Avis • Sean R.

My first international coaster…and a pretty fun one at that. The concept is pretty wild and the first drop and banked hill through the building wall a...

My first international coaster…and a pretty fun one at that. The concept is pretty wild and the first drop and banked hill through the building wall are excellent elements, but I can’t help but think this could’ve/would’ve been an elite coaster if done right in the second half. It runs out of steam early and it’s showing some age with a pronounced and distracting rattle. With all this said, I’m going to look back and remember how I was smiling the entirety of both rides I took basking in the sheer joy of riding an Intamin hyper-coaster on top of a building in Tokyo rather than focusing on what could’ve been.

Didn't love Shockwave. It has some good forces and the double inversion combo is solid...but it's a distant #4 at the park. Did get to meet Robb and E...

Didn't love Shockwave. It has some good forces and the double inversion combo is solid...but it's a distant #4 at the park. Did get to meet Robb and Elissa from Theme Park Review and they took my daughter on a ride that had the full video treatment - made my daughter's day. A very cool thing to see her experience.

I've been on many RMC's and had really modest expectations going into this one. I wanted to ride "the original RMC", but had read that there was a big...

I've been on many RMC's and had really modest expectations going into this one. I wanted to ride "the original RMC", but had read that there was a big leap between this and Iron Rattler...and without any inversions, I figured I'd be in for a good, not great ride. But New Texas Giant hit pretty hard - I was quite pleasantly surprised. It has some fantastic elements, a great first drop, the glass-smoothness common with an RMC and the layout proved to be long with fantastic pacing throughout. Its a really good looking RMC too...having a special stature and aura about it. Its not the most intense RMC, but it is a great coaster and should probably be heralded more than it gets credit for...

I LOVED Iron Rattler far more than I expected. I thought it would serve as more of a legacy prototype for newer RMC's, but it was far more complete an...

I LOVED Iron Rattler far more than I expected. I thought it would serve as more of a legacy prototype for newer RMC's, but it was far more complete and modern than I anticipated. It's my personal #3-ranked RMC with only Steel Vengeance and Iron Gwazi ahead of it. While it doesn't have the intensity of those two rides (and not much else does), it's in that next tier. And the way it weaves so many killer RMC elements into the topography of the quarry setting is what sets it apart from Wildcat's Revenge, ArieForce, and Twisted Timbers, in my opinion. There is an ever-so-slight slow down on top of the quarry wall which is well documented by others, but it hardly impacts the experience. Everything else was really good to great. The first drop is as advertised, only outdone by SteVe and IG. The single inversion is perfectly placed and executed. And the dark tunnel and final drop off the quarry wall close the ride experience out in a distinct and quite remarkable fashion. With it's reputation well-known and a number of RMC's under my belt already, it's hard to believe how pleasantly surprised I was by this ride. I largely had a sense of what was coming and Iron Rattler still overdelivered for me.

This sneakily might be the best coaster at HP! What an absolutely killer ride. Yes, it is short (22 seconds according to the experts), but I'm not sur...

This sneakily might be the best coaster at HP! What an absolutely killer ride. Yes, it is short (22 seconds according to the experts), but I'm not sure I could've handled much more of this intensity. The launch is as advertised - a rocket of a takeoff, but it's the remaining elements that really set this coaster beyond my expectations. The snake roll/dive was a top coaster moment for me. The fact that the lights were out as part of Hersheypark's Dark Nights theme certainly added to the experience. I loved it, front to finish. Daughter's POV: It was a great ride overall. The launch was my favorite part. All the flips and turns were really fun. There could be some lights in the dark (I didn't like the Dark Night experience on this one as much as my dad.)

Candymonium was a fantastic experience that bookended a great evening at Hersheypark. We went on it to start our night and finished our evening with t...

Candymonium was a fantastic experience that bookended a great evening at Hersheypark. We went on it to start our night and finished our evening with two more rides before leaving the park. It is not the most intense coaster at Hersheypark, but it maintains a formidable thrill-level throughout and offers a grace, strength and elegance that is unmatched among the deep roster of Hersheypark coasters. The ride is the perfect ambassador/greeter to what I believe is among the best coaster-parks in the country - welcoming coaster aficionados and more daring general audiences alike. My first ride was in the darkness of Dark Nights theming and was my favorite B&M hyper experience of all-time. The ride hauls down the first hill, which felt a bit bigger and steeper than other B&M hypers and the subsequent camelback and helix were fantastic. The rolling hills of the back-half and the concluding circle around the kisses fountain wove the coaster into the park setting in a masterful manner. The operations were on point and showcased a capacity to devour long lines of eager riders in short order. I've read complaints about operations from others, but what I saw was as strong as any coaster anywhere. My single complaint is that the trims came into play on our last two rides and it dulled the second half of the ride quite noticeably. Still, it's a great ride that stands out and really just feels right in every way as the opener for a park that has invested significantly in its coaster experience over the last two decades.

I don't really like spinning coasters, but this was pretty enjoyable and certainly unique. I'd skipped it the first two times I went to BGT, but Montu...

I don't really like spinning coasters, but this was pretty enjoyable and certainly unique. I'd skipped it the first two times I went to BGT, but Montu was down and there were no lines for CC so my daughter and I gave it a whirl (literally) and had a good time. Probably my least favorite coaster in the park (Air Grover doesn't count), but that speaks more to the quality of other coasters. Cobra's Curse is a good ride...no more, no less.

This is the best invert coaster experience I've had...slightly more enjoyable than Raptor, which I rode at CP last month. I'm not sure exactly why thi...

This is the best invert coaster experience I've had...slightly more enjoyable than Raptor, which I rode at CP last month. I'm not sure exactly why this was better for me...but I suspect the seat towards the front that I had came into play. I couldn't see anything coming sitting in the back of Raptor...I could spot and actually appreciate what was happening on AB much more so. The remnants of Top Gun theming also struck a chord with me (Fightertown USA)...and of course the general speed and intensity of the ride were fantastic. I'm going to give Alpengeist and Great Bear a go in the coming months...I'll be curious how they all compare.

This is one of the better floorless coasters I've ridden in terms of pace and elements, but the theming and location are dreadful...the concrete, maca...

This is one of the better floorless coasters I've ridden in terms of pace and elements, but the theming and location are dreadful...the concrete, macadam view throughout the ride was one of the least inspiring layouts I've come across. Put some grass or turf down and/or move it out of the parking lot and this experience goes up notably.

By far, the most intense stand up I've ridden. It was much bigger and faster than I anticipated...and long too. If not for the most severe head-bangin...

By far, the most intense stand up I've ridden. It was much bigger and faster than I anticipated...and long too. If not for the most severe head-banging I've ever experienced, I'd say it was a pretty darn good ride.

On the lower end of Batman clones I've ridden...sounded like something was going to breakoff at just about any point. This ride needs a mechanic...or ...

On the lower end of Batman clones I've ridden...sounded like something was going to breakoff at just about any point. This ride needs a mechanic...or a paint job at a minimum.

This is my third raptor track RMC and I rate it as my favorite by a notable margin (vs. Jersey Devil and WW SF Fiesta). The first hill, which is not t...

This is my third raptor track RMC and I rate it as my favorite by a notable margin (vs. Jersey Devil and WW SF Fiesta). The first hill, which is not typically the highlight for me on this format, was the best drop of any coaster at Magic Mountain (X2 was closed.) And the pacing and intensity were fantastic and relentless throughout. I didn't feel anything resembling the wear and tear of other raptor track rides...which tells me you really need to ride these coasters when they're young. My unexpected star of the day among the 12 coasters we were able to ride. The only gripe was the wait - slow operations, a couple downtime moments, and a single train in play made for a much longer wait than necessary.

I really, really liked Full Throttle. It was bigger than I expected it to be. The launch is really good, but not quite next level. The first inversion...

I really, really liked Full Throttle. It was bigger than I expected it to be. The launch is really good, but not quite next level. The first inversion/loop is especially sinister given its deliberate slow roll. I was not ready for the backward launch at the mid-point which added a nice extra degree of intensity. The last hill has great promise, but ends a bit abruptly. 100 more meters and this could have been a spectacular element. Full Throttle is not without its flaws or missed opportunities, but they certainly don't outweigh all that's good in the ride.

Flying coasters can be a hit/miss format for me personally. I wasn't a huge fan until hitting Manta earlier this year where the heightened intensity m...

Flying coasters can be a hit/miss format for me personally. I wasn't a huge fan until hitting Manta earlier this year where the heightened intensity made it more enjoyable than my experience on SFOG Superman coaster. Tatsu furthered the appeal of the format - it was even more intense than Manta (at least the pretzel roll aspect was). And the setting and aesthetics of the coaster added further to the allure. It is a beautiful looking ride with beautiful views particularly when the sun is hitting it just right. Its still not my favorite format, but I found Tatsu to be a wicked coaster nonetheless.

I’d been growing a bit tired of B&M inverts as a format and had minimal expectations for this one going in…but it was a really pleasant surprise. I do...

I’d been growing a bit tired of B&M inverts as a format and had minimal expectations for this one going in…but it was a really pleasant surprise. I don’t think its ranking is representative of its quality. It’s a top rate invert with a lot of familiar elements that somehow felt unique. And they were certainly powerful! The night time ride only added to its appeal. I’m a big fan of Silver Bullet.

For an oldie, Scorpion was fine if not pretty good. It can't hold up to other coasters at BGT, but I enjoyed the drop, inversion and sustained helix e...

For an oldie, Scorpion was fine if not pretty good. It can't hold up to other coasters at BGT, but I enjoyed the drop, inversion and sustained helix elements. I can imagine its capacity is a real challenge on busy days as it was pretty brutal during an off-season visit. It's a bit of an eye-sore too. I wonder about its purpose in the park looking ahead. It doesn't seem to the same level of nostalgia behind it like a Loch Ness Monster at BGW. I'd say it's worth a ride if lines are short and you're swinging by, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it as there are so many other options at the park.

Icebreaker had all the pieces to be a remarkable ride, and all those pieces add up to a really good ride, but it felt like Premiere pulled their punch...

Icebreaker had all the pieces to be a remarkable ride, and all those pieces add up to a really good ride, but it felt like Premiere pulled their punches to broaden it's appeal. I wanted something along the lines of Mr. Freeze or Full Throttle thrills...but Icebreaker's intensity fell well short of these (or so I hear). By no means is it devoid of thrill. It's still a really fun ride and a great starter thrill-coaster for young, aspiring enthusiasts. Just manage your expectations going in...a bit more than a family coaster, but a bit less than Premiere's biggest and best.

A pleasant surprise. This was the first ride we went on at SeaWorld Orlando and it set a great tone for the rest of our visit. I'm not a huge B&M flo...

A pleasant surprise. This was the first ride we went on at SeaWorld Orlando and it set a great tone for the rest of our visit. I'm not a huge B&M floorless fan typically, but I found Kraken to be a beautiful ride with a great layout. It had much more pop than I was anticipating and no shortage of fun elements - with the multiple inversions (all of which delivered) being particularly noteworthy. Surprisingly, I’d put Kraken well ahead of Superman’s Krypton Coaster at SFSA. I think this ride is seriously underrated and overlooked/lost a bit among a great roster of coasters at the park.

This format seems to get a lot of criticism, which is compounded further by it's status as a clone...but, I love this format and loved my ride on Tigr...

This format seems to get a lot of criticism, which is compounded further by it's status as a clone...but, I love this format and loved my ride on Tigris. I went on Tempesto this summer, so Tigris didn't catch me off guard in quite the same way, but I really enjoyed it nonetheless. Capacity is a challenge. We were lucky, it was a slow day at BGT so we didn't have to wait too long for it. The launches are great, the stall/airtime after the backwards launch is a fantastic element, the slow inversion at the top is quite enjoyable, and the shoulder harnesses didn't both me in the slightest. I may be in the minority, but I'm a big fan. Both Tempesto and Tigris are severely underrated in my view...

Pipeline was a solid update to an otherwise fatigued format. I hope it breathes some life back into the stand-up coaster genre, which I feel has been ...

Pipeline was a solid update to an otherwise fatigued format. I hope it breathes some life back into the stand-up coaster genre, which I feel has been too harshly judged over the years. The theming, launch, design and layout are all extremely well done and the ride has some really good moments of intensity beyond the launch, which was the highlight of my ride. The only gripe is that it never gets beyond "3rd or 4th gear" in terms of speed or intensity. I was hoping for a little bit more from it, but I recognize my tastes are not that of everyone else. I think it's a smart addition to the park with appeal that should lend nicely to the masses and aspiring enthusiasts. Extreme coaster enthusiasts should give it a shot with tempered expectations and look to Manta to scratch their extreme intensity itch.

Manta completely changed my view on the flying coaster format. I've been on Superman Ultimate Flight (SFOG) and Nighthawk and really didn't enjoy eith...

Manta completely changed my view on the flying coaster format. I've been on Superman Ultimate Flight (SFOG) and Nighthawk and really didn't enjoy either, but Manta was a stellar experience...bigger, faster, and much more forceful. I don't know why a more intense combination of the same elements I've experienced before were so much more enjoyable - they just were. And I'm grateful for it. I was not expecting it, but Manta was the best coaster in the park. Great theming, beautiful design and a wicked experience...and the pretzel roll...just wow! Loved it front to back. Only complaint was having to hang for about 90 seconds after our ride finished waiting for the train in front of us to clear. A small gripe in the grand scheme. Bring on Tatsu!

There's nothing to complain about here. Mako is a solid B&M Hyper. I loved the color, layout/location and theme/connection to the park, but these are ...

There's nothing to complain about here. Mako is a solid B&M Hyper. I loved the color, layout/location and theme/connection to the park, but these are secondary things for me...as a ride it ranks in the middle of my B&M hyper experiences. Really good, but not great...Nitro is still the horse to beat (among those I've ridden.)

Kumba is 30 years old and while past its prime delivered a pretty noteworthy experience. It doesn't compare to Iron Gwazi (not much will), but it had ...

Kumba is 30 years old and while past its prime delivered a pretty noteworthy experience. It doesn't compare to Iron Gwazi (not much will), but it had a good amount of intensity throughout the entire ride and I can only imagine how it stacked up to other coasters when it first came out. It must have truly stood out among the top coasters of the time. The foundations you now find in most B&M Hypers are evident in the car and track design. But surprisingly, it had a lot more tricks up its sleeve than the most modern of B&M hypers...inversions, corkscrews, etc. Made me wonder what something like Candymonium, Intimidator, Goliath (SFOG) or Mako would feel like if inversions were added to the equation. I have to imagine B&M has some things to gain if were to add some of Kumba's elements to its newest Hyper designs. One can dream...

I wanted to like this coaster more than I actually did. Don't get me wrong, I really liked it, but I didn't love it as many folks clearly do. I found...

I wanted to like this coaster more than I actually did. Don't get me wrong, I really liked it, but I didn't love it as many folks clearly do. I found the first launch to be underwhelming; albeit, the drop that followed was great. From there, it was a bit too herky-jerky for my liking throughout the ride and a bit disorientating as a result. This is me splitting hairs, it's still a top 10-12 coaster and full of proper intensity and fun. But as an experience, its a tier down from my all-time favorites and so I'm being a bit critical to create some separation from those as a result.

A great dive coaster experience, which is a genre of coaster I really enjoy. What Dr. Diabolical lacks in height vs. other dive coasters, it makes up ...

A great dive coaster experience, which is a genre of coaster I really enjoy. What Dr. Diabolical lacks in height vs. other dive coasters, it makes up for in the 95 degree vertical drop and fantastic theming that you might expect from a Disney or Universal ride - not necessarily Six Flags. This is my #2 at the park behind Iron Rattler... It's too short, as are all Dive coasters, but the theming makes the experience feel much longer and immersive. Getting yelled at to "scream" while draped over a 150 foot beyond vertical drop was a really nice touch!