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5. Nitro – Six Flags Great Adventure

Image: Six Flags

Only one attraction in the top five finishes in the same place this year as last, and it’s Nitro, the explosive roller coaster that Bolliger & Mabillard built for $20 million in 2001. A running joke about this ride is that they originally remixed music from Mortal Kombat to set the mood for thrilling journey up and then quickly down. You’ll definitely feel like you’re in a fight when the lift train propels you upward 230 feet in a matter of seconds. Then, you’ll feel what you had for lunch rolling around in your stomach as you shoot downward at 80 miles per hour at a 68-degree angle. Nitro doesn’t mess around.

At 5,394 feet, Nitro is one of the longest roller coasters in the world. Its length means that you’ll sustain velocity for an extended period during the 140 seconds of ride time. As you fly down the track, you’ll face 4.3 Gs of force plus one of the rarest features of any steel coaster. Nitro has a hammerhead turn, which is the equivalent of a U-turn at a speed that would get you arrested on a highway. It’s an exhilarating sensation that’s almost inimitable. The popularity of this ride element has kept Nitro in the top five for the body of a decade. To a larger point, the skill set of Bolliger & Mabillard is that their creations are timeless.

4. Expedition GeForce – Holiday Park

Image: Holiday Park

Expedition GeForce holds the distinction of being the only non-North American coaster on the list. Located at Holiday Park in Haßloch, Germany, it’s also one of the old guard on the list, constructed by Intamin in 2001. At 174 feet tall, it’s one of the shortest rides on this list, not even qualifying for hypercoaster status. Also, its max speed is just 75 miles per hour, and the coaster lasts for only 75 seconds.

Given these mundane numbers, you’re probably wondering why it’s still considered such a classic more than 15 years since its debut. The answer is a matter of degrees. The initial drop for Expedition GeForce is a whopping 82 degrees, but then the ride immediately banks into a second 74-degree turn. The rider never has the opportunity to catch their breath from that moment forward, with a series of big air-time bunny hops populating the rest of journey through 4,002 feet of track. This coaster is proof that an enthusiast doesn’t need huge specs to have a great time on a ride.

3. Superman the Ride Virtual Reality Coaster – Six Flags New England

Image: Six Flags

One of the most inventive roller coasters in the world once again received a makeover last year. Superman the Ride, formerly Bizarro and Superman: Ride of Steel, offers a new wrinkle every few years. That’s because the park planners at Six Flags New England pride themselves on keeping their anchor attraction fresh. Their devotion and attention to detail explains why it’s consistently finished first or second in the category since its inception in 2003. Alas, this year, it fell to third place, but I think that’s unfair. Superman the Ride Virtual Reality Coaster is the first major coaster to get ahead of the curve on the next wave of theme park technology.

In March of 2016, Six Flags introduced the latest, greatest technology to the steel coaster industry. They blended the existing thrill ride through 5,400 feet of track with Oculus Rift technology. The outcome of this novel enhancement is that guests wearing Samsung Gear VR headsets experience a full 360-degree, 3D story as they zoom down the tracks. The brave souls willing to put on these headsets watch as Superman boldly defends Metropolis against Lex Luthor’s latest incursion, a set of malevolent Lex Bots. The latest iteration of Superman the Ride blends an already beloved steel roller coaster with comic book action in an amazing virtual reality setting. Frankly, I’m surprised it didn’t perform better. I suspect that the technology is too daring for some of the voters.

 
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