Coaster reviews

Inversions Pace Intensity

This is the most interesting version of Batman. The mirrored layout flips the traditional Batman experience on its head, and the black color scheme is sleek and unique. I love it.

Airtimes Pace Layout

American Thunder is my favorite coaster at this park. Pops of airtime dot around a twisty GCI layout, and the night ride is excellent. The coolest ride operator I can remember gave us the last rides of the night on this one, and I couldn't have been happier.

Pace Layout Duration Rattle

Roar is absolute insanity. It's fast, it's rough, it's twisty, it has tunnels, and it never lets up. My night ride was pitch black and in the middle of a full train, and I knew nothing of the layout, which only made my ride that much more jarring and white knuckle. Never RMC this, give it some GCI retracking and treat it well.

Theming Inversions Pace Harness

These are absolutely the tightest vests I've yet ridden on a B&M, and they ruin what would otherwise be one of the best Wing coasters in the world. Aside from that, the onride theming is top notch, the inversions have excellent hangtime, and the pacing is consistent without any dead spots. It just needs Yukon Striker's vests instead.

Location Fun Smoothness

Schwarzkopf does it again with another custom layout masterpiece, this time as a timeless Jet Star family coaster. The tree covered location is beautiful, making for one of my favorite steel coaster night rides. The amber colored lighting and the glimmer of the classic station makes this feel like a nostalgic, rose tinted ride made with love and care. The forces are noticable, the ride is smooth, and the atmosphere is giggly and fun.

Airtimes Comfort Pace Theming

Does Viper have topper track? Because it's one of the smoothest woodies I've ever ridden. The airtime is excellent, the laterals are great, the pace is consistent, and the PTCs are comfy. Unfortunately, there's no theming, and the ride has no scenery, and the generic layout does it a disservice too. And my biggest problem that it doesn't feel even a little rattly like a real woodie, which makes it much less exciting.

Intensity Too short

Less intense than the version at SFOG, and no terrain interaction or tunnels. Very skippable, as the line is out in the uncovered sun and doesn't move very fast.

Inversions Pace Intensity

This is the best version of Batman and one of the best Inverts I've yet ridden. Fast paced and intense as always, but this version goes above and beyond. The queue theming is the best of the bunch. And most importantly, instead of being at the edge of the park near a parking lot, it's in the center of the park, flying over water and near other attractions. As such, you can see Batman from all angles. This is my favorite coaster at SF Great America, and the best invert at any SF park.

First Drop Inversions Fun Harness

Though I despised this coaster on its announcement and opening, I've learned to appreciate it for what it is now. Valravn became yet another Cedar Point icon, and after you walk past the graceful Gatekeeper and the roaring Raptor, you come upon the intimidating bronze Valravn. It's stunning, beautiful, magnificent even, and is beautifully landscaped. As for the ride, the vests do really suck, but for my body type, they're easy to look past. The first and second drops give great back row airtime, the inversions are all smooth with wonderful hangtime, and there are a couple moments of floater air in the second half. For this smaller footprint, Valravn is the perfect fit for the ever flexing Cedar Point, and perfects the B&M monster bird trio of the twinkling, nostalgic CP midway.

Inversions Pace Intensity

Raptor is the most aggressive invert I've ridden, and it's given me one of my most memorable coaster rides of my life: A trimless front row night ride. It was fast, furious, and relentlessly powerful, with the loop, zero-g, cobra roll, two flat spins, final helix, and the infamous Raptor snap into the brake run trying to kick my ass, and it is so much fun, especially with the new green paint and the gorgeous lighting giving you some visibility in the dark, and the twinkling midway evoking nostalgic images of America's Roller Coast during your ride.