More Past Roller Coaster ReviewsRaging BullSix Flags Great AmericaBorn: 1999Drop: 208′Speed: 73 mphMake & Model: Bolliger & Mabillard Hyper CoasterReview: Raging Bull’s a Bolliger & Mabillard hypercoaster from the same designers of the popular Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure and Apollo’s Chariot at Busch Gardens Europe. So I was excited when I arrived at Great America on a dreary day in 2006 …read more>>> Final Rating – 8.0 (Great) Slippery When WetHard Rock ParkBorn: 2008Make & Model: Premier Suspended CoasterReview: In the heart of Hard Rock Park lies one the park’s few attractions that incorporate water. Slippery When Wet (likely named after the Bon Jovi album) is a suspended coaster designed by Premier Rides…read more>>>Final Rating – 6.0 (Above Average) CycloneSix Flags New EnglandBorn: 1983Height: 112′Speed: 45 mphMake & Model: William & Cobb Wooden CoasterReview: Cyclone takes the cake. My first and hopefully last ‘1’. Six Flags New England has the honor of being home to what many consider the Best Coaster on the Planet. On the other end of the spectrum, Cyclone is there too. Unfortunately, I really can’t think of ANY positives for this ride …read more>>>Final Rating – 1.0 (Demolish) Batman – Dark KnightSix Flags New EnglandBorn: 2002Speed: 55 mphMake & Model: B&M Floorless CoasterReview: Batman The Dark Knight was a floorless roller coaster with open cars. It had a mostly smooth ride, some decent theming, and a nice looking station. My favorite inversion, the zero-g roll, …read more>>>Rating: – 7.0 (Good) Italian Job: Stunt TrackKings IslandBorn: 2005Speed: 40 mphMake & Model: Premier Rides Launch CoasterReview: The most noteworthy thing about the Italian Job coasters are the Mini Cooper themed trains. They’re straight from the ride’s namesake, the 2003 movie. With the aforementioned movie theme and en vogue Minis, right away Italian Job is the opposite of a timeless classic. …read more>>>Final Rating – 6.5 (Above Average) ChangSix Flags Kentucky KingdomBorn: 1997Drop: 144′Speed:63 mphInversions: 5 (Vertical Loop, Dive Loop, Inclined Loop, 2 Corkscrews)Make & Model: Bolliger & Mabillard Stand-Up CoasterReview: Chang is an exception in more ways than one. It’s a stand-up roller coaster at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom. That should be two big strikes against it. Stand-up coasters have a history of …read more>>>Final Rating – 8.0 (Great) WildcatHersheyparkBorn: 1996Drop: 85′Speed: 50 mphMake & Model: Great Coasters International Wooden Twister CoasterReview: Coaster enthusiasts often fall into two camps. Those who can excuse a rough ride on a wooden coaster and those who can’t. I’m in the latter camp. I don’t mind being thrown around a bit, but Wildcat just down right hurt. …read more>>>Final Rating – 3.5 (Bad Approaching Below Average)Great American Scream MachineSix Flags Great AdventureBorn: 1989Drop: 155′Speed: 68 mphInversions: 7 (3 Vertical Loops, Boomerang(2), Double Corkscrews (2))Make & Model: Arrow Looping CoasterReview: Great American Scream Machine is an aging, old steel coaster at the New Jersey Six Flags. Not to be confused with the wooden coaster by the same name…read more>>>Final Rating – 4.0 (Below Average) Great BearHersheyparkBorn: 1998Drop: 124′Speed: 58 mphInversions: 4 (Vertical Loop, Immelman, Zero-G Roll, Corkscrew)Make & Model: Bolliger & Mabillard Inverted CoasterReview: I rode the Great Bear for the first time about 4 years ago. I hadn’t been on a a lot of B&M inverted roller coasters and I’m sure I was comparing it to its big brother Alpengeist…read more>>Final Rating – 8.0 (Great) Flight of FearKings DominionBorn: 1996Speed: 54 mphInversions 4 (Cobra Roll, Roll Over, Corkscrew)Make & Model: Premier Launch CoasterClaim to Fame: First roller coaster in the world to utilize linear induction motors (LIMs) to launch trains.Review: You can’t tell what you’re in for as you walk up to the Area 54-esque military testing facility that houses Flight of Fear…read more>>Final Rating – 7.5 (Good-Approaching Great) ShockwaveKings DominionBorn: 1986Height: 95′Speed: 50 mphInversions: 1 Vertical LoopMake & Model: Togo Stand Up CoasterReview: Shockwave probably should’ve been scrapped long ago. It’s got a decent first half, but I don’t think park-goers would shed any tears if it was removed…read more>>>Final Rating – 3.5 (Bad Approaching Below Average) AnacondaKings DominionBorn: 1991Drop: 144′Speed: 50 mphInversions: 4 (Vertical Loop, Sidewinder, Double Corkscrew)Make & Model: Arrow Looping CoasterClaim to Fame: 126′ underwater tunnelReview: Does a 14-story drop to an underwater tunnel sound like fun? The Anaconda at Kings Dominion is a steel coaster with some pretty unique elements. It rises high above a pond (that used to be the much larger Lake Charles) before dropping 144 feet into an underwater tunnel…read more>>Final Rating – 6.5 (Better than Average-Approaching Good) Mr. Six’s PandemoniumSix Flags New EnglandBorn: 2005Make & Model: Gerstlauer Spinning CoasterReview: Mr. Six is much more than a wild mouse coaster with spinning cars like I thought it was going to be. I made the long haul to Mass. solo so I wasn’t too thrilled with the idea of waiting in line for 45 minutes to ride with a bunch of strangers. Then, I noticed a single rider’s line with virtually no wait. So I walked onto the ride…read more>>Final Rating – 8.5 (Great-Approaching Excellent) MantisCedar PointBorn: 1996Drop: 137′Speed: 60 mphInversions: 4 (Vertical Loop, Dive Loop, Inclined Loop, Corkscrew)Make & Model: Bolliger & Mabillard Stand-Up CoasterReview: I never thought I’d see the day I would give a Bolliger & Mabillard designed coaster such a low rating. I like, if not love, all of their installations. Their roller coasters offer the smoothest rides while still delivering thrilling and innovative maneuvers. Well, now I have to say that I love “almost all” of their coasters…read more>>Final Rating – 4.0 (Below Average) Hypersonic XLCKings DominionBorn: 2001Drop: 133′Speed: 80 mphMake & Model: S&S Thrust Air CoasterClaim to Fame: First compressed air launch coaster, 0 – 80 mph in 1.8 seconds, 90-degree dropReview: With a compressed air launch that takes riders from 0 to 80 mph in less than 2 seconds and a 90-degree vertical climb and descent, you would think that Kings Dominion would have a winner…read more>>Final Rating – 6.0 (Above Average) Superman – Ride of SteelSix Flags AmericaBorn: 2000Drop: 205′Speed: 73 mphMake & Model: Intamin Hyper CoasterReview: This is by far the most ho-hum hyper coaster around. As coasters go, it’s not a complete failure, but compared to other hyper coasters it’s in the back of the class. The fact that this Superman at Six Flags America (near Washington D.C.) is even made by the same designers that built a masterpiece in another Superman: Ride of Steel located at Six Flags New England is baffling to me…read more>>Final Rating – 7.0 (Good) Mean StreakCedar PointBorn: 1991Drop: 155′Speed: 65 mphMake & Model: Curtis Summers Wooden CoasterFinal Rating – 5.0 (Average) Steel ForceDorney ParkBorn: 1997Drop: 205′Speed: 75 mphMake & Model: Morgan Hyper CoasterFinal Rating – 7.5 (Good-Approaching Great) PredatorDarien LakeBorn: 1990Height: 95′Speed: 50 mphMake & Model: Curtis Summers Wooden CoasterFinal Rating – 2.0 (Horrible) 5 Responses Lauren May 4, 2008 Do you ever go to Six Flags Great America in Illinois? Raging Bull is awesome. Reply The Coaster Critic May 4, 2008 I've been there and ridden Raging Bull. It was pretty good. Maybe I'll make that my next review. Check out my complete ride list to see where I've been and what I've ridden.Thanks for stopping by! Reply darline May 10, 2008 Have you ever been on the roller coaster in the New York hotel in Las vegas? If so what do you think of it. Reply The Coaster Critic May 10, 2008 Unfortunately, I haven't been to Vegas yet. I think you're referring to Manhattan Express. I hear it's super rough. I even know someone who kind of gave up on coasters after riding it. Reply Anonymous June 6, 2008 If you do go to Vegas, BE SURE TO make the one-hour drive to Primm, where Desperado is. NO LINE ever. I'm not kidding. What an amazing ride, but how sad no one rides it. Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Lauren May 4, 2008 Do you ever go to Six Flags Great America in Illinois? Raging Bull is awesome. Reply
The Coaster Critic May 4, 2008 I've been there and ridden Raging Bull. It was pretty good. Maybe I'll make that my next review. Check out my complete ride list to see where I've been and what I've ridden.Thanks for stopping by! Reply
darline May 10, 2008 Have you ever been on the roller coaster in the New York hotel in Las vegas? If so what do you think of it. Reply
The Coaster Critic May 10, 2008 Unfortunately, I haven't been to Vegas yet. I think you're referring to Manhattan Express. I hear it's super rough. I even know someone who kind of gave up on coasters after riding it. Reply
Anonymous June 6, 2008 If you do go to Vegas, BE SURE TO make the one-hour drive to Primm, where Desperado is. NO LINE ever. I'm not kidding. What an amazing ride, but how sad no one rides it. Reply