Derpologist

^This. Most Schwarzkopf rides have held up incredibly well, especially given their age. I think Mind Bender was my park favorite during a recent SFOG trip, and I never visit SFOT without riding Shock Wave. Just a damned fun coaster with forceful loops and nice pops of air, also remarkably smooth for pushing 40.

As I recall, my last ride on Magnum (summer 2014) made me question whether I cared to ride again, but it was in the very back row.

Flight Deck at CGA. Phenomenal little invert, definitely prefer it over the BTR clones.

Ewww I did not realize how badly Cobra's Curse would be crowding Montu. Maybe I won't find it so bothersome in person once it's fully themed.

I think once people see how prominent Valravn is on the skyline the disappointment stemming from mismanaged expectations will fade. I've said it once and I'll say it again - Valravn is a good contender to be the best of its type. I think that's worth some excitement.

^Yup, reports of a Raptor rattle have been greatly exaggerated. For whatever reason, Banshee and Gatekeeper are far worse offenders (makes me v sad tbh).

Nighthawk (which was Vekoma's prototype model relocated from CGA) has not held up well at all. I used to prefer its corkscrews over Firehawk's inline rolls, that day is long gone. Firehawk is still pretty decent, but only having been on the Superman model I still prefer the B&M flyers for their pretzel rolls which are basically a trump card. And while I can barely process waiting for Firehawk more than once in a single visit, I think we can all agree a fresh coat of paint is needed!

Banshee's strengths are its pacing and scale, and I think it also brings a fair amount of intensity despite the large elements. It's not as snappy as Raptor (which is a really easy comparison due to proximity), but I prefer it overall.

dining*

I think as much as the term 'forceless' gets thrown around, the real issue with Gatekeeper is actually pacing. There's definitely some force to be felt at the base of the first drop and pulling up into the Immelmann, and I think it sustains that momentum with a nice variety of elements - but only until about halfway. I actually really enjoy the slow roll on the return trip, but I don't think any sane person can argue for the post MCBR section being a good finish. And I don't think many complaints have been levied against the performance or throughput of the ride itself with exception to the vest restraints. I get the criticisms but they don't hold water for me.

This point in particular is interesting to me, in that Raptor being the first invert with a cobra roll is hardly more significant than Valravn being the first dive coaster with a dive loop. Beside Baron 1898, it's also the only dive coaster with a zero g roll and that element's carousel exit is somewhat rare (SFDK's Joker features quite nearly the same element and in that context it was praised). B&M certainly could have kicked it up another notch or two with this design, but I doubt that was the agenda presented by Cedar Fair. While on the one hand I'm sort of left wanting by Valravn, the realist in me also has to appreciate that it'll likely be the best of its kind.

Agreed on all three. Interesting. I'd definitely rank Prowler above Mamba, though the latter is much more rerideable at this point. For my own home park, SFOT, NTAG is a given.

It's hard to choose, but I'd say Maverick/Fury 325/NTAG, in that order. Maverick delivers a wonderfully abrupt moment of airtime, Fury gives you time to appreciate the Charlotte skyline before floating for what seems like forever toward a more forceful pullout than expected, and NTAG resides directly in between. I definitely appreciate Millennium for the view, but I just don't feel the impact of falling 300' there having ridden in the front, back and middle. As soon as I get my stank booty up on I305 and Skyrush, tho...

^It seems the likely that any Cedar Fair giga would be by B&M for the foreseeable future. But if they iterate on Fury 325 the same way they did Leviathan, you've not got anything to weep about. I don't see why they wouldn't take advantage of Kings Island's topography as with Banshee.