Reviews • Sean R.

Superman was something special...I can see why it rated so highly in the past. It felt a lot like Millennium Force on a slightly smaller frame, but ha...

Superman was something special...I can see why it rated so highly in the past. It felt a lot like Millennium Force on a slightly smaller frame, but had a better combination of airtime elements and was more dynamic overall. In it's prime, this would've been a top 5 for me, but there was a noticeable rattle and my knees took a bit of a beating, so while immensely enjoyable, I can't rate it as high as others with a similar profile. I really like Intamin hypers - they aren't as smooth as the B&M's but they feel more dangerous, which I really like.

Wicked Cyclone has so much going on in such a seemingly small frame. It's not in my top 5 RMC's on any standard measure, and yet, I had feels and thri...

Wicked Cyclone has so much going on in such a seemingly small frame. It's not in my top 5 RMC's on any standard measure, and yet, I had feels and thrills I've never experienced on any RMC (or any coaster for that matter.) The dimensions of WC are modest, but the ride seemingly goes on and on...and there isn't a dull moment that I can recall. Pacing was great, lots of elements, layout is very nicely done. Only got on it once due to weather...really want to try this one again.

Short and sweet stand-up with good forces throughout. It was relatively short, but I felt this was just the right length as any more would've been too...

Short and sweet stand-up with good forces throughout. It was relatively short, but I felt this was just the right length as any more would've been too much headbanging to tolerate.

Fury 325 is everything it was hyped to be. First hill was stellar, but the speed is what separates it from almost all others. Five rides across the da...

Fury 325 is everything it was hyped to be. First hill was stellar, but the speed is what separates it from almost all others. Five rides across the day. Front row for ride one, back row, seat 4 for the final ride - an all-time favorite.

I'm being a bit hypercritical with this review, but Diamondback just didn't do it for me. The aesthetics, operations, water feature and location withi...

I'm being a bit hypercritical with this review, but Diamondback just didn't do it for me. The aesthetics, operations, water feature and location within the park are all stellar. Beyond these elements, I found Diamondback to be underwhelming. Two things are likely skewing my pov: 1. I went on Diamondback immediately after Orion and everything felt slightly subdued by comparison (I did this with Leviathan and Behemoth last month with similar effect.) 2: I think the B&M hypers are a format that's begun to fatigue for me. I love the concept and have come to appreciate the airtimes more and more, but when the trims are hitting hard (as they were on my ride), it feels like the ride is deliberately trying to throttle back levels of intensity and enjoyment and I just can't get my head around this. Ensuring safety and finding a reasonable accessible level of intensity for a broader set of riders makes sense to a degree, but knocking 20+ mph off the pace of things and bringing things to a near standstill are another thing altogether. Wanted to love this ride more than I did...next time I go to KI, I'll ride it first and hopefully that will allow me to appreciate it more.

I came into Banshee with a lot of B&M Hypers under my belt over the past 12 months and a diminishing interest in the format as rides started to feel s...

I came into Banshee with a lot of B&M Hypers under my belt over the past 12 months and a diminishing interest in the format as rides started to feel similar if not same (or exact in the case of Batman clones.) So with low expectations, Banshee completely overdelivered for me. It was my last ride of the day at King's Island and somehow, it's intensity exceeded anything else I experienced during the day. While others have complained in a lack of whippiness - I actually appreciated that not every inversion had a high whip and that there was nuance throughout the ride. The scale and speed also felt grander than any other invert out there...maybe Alpengeist can compete on size, but Banshee was packed front to finish. It's my new #1 invert hands-down.

The Beast was an absolute Beast! What a marvel of a coaster. I loved it - and can only imagine how stellar it was in its prime. It must've been unlike...

The Beast was an absolute Beast! What a marvel of a coaster. I loved it - and can only imagine how stellar it was in its prime. It must've been unlike anything else in an era dominated by Arrow loopers. The length, intensity, and especially the pacing throughout are solid...I make exception for pacing on the lift hills as a ride of this length deserves some grace in that regard. Until my backseat, nighttime ride on Mystic Timbers (the second ride of the day) I was ready to give Beast the trophy for best wooden coaster at the park. I'm still not sure it doesn't deserve this title.

My 4th Giga in North America (only Fury to go!)...Orion was probably my least favorite by a smidge, but I loved it, nonetheless. My ranking is more a ...

My 4th Giga in North America (only Fury to go!)...Orion was probably my least favorite by a smidge, but I loved it, nonetheless. My ranking is more a testimony to the others than a dig on Orion. Leviathan benefitted from being my first B&M and I give it a slight advantage over Orion on the first hill and speed/pacing throughout, Millennium Force was the most fun/best views. I305 just hits different. Orion has a ton of great moments beyond the first drop and fantastic theming. But it didn't scare me on the quite same level of other gigas. The first over-banked hill/turn was pretty cool and at such a great height, had great potential. But like a lot of things on Orion - it lacked that supreme punch I've gotten from the others. This is kind of the general theme overall...Orion traverses the track in a methodical manner that is big, smooth and graceful, but its a degree down on intensity after the first drop. More intensity than most, but not more than the other gigas. I rode in the 3rd row on the first ride, back row on the second - the back row was unbelievable as you'd expect.

This was so much better than I expected. Dueling out-and-backs are typically a yawn for me. But I found Racer to be relatively smooth with great airti...

This was so much better than I expected. Dueling out-and-backs are typically a yawn for me. But I found Racer to be relatively smooth with great airtime - a favorite in the format for me.

Rode it twice...might as well have been two different coasters. left side/2nd seat on ride one, right sight/back row on ride two. Ride one was fine, R...

Rode it twice...might as well have been two different coasters. left side/2nd seat on ride one, right sight/back row on ride two. Ride one was fine, Ride Two was amazing. Wicked intensity pacing, and airtimes. Great layout...modest theming (despite concerted effort.) The first of three wooden coasters I rode at KI. Might be the best trio I've experienced, anywhere. Thunderhead still my favorite GCI.

Went on Gemini Blue on my first visit to Cedar Point a year ago. Hit Blue and Red on this visit, so I'l give the review on Red here. Ultimately, I lik...

Went on Gemini Blue on my first visit to Cedar Point a year ago. Hit Blue and Red on this visit, so I'l give the review on Red here. Ultimately, I liked Gemini on both sides a lot more this year than my ride on Blue last year. I rode with my daughter and another friend/daughter and the joy from the kids definitely had a positive impact on the parents (including me.) There's nothing too profound about the ride, but it's got enough pop to it to make it worth a ride. And if lines were short like today, you'll get a few good rides in without losing too much time at the park (where there are admittedly better options abound.) The Red side was more fun as we remarkable caught up to and outpaced Blue...AND my daughter high-fived some folks on Blue as we went by, which was a really cool moment for her. In the end, Gemini is right in the middle of the pack in a park filled with some great rides...it is generally fun, but even more so if you get to experience it with younger riders where the novelty of racing makes a difference.

Rougarou hit pretty hard for me. It was a much more dynamic ride than reviews would have suggested. I wasn't quite ready for its intensity and actuall...

Rougarou hit pretty hard for me. It was a much more dynamic ride than reviews would have suggested. I wasn't quite ready for its intensity and actually enjoyed this pleasant surprise quite a bit. Maybe it was my outside seat in the back that made the difference? I honestly don't know. But it had a seemingly unlimited combo of inversions and felt extremely forceful. The walkway across the moat was a nice touch as well...everything on the walkway moved just a little too much to feel comfortable - I loved this. Rougourou deserves a lot more love than it receives...

I was told you had to ride this before you moved on to all the bigger rides at Cedar Point to appreciate how far things have come with coasters over t...

I was told you had to ride this before you moved on to all the bigger rides at Cedar Point to appreciate how far things have come with coasters over the years. I should have ignored this guidance. This ride was awful for me and my family. Jarring, rickety and without any notable joy or intensity. It nearly made me sick...and absent any childhood nostalgia, I found no redeeming qualities in this ride.

I felt like Goldilocks on this RMC. Twisted Cyclone was too short, Steel Vengeance was too long (and intense), Twisted Timbers was just the right leng...

I felt like Goldilocks on this RMC. Twisted Cyclone was too short, Steel Vengeance was too long (and intense), Twisted Timbers was just the right length. The first hill is pretty special and the third row of hills came after I thought we were going to slow into the station...a nice surprise and what really separated this from Twisted Cyclone for me. A very repeatable ride...we hit it a few times. Back was better than front - but both are a blast.

What an absolute joy of a ride. It's not quite on the level of the B&M giga-coasters and nothing hits like i305...but Millennium Force is still a top ...

What an absolute joy of a ride. It's not quite on the level of the B&M giga-coasters and nothing hits like i305...but Millennium Force is still a top tier, world class coaster. It was my favorite ride at the park today...it's approachably intense and wicked fun. A legend that lived up to the hype...

Beautiful layout and location. A nice opener to the park and a good ride overall, but it was missing something for me that I can't quite put my finger...

Beautiful layout and location. A nice opener to the park and a good ride overall, but it was missing something for me that I can't quite put my finger on. If I had to choose within the format, I like Wild Eagle more...

A steady as-they-go B&M hyper that lands somewhere between enjoyable and excitable...but not on the same level as Leviathan across the park, which pro...

A steady as-they-go B&M hyper that lands somewhere between enjoyable and excitable...but not on the same level as Leviathan across the park, which probably hurts it's standing amongst riders. Add in that it's a bit all-too-familiar to other B&M hypers and lacks a truly defining moment or element and you get something that is really good, not great.. Zipping along the water was pretty cool and there's nothing bad about this ride...but it’s a distant #2 or #3 in the park from my view.

I’ve always wanted to like arrow suspended coasters more than I actually have. The Big Bad Wolf was my first and despite the hype and nostalgia, it ne...

I’ve always wanted to like arrow suspended coasters more than I actually have. The Big Bad Wolf was my first and despite the hype and nostalgia, it never did it for me. Vortex is an old version without hype or nostalgia…I found it clunky and forceless. I think the two 6 year olds in front of me loved it…so it’s worth keeping around for that reason alone…but it was pretty pointless otherwise.

My first B&M giga coaster and I absolutely loved it! A really different experience than Intamin giga coasters - awesome in different ways, aside from ...

My first B&M giga coaster and I absolutely loved it! A really different experience than Intamin giga coasters - awesome in different ways, aside from the first drop which is just unbelievable on either a B&M or an Intamin at this size. Got front row seats on both rides - have heard the back is even better, but front was absolutely amazing. Can't imagine this being any more fun outside of being a bit longer, which is what Fury apparently gives us. With that said, didn't mind the length - it only goes by fast because you're rocking at 90+ mph most of the ride! 10 out of 10.

Pretty solid GCI...nice laterals, solid pacing, and pretty enjoyable throughout...missing that next gear, though. I'm still putting Thunderhead at Dol...

Pretty solid GCI...nice laterals, solid pacing, and pretty enjoyable throughout...missing that next gear, though. I'm still putting Thunderhead at Dollywood as my favorite amongst the CGI roster.

Titan has all the stats to be absolutely spectacular - and it is a really fun ride, but it's just not in the same league as B&M and Intamin coasters o...

Titan has all the stats to be absolutely spectacular - and it is a really fun ride, but it's just not in the same league as B&M and Intamin coasters of this size/stature. I think this is why it gets so much criticism. The first hill is great, the helix is really great - and I can actually deal with the MCBR. Overall, it's just so janky by comparison to modern hypers. Granted - it is over 20 years old, so it deserves a little slack, but I'm not sure this would have ever been considered a "great" coaster.

Really easy to get on. But generally speaking, this ride didn't do it for me. The racing element added a little bit to an otherwise dull experience. I...

Really easy to get on. But generally speaking, this ride didn't do it for me. The racing element added a little bit to an otherwise dull experience. I rode this in between riding Maverick and Steel Vengeance, so it understandably felt a bit pedestrian. But I think this just might be a boring wooden roller-coaster.

I waited over 30 years to go on this after seeing it in Time Magazine when I was a young teenager. The location and view from the first climb are spec...

I waited over 30 years to go on this after seeing it in Time Magazine when I was a young teenager. The location and view from the first climb are spectacular. The speed on the first descent is great, but the lack of steepness in that first drop and roughness of the ride from this point on showed notable signs of a coaster past its prime. I still loved it and I'd go on it again, but the coaster game has come along way in the last 30 years and there are simply bigger, better and more dynamic coasters out there to ride. I wasn't going to pick on the name, but I can't help it - the Magnum XL-200 sounds like a weapon that would be used by a Clint Eastwood character from the 70's or 80's or Dr. Evil! Doesn't matter, they're not changing the name now, so we're going with it!

Loved this ride...did the backward launch, which was awesome. Too short, but it carried a high-level of intensity throughout. Forward launch was shutd...

Loved this ride...did the backward launch, which was awesome. Too short, but it carried a high-level of intensity throughout. Forward launch was shutdown so couldn't compare the two and this also brought operations and lines to a near standstill. Can't believe this ride is 25 years old - Premiere needs to aim this high more often!