Underrated Coasters?

[ABW]

Blue Streak, and Mantis at Cedar Point, Ninja and Viper at SFMM, and Flight Deck at CGA.

[cfc]

I think Montu at BGT is underrated because everyone is always talking about Alpengeist and how good it is. Montu is an amazing ride and was rated 18 in the Best Roller Coaster Poll (http://www.ushsho.com/detailedsteelrollercoasterpollresults2009.htm) while Alpengeist was rated 54.

 

If Montu ranks so much higher than Alpengeist in the poll, in what way is Montu "underrated"?

[larrygator]

It is very clear that many do not know the meaning of "underrated".

[JJ728]

It is very clear that many do not know the meaning of "underrated".

 

Here is something interesting, which I think it does a pretty good job of interpreting "underrated."

 

http://themeparks.about.com/od/rollercoasterarticles/ss/UnderratedCoasters.htm

[MagnumUnlimited]

Son of Beast- Kings Island

 

It's a great ride, even though it's one of the roughest woodies. I mean, the structure on the swoop dive is amazing! I think the layout is very fun and it can be very suprising in some areas.

[cal1br3tto]

I've always found the term "underrated" to be somewhat ambiguous. Nearly all coasters of any note will garner mixed opinions. Even if you have an unpopular view, it usually doesn't take much digging (or talking) to find at least one person who agrees with you.

 

I've noticed that sometimes I'll agree with the majority, but not with the vocal minority. For example, Voyage and Hades are both very highly rated. I rode them both this year. Many who have ridden them recently can't stand them. However, I loved Voyage and I enjoyed Hades as well. So even though they're not even remotely underrated, sometimes I want to stand up for them because I know a lot of people disagree with me.

 

Also, sometimes I'll mention rides that are not underrated, but do seem under-visited and/or under-discussed. Examples: Tremors, Timber Terror, Coaster at Playland. These coasters are highly rated, but still seem to spend a lot of time under-the-radar compared to other rides.

[Big-M]

Well, here are mine:

 

Boardwalk Bullet: I found it to be really smooth, with awesome moments of laterals and airtime, yet it only comes in at #44 in the Mitch Hawker Poll.

 

Maverick: A lot of people love this ride, but I figured I would put it on here because there are a lot of people who claim the restraints hurt on the transitions. I didn't have the slightest problem with them and the ride is now my favorite steelie!

 

Lakeside Cyclone: It's not a Top 10 coaster, but I found it to be very smooth with one pop of crazy airtime in the front. It also has what are, in my opinion, some of the most comfortable trains you will find anywhere.

[sclisso]

Afterburn at Carowinds is definitely underrated. The back row is EPIC. When I rode it at scarowinds a couple months ago, I got such an intense ride that ,to me, beat Intimidator by far. I never scream or cuss on coasters,but I definitely did that night,haha. I think Vortex is a little underrated also, but that's just my opinion. Some people automatically hate the ride because of the crotch crushing that goes on but I like the little thing. It's short and not very tall, but it packs a punch, especially to your balls,haha. I like it though, and I always get like 2-3 rides in every time I go to Carowinds.

[GwaziBSRider1]

Maverick: A lot of people love this ride, but I figured I would put it on here because there are a lot of people who claim the restraints hurt on the transitions. I didn't have the slightest problem with them and the ride is now my favorite steelie!

 

I don't see how Maverick is considered "underrated." Many people here on TPR rank it as one of their favorites. I, for one, am one of the few people who feel it is overrated.

[LoopLover]

Indiana Jones et le Temple du Peril - Disneyland Paris

 

Everyone thinks its average and rough! it has great themeing and is really fun!

[ANJLOVER14]

^ I agree, but it's still my least favorite ride at the park. What I was shocked at was the amount of negative attention Space Mt. Mission 2 got on here. I LOVED it! Maybe it's just me, but I didn't find it that rough...

[cfc]

Indiana Jones et le Temple du Peril - Disneyland Paris

 

Everyone thinks its average and rough! it has great themeing and is really fun!

 

I agree about the theming, but don't care for the ride; it's still better than Paris Disney's Space Mountain. I rode SM (or should that be "S&M") in the front and in the back--the front was actually worse.

[Andrewoplis]

Ok so I have quiet a few but ill try to some it up for you.

 

Flight deck at Great America: All though this ride is talked quiet alot, it only in the top 70 on Mitch's poll. This ride is fast, VERY forceful, and pretty darn smooth. The only problem with this ride is that it is sort, but that's no reason to not rank it with some of the other old school B&M's.

 

Medusa at SFDK: A lot of people consider this ride to be boring and not that fun, be really, this ride is great! There is a ton of air time on that first drop in that back and there are some pretty good forces in the front. But some of the seat have a bad case of that B&M rattle and can some times feal like the track is made of rocks. But other than that, this ride is pretty good!

 

And this is just SOME of the rides I think are under rated.

[robbalvey]

I have to say that Hair Raiser most certainly falls into the "underrated" category. After hearing almost nothing about this ride when it opened, to hearing a few people say it was the "worst B&M ever" just before our China trip, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised when you found it to be a pretty fun, sorta compact layout, with probably one of the best airtime hills ever on a B&M!

 

[Team Thriller]

I really feel that Silver Star at Europa Park is underrated. I personally love the feeling of the floater airtime the coaster has. In my opinion, I even prefer Silver Star to Apollo's Chairot, however I only got one ride on AC so I may be a little biased. (Especially since I've had well over 200 + rides on SS)

 

I also feel that Roar at SFDK is underrated as well, the coaster wasn't tooo painful and the layout delievers.

 

-- James

[Condor]

I've always been a huge Gemini fan. It takes a lot of what Magnum offers and repackages it with an added racing element into a coaster that's much more accessible to families and those who are intimidated by hypercoasters. In many ways it's really a steel equivalent to the wooden racers of the 70s (Racer @ KI, Colossus, American Eagle, etc.) and still survives in its intended form with solid airtime and a (relatively) smooth ride. I think many Cedar Point regulars would rank it right up there with some of the headlining coasters.

[DBru]

I have to say that Hair Raiser most certainly falls into the "underrated" category. After hearing almost nothing about this ride when it opened, to hearing a few people say it was the "worst B&M ever" just before our China trip, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised when you found it to be a pretty fun, sorta compact layout, with probably one of the best airtime hills ever on a B&M!

 

 

Hair Raiser really does look excellent. Beautiful location, floorless trains, and an original layout with all kinds of "extra" movements...reminds me of a modern Kumba!

[Angle O. Descent]

What about Steel Dragon 2000? It's the 7th fastest and 5th tallest coaster in the world yet NOBODY talks about it?

[DBru]

All sources I know personally who have ridden it agree that it sucks. (For the world's longest, and one of the tallest and fastest coasters, anyway.)

[andybarnes84]

A few of my choices would be Shockwave and G Force at Drayton Manor, Gold Rusher at SFMM, Pegasus at Europa Park (great airtime in back row on first drop and decent forces through the turns for a kiddie coaster), Canyon Blaster at Adventuredome, Jubilee Odyssey at Fantasy Island and Baacklot Stunt Coaster (any) to name but a few.

[gisco]

What about Steel Dragon 2000? It's the 7th fastest and 5th tallest coaster in the world yet NOBODY talks about it?

 

Just because it is a top 10 in a few categories doesn't make it a great coaster and it isn't.

 

What I can't understand is why there are no Intamin Mega-lites in the US!

[Meteornotes]

^Because Mega-Lites contain airtime and forces, two things large US parks are frightened by.

 

Plus if one was built here, it would have OTSRs and be braked to death. Better to have them outside of the US where they can run correctly.

 

dt

[Condor]

^^I think the real reason we don't have a mega-lite over here is that one would simply be a tough sell to the public as a major attraction, and thus a less rewarding investment for the park. To the GP in America, a mega-lite looks like an ordinary coaster with no gimmicks, inversions, or anything to set it apart. True hypers and gigas can get away with this because their size and power are draws themselves, but that same formula won't appeal to those less educated when the ride is in the 100-150 foot range. So for American parks, something like a wing coaster or a launched looper is probably a better investment that will draw bigger crowds. Parks in Europe and Asia may not face this same problem with their customer base as often.

[MayTheGForceBeWithYou]

^Because Mega-Lites contain airtime and forces, two things large US parks are frightened by.

QFT

[Moose]

Americans would not fit into those tiny trains. Dispatch times would be insane trying to figure out which restraint was not closed.