Futuroscope recently invited us to experience their €20 million attraction Objectif Mars, known as Destination Mars in English, a new double launch spinning roller coaster by Intamin.

The park is located near Poitiers in France, set in a futuristic landscape, a different kind of theme park experience with an array of technology based attractions including 3D, 4D, 4K and IMAX experiences, motion simulators, projection domes and a flying theatre.

We were staying at one of the onsite hotels, just a short walk to the park.

Our first stop was to pick up a couple of translation devices from the welcome area, which are very helpful for some of the attractions and shows if you don't speak French. They're free to use, but you need to bring your own headphones. They work quite well, although you also need an app for translation at other attractions. It would be so much easier if everything was available on both services.

As we made our way out into the park, the enthusiastic Bokale Brass Band welcomed visitors, creating a lively atmosphere.

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Objectif Mars is located on the far side of the park and it wasn't due to open until the afternoon, so we started our day with the attractions nearest the entrance including The Extraordinary Journey, a very good flying theatre, and The Time Machine, a brilliant dark ride featuring the Raving Rabbids - from the video game series. This area also includes the Cosmic Collisions planetarium and Dynamic Vienne 4D cinema.

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With relatively long wait times for these attractions, it was already approaching lunch time, so we used the sweeping raised walkway that takes visitors over to the other side the park where most of the restaurants are located.

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We enjoyed lunch at the ultra-stylish new restaurant l’Atelier des Saveurs, decorated with various themed elements based on popular attractions at the park. It provides full table service and offers a well-priced set menu at €20 (€12 for children under 12 years old), as well as à la carte options. We chose a tasty vegan burger with vegetable crisps and a creamy carbonara with locally-made pasta. The star of the meal was our dessert, 'Mission Mars', a solar system on a plate - with the planets created using ice cream, sorbet and chocolate spheres filled with salted caramel.

Entertainment is provided by a 'virtual band' - a clever use of pre-recorded live performances shown on large high resolution screens placed on a stage complete with props and lighting effects. Separate from the main dining area and bar, there's even a train carriage themed seating area, plus an outdoor patio.

The food was superb, the service was attentive, and the environment was relaxed. We would certainly recommended eating here.

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To allow time for our lunch to go down, we decided to take in a show and opted for The Mysteries of the Kube, which brings together video-mapping and impressive acrobatics. The other main indoor show, IllusiO, features the magician Bertran Lotth.

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With no sign of Objectif Mars opening yet, due to technical difficulties, we headed to the other attractions in that area of the park. Arthur: The 4D Adventure is a fun motion simulator with an array of special effects, and Dances with Robots is a totally mad attraction that consists of a giant 'nightclub' hosted by DJ Martin Solveig where riders are attached to a robotic arm that takes you through a synchronised routine of rotations, flips, twists and rolls set to a thumping dance music soundtrack - we absolutely loved it!

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For families, popular attractions at this end of the park include Ice Age and Kinékid, the 4D and 3D films, but by far the best part of Futuroscope for children is Futuropolis. This brilliant area opened in 2019 and includes 21 attractions especially for kids, with some unusual self-operated rides as well as the more common powered ones. It's described as a 'city of the future' where children get to be grown-ups and learn through play. They can be a lifeguard or a firefighter, get behind the wheel of a zero-emission vehicle, or experiment with physics.

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Objectif Mars

It was finally time to experience Objectif Mars, the first roller coaster at Futuroscope and their biggest investment since the creation of the park.

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The theme for this family-friendly attraction is a space training centre, that allows visitors to put themselves in the shoes of an astronaut and test their ability to go on a mission to the red planet. This is conveyed in the queue, which includes a series of interactive displays about space travel, both outside and inside the building.

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Each train consists of 3 carriages that seat 4 people, with a total of 12 riders per train. At specific moments during the ride, the carriages either rotate in a controlled way or spin freely, resulting in an unpredictable experience that's different every time. 

The ride begins with a series of indoor sections; a briefing room with a holographic projection of a robot, a simulated solar eruption using actual fire, the impression of passing through an electromagnetic field, and finally a simulated space launch.

Moving outdoors, the roller coaster then launches up to 35 mph (55 km/h) and the carriages begin to spin. Halfway through the course the train enters a tunnel for the second launch, which depending on how the cars have been spinning so far may be taken forwards, backwards or sideways. As the ride appears to be coming to an end, upon entering a 'gravity area' there's a final indoor element... a vertical freefall drop!

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Objectif Mars is an excellent family-friendly roller coaster because it brings together so many different elements and effects into one ride. It's fun and exciting, and because there's so much going on it immediately makes you want to have another go, with the added bonus that because of the free-spinning sections, your next ride won't be exactly the same. We tried it at the front and back of the train, to feel the different sensations.

The complexity of the ride, with so many coordinated elements, is probably why it wasn't able to open until later in the day, and after a few hours it closed again. Teething problems are common on new attractions, especially ones as complex as this, and they will no doubt be resolved soon.

Futuroscope, working with Intamin, has done well to create something so unique and which fits perfectly with the ethos of the park.

After the ride, there's a well-stocked shop packed with Objectif Mars branded souvenirs and gifts, but on-ride photos were not yet available.

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Following the excitement of Objectif Mars, we took time to relax and enjoy wonderful views of the park, on the Gyrotour observation tower and Aerobar floating bar. The latter is a wonderful experience, with up to 12 people at a time securely seated around a ring-shaped bar that ascends to 35 metres (115 feet) while you enjoy your drinks.

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We had time for a few of the other attractions then have dinner at Comptoirs du Monde, with a diverse menu of food from around the world.

Our day at Futurosope came to an end with La Forge aux Étoiles, their evening show created by Cirque du Soleil, featuring illuminated water fountains and fireworks.

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We were guests of Futuroscope for the purposes of this review, so our tickets and lunch were provided by the park. Tickets are available online from just €36 per adult, book here.