benleibo
Posts: 781
Registered: 6/25/2003
Rank: Gold Critic
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 8/30/2005 8:17:17 PM
As the world's premier coaster poll, the Golden Tickets came out with its 2005 edition. Not too many suprises, and the rankings seem to remain pretty consistent from year to year. Once again, Millennium Force just edges out SROS for the number one steel spot. Thunderhead becomes the number one woodie in just its second year of operation, ousting Boulder Dash at that position. Every year there are a few coasters in the awards that surprise me with their position - some seem way to high and others way too low. Here are my picks for overrated and underrated in this poll (* = I've ridden it):
Underrated:
-Montu (#10 Steel (*)) comes out as the world's best looping coaster. Then why is it #10? I guess the hypers just dominate these awards, but Montu is a fantastic coaster that is just as good or better than several coasters above it.
-Superman Krypton Coaster (#33 Steel) got cheated. Many consider it the best floorless, and the ranking seems a bit low.
-Gwazi (#43 Wood (*)) always seems to get screwed. It's a great GCI coaster that is a solid ride and should be at least 10 spots higher.
-Tonnerre De Zeus (#27 Wood) is often considered one of the best woodies in the world, and I have seen numerous sources give it this distinction. It's possible that its location hurt it, but many other hard-to-reach Euro coasters seem to do just fine.
Overrated:
-Raven (#5 Wood (*)) is a great coaster and is surprisingly intense for its size, but the praise it gets isn't deserved. To me, Legend, which is about 100 yards away, is a better coaster.
-Steel Force (#14 Steel (*)) is the most overrated of all!!! I can't believe it went as high as #4 or something at one point. Towards the bottom on my list of hypers.
-Batman:The Ride (#45 Steel) at SFGAm shouldn't be in the top 50. I know it was the first, but there are so many great unique coasters out there.
-Raptor (#11 Steel (*)) disappointed me. I had big expectations, and it gave a mediocre and rough ride. Doesn't deserve to be anywhere near the top 10.
-Magnum XL-200 (#3 Steel (*)) is one that has been overrated every single year. I just don't get why.
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"...for New York City, birthplace of the modern rollercoaster and the greatest city in the world."
-Robert Coker, Roller Coaster:A Thrill-Seeker's Guide to the Ultimate Scream Machines
Yeah NYC.
Message updated 8/30/2005 8:18:28 PM by benleibo
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coaster05
Posts: 6207
Registered: 2/29/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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8/30/2005 8:21:50 PM
They are a poll they are fun to read and disagree with. They make absolutely no impact on what rides I like considering two of my least favorite woodies made the top 50. (mean streak and SOB) Everyone has different tastes, course I have never been impressed with CP staff yet there they are everytime.
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BobFunland
Posts: 7962
Registered: 8/9/2001
Rank: Site Moderator
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8/30/2005 8:45:01 PM
Ben, this must be your favorite topic. I could have sworn that you made one identical to it last year.
Not everyone likes Montu as much as you, and your opinion of it being the world's best looper is yours. Heck, I think Top Gun is even better, but nonetheless, it was the highest looping coaster so what more can you ask? Besides, we all know these are CP-biased, plus, enthusiasts tend to love airtime. If you look at Mitch's poll the top is dominated by hypers.
If you think about Steel Force, it was in 10th place for hypers. That's fairly low..
Batman is a solid ride, and Raptor just goes back to the CP bias. Same with Magnum.
Don't get too worked up over the GTA's, they aren't very indicitive of what enthusiasts truly believe.
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Where are the seatbelts?
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coaster05
Posts: 6207
Registered: 2/29/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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8/30/2005 9:07:19 PM
I just rode raptor and other then the very last curve before the station I still notice no roughness. I find most the non clone inverts dominate my list from 11-20. Great Bear, Alpen, Raptor, Dueling(2)
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Cyclonic
Posts: 2636
Registered: 7/19/2002
Rank: Experiment 626
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8/30/2005 11:14:45 PM
Me, I just think the Golden Tickets are overrated, period.
Mitch's poll is a far better indicator of coaster ratings because it won't lean toward certain parks (like CP and HW).
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benleibo
Posts: 781
Registered: 6/25/2003
Rank: Gold Critic
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8/31/2005 12:14:42 PM
Yeah some polls seem to be better. But it seems that the GTA's get the most publicity and are presented better than some of the other polls.
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tacoking
Posts: 9914
Registered: 2/19/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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8/31/2005 8:32:49 PM
CP won Best Souvenirs? 
Obviously I think they are overrated. I agree with what Cylonic said about Mitch's polls.
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Danny
Posts: 6316
Registered: 5/23/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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8/31/2005 10:27:59 PM
I second that^
Magnum is a great coaster though. It's perfect except for the uncomfortable restraints.
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fergusonat
Posts: 813
Registered: 5/2/2005
Rank: Gold Critic
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8/31/2005 10:50:50 PM
YES...Steel Force sucked, IMHO...sorry Hercules and other Dorney Park-people Another underrated coaster would be Top Gun: The Jet Coaster, I remember it at like #43 or something...way too low if you ask me
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Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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9/1/2005 2:50:20 PM
I don't care if you didn't like the ride. That doesn't hurt my feelings. I wish you did. I don't know, I just think you are nuts for hating it  Just kidding.
These awards are a joke, point blank period.
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mrceagle
Posts: 13804
Registered: 6/9/2001
Rank: TPC News Minister
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9/6/2005 4:21:28 PM
I agree that the polls are a bit biosed. take SROS at SFNE maid second but the coaster has been going down hill since the acident. hell a senser blow just this last weekend and caused allot off problems.
I was glad to so Excalibure at Funtown/slpashtown USA make the list barly at 50. but why did the Cylcon at SFNE make it after all the damage that has been done to it over the years.
I know this sounds like SFNE bashing but I'm not. I think better maintained and more comfertable coaster are out there and deserve a better rating.
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Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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9/6/2005 9:16:05 PM
True, but the ride is still pretty sick. And I personally didn't find the ride uncomfortable or anything. I think I can agree on the maintanence thing though. It is wearing kind of fast. I wouldn't put it that high up there either though but for other reasons. I just can't get over the layout. I really can't stand it.
By the way mrceagle, I think you were a little harsh with your review of the ride on the site.
Anyway, more on these awards... Italian Job at number two on the new rides of the year?  Well, at least Hades was number one.
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mrceagle
Posts: 13804
Registered: 6/9/2001
Rank: TPC News Minister
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9/7/2005 4:09:09 PM
What on the Superman review. look how long it is. I have chenged the ratign many times to reflect its curant set up and opinion. I opted to keep the onld updates there to show how it has changed. same with cyclone.
I jsut think with the many top notch coasaters out there more shoudl be on the list. also I woudl like to know when the people road it. if they are still voting some thign high that they rode 4-5 years ago it's not as acurate. for example my reviews on SFOG rides are from when I went nearly 10 years ago so the rides may not be runign at the same quality as they did then.
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Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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9/7/2005 4:20:59 PM
Alright, well, I guess that is one of the problems posed with not having updates teling when a review is updated because the last time I read your review it was a 2 and it was a one liner saying that they have made it crappy. My bad I guess. Nothing wrong with the one that there is now, it seems fair now.
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thinkdif
Posts: 112
Registered: 7/21/2005
Rank: Bronze Critic
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9/7/2005 6:47:26 PM
I was surprised CP won bst souvenirs, what about BGW? I was also a bit disapointed that my home parks Boulder Dash didnt win best wooden, but hey, what can you do
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Cyclonic
Posts: 2636
Registered: 7/19/2002
Rank: Experiment 626
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9/7/2005 10:27:47 PM
As far as I am concerned, the wooden coaster poll is the only thing they got right, Thunderhead definately deserves to be at the top of that list, it is an outstanding ride.
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tacoking
Posts: 9914
Registered: 2/19/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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9/7/2005 10:28:36 PM
It seems the wooden coaster section always gets the least amount of flak.
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Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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9/7/2005 10:29:04 PM
They really do seem to do a good job with the woods every year. Every other category is always so political and watered down and crap. I do have to agree with you Cyclonic 
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002
Rank: Platinum Critic
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9/8/2005 12:27:22 AM
Whizzer - I don't care if it is only number 50, it must be a typo and should be around 500
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coaster05
Posts: 6207
Registered: 2/29/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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9/8/2005 7:41:57 AM
On whizzer I wonder if people keep worrying that it will be scraped, since that rumor is always being mentioned at SFGAM so maybe some real fans were trying to get it mentioned to keep it around.
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mrceagle
Posts: 13804
Registered: 6/9/2001
Rank: TPC News Minister
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9/8/2005 12:54:37 PM
That's posible but I don't know how long SF will bother keeping it. it's a big thing for Enthusiasts and a number of locals. but they want to get those awasy from teh park and they feel that only new coasters can do that.
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tacoking
Posts: 9914
Registered: 2/19/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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9/8/2005 1:24:28 PM
The Whizzer just sucks, now. I found it entertaining back on my first ride or two, but since whenever I ride it I just think of how boring it is. 
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coaster05
Posts: 6207
Registered: 2/29/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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9/8/2005 2:58:49 PM
I still prefer it to a couple other coasters there but it does take up a pretty good size chunk of land so I am sure it is on its last days.
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mrceagle
Posts: 13804
Registered: 6/9/2001
Rank: TPC News Minister
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9/8/2005 4:48:06 PM
That woudl be my guess on why they want to take it out. they could like fit more then jsut a replacment coaster there.
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