupted between them. After that, much like the original attraction, things start to take a turn for the worse when Taylor accidentally reads a spell that reawakens Darkenon. He traps everyone within one of the temple's secret chambers, only allowing their freedom if they are able to find Poseidon's trident. From here, the story eventually leads up into Poseidon too being reawakened and clashing with Darkenon once more in a huge showdown.
Though not among the park's most popular destinations, the attraction was known well among guests and fans for its impressive use of special effects; its biggest highlight being the "water vortex", a tunnel surrounded by flowing water that the guests walk under to get to the main show room. note
On April 11, 2023, Universal Orlando announced the closure of the show
set for May 9th that year. It is unknown what would replace it as well as the future of the Lost Continent land itself.
Tropes shown in Poseidon's Fury include:
- Adaptational Heroism: Unlike the original version of attraction, Poseidon serves as the protagonist of the attraction.
- And Your Little Dog, Too!: When Poseidon is set free, Darkenon tells him that he'll begin his revenge against him by destroying his "precious mortals" (the audience).
- Anti-Magic: When she is summoned, the Guardian of the Temple states that she is unable to set the guests free, as Darkenon put a locking spell on the chamber doors that's impervious to magic.
- Attack Reflector: During the climatic battle, Poseidon is able to use his trident to reflect Darkenon's fireballs right back at him.
- Big Bad: Lord Darkenon serves as the main enemy force against both the guests and Poseidon.
- Big "NO!":
- Over a radio transmission, Professor Baxter screams this just as the mystical forces of the temple come for him.
- Darkenon does one when Taylor releases Poseidon from captivity.
- Big "NEVER!": When Poseidon demands that Darkenon surrender, he responds with this.
- Blade Lock: During Poseidon and Darkenon's final duel, their weapons lock with each other, creating a glowing effect. The two exchange a few words between one another before breaking the lock off.
- Bold Explorer: The premise of the attraction is that an organization known as the "Global Discovery Group" is exploring an ancient temple in order to get as much information and artifacts out of it as they can.
- Bread, Eggs, Milk, Squick: When Taylor is looking at everything that's in the secret chamber, they state, "There's gold and silver...and there's a head on a stick!
- Canon Foreigner: Darkenon does not come from any form of Greek mythology, instead being created just for this attraction.
- Cat Scare: In the first scene when the lights go out, this occurs when Taylor sets off a loud noise while trying to find a light. It's revealed soon after that the loud noise was just due to Taylor hitting the wrong button on their megaphone.
- Cross-Cast Role: Taylor can be played by a male or female member of the park.
- Dark Is Evil: As suggested by his name, you can pretty much expect darkness whenever Darkenon is involved. In comparison, Poseidon always has a bright aura around him.
- "Darkness von Gothick" Name: The word "Dark" is a part of not only Darkenon's name, but also the entity that gave him his powers, "The Dark One".
- Defeat Equals Explosion: Darkenon is finally killed when Poseidon lands a blow on him with his trident, due to the sheer power of the trident causing him to explode.
- Evil Is Burning Hot: The villainous Darkenon uses fire, contrasting with how the heroic Poseidon uses water.
- Evil Is Hammy: Darkenon knows he's the evil villain and he loves to express just how bad he is.
- Evil Laugh: Done constantly by Darkenon throughout the attraction.
- False Friend: The backstory explains that Darkenon was once Poseidon's trusted high priest before his betrayal.
- Final Battle: In the attraction's climax has Poseidon and Darkenon battling each other once again and for the last time.Darkenon: This battle began a thousand years ago! We will end it here! Once and for all!
- Gender-Blender Name: The guide is given a gender neutral name (Taylor) so the role can be played by either a male or female employee.
- Greater-Scope Villain: “The Dark One,” who gave Lord Darkenon the power to challenge Poseidon.
- Human Sacrifice: In the backstory, it's said that Darkenon sealed many of Poseidon's associates in a chamber and used them all as sacrifices to his own god, known simply as “The Dark One.” As a result of this, he was granted god-like powers.
- I'll Kill You!: Twice in the climax Darkenon states his intention to destroy not only Poseidon, but everyone.
- First when he hears Poseidon's voice:
- Then when Poseidon is fully released:
Poseidon: I have returned, Darkenon! Now you will pay for your murderous ways! - Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy: When Taylor moves to free Poseidon with the trident, Darkenon attempts to throw fireballs at them, but is very much off the mark.
- Imminent Danger Clue: It's when Taylor notices that the secret chamber is filled with skeletons that the doors to the chamber shut, sealing the audience off from escaping; the implication now being clear that those skeletons were likely of those that suffered the same fate.
- Lured into a Trap: Darkenon traps Taylor and the audience in the secret chamber by luring them there under the promise that they'll find Professor Baxter.
- MacGuffin: The trident is wanted by both Poseidon and Darkenon, the former needs it so that he can be freed, and the latter wants it so that he can achieve the ultimate power.
- Make My Monster Grow: In the climax, Darkenon makes himself bigger in an attempt to intimidate Taylor, and again for his battle with Poseidon.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: It's revealed that when Taylor read a hidden inscription written across the walls, it caused a spell to be triggered that released Darkenon once more.
- Obviously Evil: Darkenon's appearance is basically as if a vampire, a corrupt ancient soldier, and Emperor Palpatine were all combined to form one entity of pure evil.
- An Offer You Can't Refuse: Darkenon demands unconditionally that Taylor locates the trident for him, shouting, "Find the trident, or DIE!", along with, "Find the trident! Or take my secrets to the grave!"
- Physical God:
- In return for his sacrificing of Poseidon's associates, Darkenon was granted powers that make him rival Poseidon himself.
- Obviously, Poseidon himself also counts.
- Playing with Fire: Darkenon's primary power is that of bending fire, an ability that he uses throughout the climax.
- Prongs of Poseidon: Poseidon's trident plays a huge part in the attraction, as it's the key to reawakening Poseidon, and it's also the very weapon Darkenon wants for his own needs.
- Punctuated! For! Emphasis!: Just before Taylor uses the trident to free Poseidon, Darkenon desperately yells, "GIVE. ME. THAT. TRIDENT!!!"
- Reports of My Death Were Greatly Exaggerated: At the end of the attraction, Professor Baxter, who earlier was implied to have been killed, sends another radio transmission, stating that he made it out okay.
- Scenery Gorn: For both versions of the attraction, the front facade is themed as the ancient ruins of the Temple of Poseidon, with things such as giant crumpled statues laying around; and while it's meant to look like decaying ruins, it is at the same time utterly gorgeous to look at.
- Schmuck Bait: Taylor ends up leading the audience right into a trap when Darkenon tells them to enter the secret chamber in order to get Professor Baxter, even though Baxter very adamantly told everyone to leave the temple, and along with that Taylor mentions how evil and untrustworthy Darkenon's voice sounds.
- Sealed Evil in a Can: Though it's not explained how he wound up in such a state, Darkenon is initially depicted as being in a dormant state before Taylor accidentally reawakens him.
- Sealed Good in a Can: It's shown that Poseidon's essence is trapped in a statue, and needs the trident to be placed on it in order to be freed.
- Shout-Out: During the scene where Darkenon is first released:Darkenon: You search for your master... (referring to Professor Baxter)Taylor: ...Yoda?...
- Silence, You Fool!: Darkenon yells this when Taylor tries to explain that it was apparently they that awakened him.
- Sword Fight: The final part of Poseidon and Darkenon's confrontation having a sword fight, with Poseidon using his trident as a sword.
- Tempting Fate: When Taylor loses contact with Baxter, they say to the audience, "Things can't any worse!" The lights then go out, to which they respond, "...they're worse."
- This Is No Time to Panic: Taylor quickly tries to tell the audience this in the first scene, incidentally just before things start to get more chaotic.
- This Cannot Be!: When Poseidon is able to easily douse the fires Darkenon created, he exclaims, "IMPOSSIBLE!"
- This Way to Certain Death: While in the secret chamber, Taylor tells the audience not to touch anything, as the skeletons lying around seem to imply that there may be booby traps.
- Threat Backfire: This occurs twice in the climax:
- When Darkenon demands that Taylor hand over the trident:
Darkenon: By the power of the Dark Ones, I order you, give me that trident!Taylor: Over my dead body!Darkenon: With pleasure.- Then when he demands for the trident a second time:
Darkenon: Give it to me now!Taylor: I'll die first!Darkenon: Then DIE! - Understatement: After receiving Professor Baxter's frantic order to evacuate the temple and hearing him scream as the transmission cuts out, Taylor simply mutters, "Okay, well...that's not good."
- Updated Re Release: The attraction was revamped into this version in 2001.
- Victory Pose: After succeeding in destroying Darkenon, Poseidon faces the audience and triumphantly raises his trident into the air, shouting, "It is done!"
- Adaptational Villainy: Poseidon is depicted as a straight up villain here.
- Atlantis: The whole premise of the attraction has guests venturing into Atlantis, which just so happens to be the evil lair of Poseidon.
- Best Served Cold: It's explained that Poseidon has been waiting for 10,000 years to finally get back at Zeus while trapped in his underwater prison.
- Big Bad: The original version has Poseidon as the primary antagonist.
- Big Good: Zeus is the secret hero who comes to save the day in the end. The attraction's designers mentioned that they purposely made it so Zeus is the embodiment of all that is good up against Poseidon, who here is the embodiment of all that is evil.
- Chariot Pulled by Cats: Poseidon at one point is shown using sea turtles to pull his underwater chariot.
- Collapsing Lair: Just after Zeus defeats Poseidon, Atlantis begins to crumble apart, resulting in Zeus teleporting the guests out.
- Cool Gate: The guests are able to get to Atlantis by entering a "water vortex" tunnel portal (in the current version it's merely a special secret passage to the heart of the temple).
- Dark Is Evil: The dark, under-the-ocean appearance of Atlantis and Poseidon is meant to clash with the how bright and angelic Zeus looks.
- Divine Conflict: Plain and simple, the original version was all about Zeus vs. Poseidon, with the backstory explaining how huge their initial battle was, and the climax of the attraction having the two face-off once more.
- Eccentric Mentor: While a bit on the kooky side, The Keeper is also quite well-meaning and knowledgeable.
- Evil Is Burning Hot: Inverted. The heroic Zeus uses fire while the evil Poseidon uses water.
- Evil Laugh: The Poseidon does one just when he thinks he's beaten Zeus.
- Evil Sounds Deep: The Big Bad Poseidon has a much deeper voice than the Big Good Zeus.
- Glowing Eyes of Doom: As he fights back against Zeus, Poseidon's eyes progressively glow more red as he denounces Zeus as being a pathetic old man.
- God in Human Form: It's revealed in the climax that The Keeper was Zeus in disguise all along.
- Horse of a Different Color: Being underwater and all, Poseidon uses sea turtles to pull his chariot instead of horses.
- Humans Are Insects: Poseidon makes it clear that he does not think highly of humans, viewing them as "insignificant" and taking amusement in the fact that Zeus would disguise himself as one.
- Jerkass Gods: Again, Poseidon.
- Made of Explodium: When Atlantis begins collapsing, it begins to cause parts of the temple to explode, despite it all being underwater.
- Mass Teleportation: Zeus saves the guests from the collapsing Atlantis by teleporting them all back to where they started at.
- Our Mermaids Are Different: While the mermaids here were depicted as they usually are in fairy tales, Poseidon was depicted as being a much more monstrous-looking merman, having green skin and features that combine aspects of various sea creatures.
- Sadly Mythtaken: While Poseidon wasn't the best guy around in the original myths, he certainly wasn't pure evil; he was no better or worse than Zeus was. The idea of representing Zeus as all that is good, considering much of what he's famous for in pop culture, is also a little hard to swallow.
- Sibling Rivalry: This version of the attracted depicted Zeus and the Poseidon as enemies.
- Silence, You Fool!: Poseidon utters this in response to Zeus mocking him for never learning his lesson even 10,000 years later.
- Slave Mooks: What Poseidon intends on making on making the guests into, so he can build up an army to take down Zeus.
- We Will Meet Again: As Zeus blasts him away, Poseidon assures that he will return once again for his revenge.
- Who Dares?: When the Keeper briefly speaks of Zeus, Poseidon angrily responds, "You dare mention that name!"
