Editorial: Incase You Haven't Noticed

[Thrill Reconnoiter]

http://www.rollercoasterpro.com/articles/jeditorial/incase_you/main.jpg (http://www.rollercoasterpro.com/articles/jeditorial/incase_you/)


"Millennium Force. Tatsu. El Toro. Everyone’s heard those names a thousand times over. Some would probably bow down and worship their wood and steel superstructures if they didn’t think it would look weird. We all praise them as the greatest experiences to be had on the face of the earth. I agree, they are fantastic attractions (the one of those three I’ve been on, actually), but there’s more to life..."


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[Nate]

Nice short article. I'm glad Steel Force made the list, but any of the Morgan hypers made around the time could also be put on there. There could be dozens of coasters but I think you came up with a solid list.

[Jake]

While it was well written, there were some things in the article that caught my eye..

First off, Kumba is not an often forgotten anything. It seems it's all I hear about from the Florida boys, and anyone else who has taken a spin on it.

And if Titan is anything like Goliath, I can't see where your coming from, period. And since Titan is basically a Goliath clone.. I can't imagine there is too much of a difference.

Lastly, isn't Steel Force just another Morgan hyper coaster? I mean, I could be wrong of course, but does it have something special that makes it better then Wild Thing or Mamba?

Other then that... nice job.

[sirloin]

The rides I specifically mentioned were ones I had been on. I was providing personal examples of rides I have been on, and that was indicated in the article. I have not ridden Mamba, Wild Thing, or Superman-El Ultimo Escape, so I can't very well call them underrated because for all I know, they suck.


Also, aside from the Florida folks, how many people do you hear talking about Kumba? Honestly, until I got to know Ryan Sickles and Mike Thorp, I never really heard jack squat about Kumba.

Titan is a Goliath clone save for the additional helix, which is also one of the most intense helices I've ever experienced. It's pretty insane. Now, I'm sorry you don't like Goliath, and there are people who are going to hate many of the rides I love, and I kind of expected some Steel Force bashing, but hey, such is life.

And frankly, there are so many other rides out there that are underrated, and just as many overrated. Scream!, Batman-The Ride, Mr. Freeze, Talon, and many more also are actually worth noting. I just wanted to throw out some good examples from places alot of you have never been and have never really considered checking out.

[tycooner55]

I'm glad to see that Phantom's Revege got some credit here. It really is a very intense coaster, more so than any ride at CP, including Magnum and TTD IMO. The ejector air is intense, less now though since the installation of the trims after the first season, but still more than any coaster I've ridden. Plus the unique restraints seem to be built just for the ejector air. Plus PR has one of the most comfortable seats on any steel coaster. One of PR's secrets.

Kumba was a great ride. I had the privlidge of making my first trip to BGA this past Nov. Like he said, Kumba is a "complete" ride. It has all the inversions, tunnel, and a helix. I love that ride. It's the ride i think of when I think of B&M. I don't know why THAT wasn't the coaster that B&M made clones of. Oh well, I guess that's what makes it unique.

[Matt]

I enjoyed the article. I too am glad that Phantoms Revenge got listed on the list.

[Michael]

I liked it, but it didn't seem to go anywhere towards the end. It just listed a few examples without a bold defined thesis. But I still enjoyed it. Definitley agree with you about Phantom's Revenge.

Although Kumba? I think we already hear too much about that ride :p

[Tom]

Although Kumba? I think we already hear too much about that ride :p

I would have to disagree with you there, I dont think we hear enough about it. I mean you here how amazing B:TR TTD, MF, etc. are but you have few people talking about how great Kumba is compared to the number talking about the others. I hope to ride Kumba this summer and then I will hopefully get to make my own opinion about it.

[Michael]

I would have to disagree with you there, I dont think we hear enough about it. I mean you here how amazing B:TR TTD, MF, etc. are but you have few people talking about how great Kumba is compared to the number talking about the others. I hope to ride Kumba this summer and then I will hopefully get to make my own opinion about it.

To be honest, yeah it's intense. But what's special about it? It's almost entirely composed of inversions. And yes, like many other rides including Millennium Force, El Torro, Maverick, Tastsu, ect, it's overhyped :rolleyes:

*don't kill me Mike* ;)

[sirloin]

Overhyped? Are you kidding me? Kumba is far and away the most solid B&M in existence. It's not too long, but if you added anything to it, you'd be taking away from the experience. It's not tamed by any stretch of the imagination, and its inversions are some of the best ones out there.

Honestly, I've heard more about SheiKra than I have about Kumba.

As far as the actual thesis, it was simply to point out that we need to recognize rides at parks other than CP and SFMM, and sometimes we need to consider the rides at those parks that aren't the highlight attractions.

[Jman]

I thought you would get attacked for putting Steel Force on the list, and I will say that at times it falls up short of its potential.

However, if you happen to catch it at the right weather, nighttime, off season, the MCBR will be turned off and the return run will have air comparable to MagnumXL200.

I would also think that Medusa east could make the list, however its so similar to Kumba that i can understand it missing. Kumba's better anyway...

[chris]

Like you said "You may bow down to them"

I bowed down to Griffon. May seem weird though.

[sirloin]

Honestly, if I had to replace Kumba on that list, Batman-The Ride would've been its replacement. I don't know how B&M did it, but they hit a grand slam with Batman, and I'm always down for taking time out of my day to ride Batman, even if I have already been on three of them.

[tycooner55]

I wish B&M would clone Kumba.

[sirloin]

Um...part of what makes Kumba Kumba is the terrain. If someone could clone that, consider me impressed.

Oh, and you also need the bridge and tunnel.

[The Storm Runner]

Thanks for the article! It is nice to hear some news about some of the lesser known rides. It feels good to talk about Titan and Phantom's Revenge. :)

[theRock-steel]

I agree, that was an interesting article. I'm glade that you didn't go on and on and list fifty forgotten coasters, just a few of the better ones. I think that just about anything at Cedar Point, Magic Mountain, and Great Adventure, get too much praise. I read somewhere that Blue Streak and Magnum XL-20 was someone's favorite wooden and steel rides. They are ok, but come on; the best, NOT !
Although they haven't made a lot of coasters, Morgan seems to make some good ones. Steel Force seemed to have a first hill that was a little short for me, but it had massive air-time. I haven't been to Kennywood yet, but when I go there this summer I hope that I give Phantom's Revenge a "perfect score"; that looks like a real good one.
Titan has a long first hill, more turns than a hyper usually has, and some pretty good air-time. Hopefully all of that will translate to a great ride for me when I go to Texas next year.
I think that Kumba is on a lot of riders' lists of favorite coasters, but it's not one mine. For a B & M, it's just too loud and rough. Since it's only an hour or so away, I go to BGA quite often. Kumba seems to be showing it's age; there seems to be some rust everywhere on it. I believe that people like it so much because B & M hasn't made too many sit down loopers (only five - one is in a park that hasn't opened yet). Since it's new and probably quiet, I will hopefully like Led Zeppelin more. For now, Kraken is my favorite sit down looper (advantage - floorless, a different kind of ride). Hydra and Medusa were ok, but too short in height. Dominator and Krypton Coaster will have to wait to next year.

[The Storm Runner]

^Just because a ride is taller doesn't mean it's worse. I personally loved Medusa, and I didn't think it was short at all. I mean, 142 feet isn't by any means short. Kraken is just seven feet taller. It's what the layout entails, not how high you go.

[theRock-steel]

^ For me, the taller the better. If a ride is taller it is usually faster. That means it can be longer (because it won't lose momentum as quickly). For me, that is all good. I said that the first hill on Steel Force "seemed" a little short. In fact, it's taller than Goliath (SFOG). I guess what you said is right, "It's what the layout entails...". The most of the rest of Goliath's hills are bigger than Steel Force's. Also for me, what I ride first I usually like better. Kraken has a better layout than Medusa, and I rode it much earlier.
My "top ten" include:
Apollo's Chariot
Goliath (SFOG)
Kraken
Millennium Force
Nitro

[sirloin]

A tall ride can lose momentum just as quickly as a smaller ride can. The length of a train has alot to do with it. Why do you think B&M's do such a good job maintaining their speed all the way through their leyouts? Alot of mass in a shorter train. That's just one example.

And if the rides you ride first are more than likely going to end up as your favorites, then you're going to have alot of disappointing experiences in your coaster-riding career.