• Eric Esty

    First Drop Inversions Fun Harnais

    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.

  • Eric Esty

    Inversions Vitesse Intensité

    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.

  • Eric Esty

    Lap Bar Situation Ejectors Inconfort

    Though it is janky in some parts of the first half, no coaster makes me giggle quite like Magnum. A beautiful beachside location is a great backdrop for floater airtime and loud tunnels before the famous final act. The triangle airtime is so sharp that it's painful, but the simple lap bars soften the blow. Magnum is such a fun coaster, seemingly on accident, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

  • Eric Esty

    Situation Fun Longueur Baffes

    Though the OSTRs give this one a little bit of classic Arrow headbanging, this ride is still great fun. A swingy ride through the woods with an excellent second half and a long duration to make up for any long waits.

  • Eric Esty

    Airtimes Fun Fluidité Inconfort

    Gemini is a very fun racing coaster with wacky airtime and an unpredictable outcome. There is some Arrow jank and discomfort on the uncushioned seats, but Gemini makes up for it in laughs. And since both sides have the same queue, you can have other members of your party on the other train and add stakes to the race.

  • Eric Esty

    Situation

    Though this is the lousiest Mine Train I've yet ridden, this ride is still fun, in a nice location, and I think it should stick around.

  • Eric Esty

    Situation Intensité Fluidité Trop court

    With Manta not having a major refurbishment since its opening for more than 10 years now, Superman Ultimate Flight is now my favorite flying coaster. It's prettier, with a nicer paint job. It's better paced, with no mid-course brake run. And it's in a better location, being a full on terrain flying coaster. And with it being smaller, you swoosh into the worlds first pretzel loop even faster. The two overbanked turns give great unexplainable forces, and the inline twist is a great finale, and the ground hugging moments are superb. Though it lacks the queue, water splash, and two extra inversions of Manta, it's still an excellent flying coaster in its own right.

  • Eric Esty

    Situation

    One of the best kiddie coasters in the world because it's a terrain coaster that interacts with the bridge and the arcade building. Very creative layout.

  • Eric Esty

    Inversions Vitesse Ejectors Trop court

    Twisted Cyclone may be a short ride, but it's better than being too long with bad pacing, and it's also way better than an un-maintained and un-themed Cyclone recreation. The first drop is like mini-Iron Rattler, the reverse cobra roll is smooth and creative, the wave turn is the best part of the ride, the zero-g roll is the best inversion on the coaster, and all of the ejector airtime and overbanks are as amazing as ever for a great RMC. My favorite part of this one is the color scheme, which is one of the prettiest roller coasters I've ever seen. Paired with the repainted Scorcher, this ride makes SFOG's promenade absolutely gorgeous.

  • Eric Esty

    Inversions Intensité Layout

    Georgia Scorcher is my favorite stand-up coaster by far. It's not so long that it hurts your legs, and it's smooth. The two inversions are forceful, and the first drop is great. Where the ride really shines is the turns. The low to the ground turns in the vulnerable stand-up position is very thrilling, and the whole ride is well paced. Fantastic coaster.