 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Six Flags Great Adventure: Medusa |
|
|
|
Medusa: B & M's revolutionary roller coaster, Medusa, is a treat from start to finish. Even upon entering the ride's vicinity, she lets you know that she is a force to be reconed with. Built in 1999, the ride opened as the worlds first "floor-less" roller coaster. Floor-less indicating that you sit on a normal train, where the track is below the 'coaster. When your train has been "cleared," the floor opens up, and tucks itself away-- revealing nothing but the acid-green track below.
Medusa is nothing short of amazing. Standing 140+ Feet tall, and with 7 inversions, Medusa features roughly 4000 feet of twisted metal. In fact, there are only three pieces of straight track: 1. LIft hill, 2. Mid Course Break Run (MCBR) 3. Final break run.
Medusa has been designed for high occupancy. She has 8 rows with 4 seats across. During those busy summer days, the wait to ride this godess-to-everything-'coaster is about 40 mins to an hour. On those super hot, super busy summer days, where the line extends way past the entrance, and there is even a zig-zag queue for dipping dots, Medusa is worth the 2 to 3 hour wait. (I'd do it. Really!*)
The ride begins with a dip and a left turn to enter the lift hill. Upon reaching the top of the hill, the view is goregeous. Ahead of the train, the Monkey Pit (from the Drive-through Safari) is visible. To the right, the finale (I will get to that soon.) To the left, the first drop, vertical loop, half-coarkscrew to half loop combo. These three track elements pass in rapid succession. This ride lacks any kind of theming. But what she lacks in theme, she makes up with well placed inversions, track-over-track inversions, and inversions over PEOPLE standint in line!! This ride has the best timing I have experienced on a looping roller coaster. |
|
|
Rating: 9/10 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
*anyone in their right mind to wait three hours to ride any ride ain't in their right mind if the ride ain't TTD |
|
|
It is safe to say that the huge Boomerang loop at the entrance of the ride is the 1/2 way point. Upon exiting the boomerang loop, you have been flipped upside down for a total of 5 times. Following the boomerang is a steep twist to the right and the MCBR. Now the highlight. The ride slows down, and enters a decending left helix. From the helix, a camel hump, then the train screams through interlocking coarkscrews seperated by a banked turn. WOW. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Impressions: What can I say. I tried my dearest to be impartial while writing this review. I tried, I really did. As of now, Medusa is my favorite ride of all time. It has everything a roller coaster lover needs: height, speed, inversions. Medusa, like other B & M masterpieces, has this kind of sound about her. From the bellowing roar the wheels make when going into a low section of track and when picking up speed, to the absloute silence when exiting an inversion. Damn. I LOVE THIS RIDE!! I have a soft spot for track over track inversions, and although she lacks theming of any sort, the placement of the track design certainly picks up the slack. While on the ride, I love looking at the passer-bys as they enter the station looking up as if saying to themselves, "Am I actually going to ride this ride?" And being the world's first floorless definatelly garnered a few brownie points. Perfect execution, perfect timing, less then perfect score. If only there was a bit more. What is Medusa Mining Company anyway? What relation does it have with the whole Warner Brother aspect of Six Flags? Now if they kept the same track design, painted it a different color, and gave it a new name, she would then be perfect. |
|
|
|
Air Time: 9/10
Track Design/Layout: 9/10
Thrill: 9/10
Comfort: 8/10
Queue Length: 9/10
Overall: 9/10 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Medusa Pics |
|
|
|
Back to
main |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
  |
|