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Accelerating at one hundred twenty miles per hour atop a gargantuan four hundred twenty feet tower, are you ready to go? Entering the park, seeing those brave souls race for the sky, it really makes your heart race and you have one of two thoughts in your mind: I have to ride this or I will never ride this. Fortunately for me, I was the former. Standing in the queue line, it adds a whole other layer to fear. You approach the sign about occasionally the train not clearing the lift hill, the aboarding passengers are in your peripherial vision, and the sooner you realize, I am next.
As I was strapped in my seat I was fought with skepticism, but also nervous excitement. I had a sole lapbar and a seatbelt. The only restraints preventing me from the strong G's. From there, the train starts to slowly move as the train in front of us is waiting for those precious seventeen seconds. Yes, you heard that correctly. Seventeen seconds. Seventeen seconds later, the train cleared the lift hill and now we're next. The first thing you hear is a discordant enginee sound. Then you hear "keep your head back, arms down, and hold on". From there, your heart is racing so much you think it's going to pop out of your chest. It keeps beating. Faster, faster, faster. You keep hearing the continous enginee sounds. Sweat is building, your face starts to break out. 321. VROOM! Before you have time to scream, you have just been launched from 0-120 miles per hour in less than 4 seconds. Before you even know it, you are at the very top of the tower, taking in the sight, watching your life flash before your eyes. Once you descend the 90 degree extravaganza, you realize, that was the best 17 seconds of your life. Now, it's time to analyze what just happened.
First off, how are the restraints? Excellent. The lap bar, while providing more freedom, makes you feel secure and adds layers to the ride. Cedar Point could've gone the OTS route, but instead, they chose wisely. How is the launch? So enthralling it becomes orgasmic. It's such a huge rush in such little time. Value those few seconds you're launched because this is a short ride. Comfortability? Superior. I have never felt this comfortable on a ride. With such fast speeds, you'd think it's a bumpy ride. It's everything but. It's as smooth as glass.
Airtime? Unfortunately, you're going so fast, you don't have time for airtime. For me, it wasn't a big deal. I don't need my stomach going up to my chin every time. It was actually refreshing to see a coaster not rely so much on the typical butterfly-like effect. How's the drop? Dazzling. It is seriously spectacular looking down that gigantic beauty. Especially at the night. It's simply breathtaking.
All in all, the ride lives up to its name. This is just an unbeatable ride that has it all. The height, the speed, the comfortability, the memorabilia. And that launch? Nothing will prepare you for it and reasonably so. There is nothing even close to that feeling. Cedar Point, you truly outdid yourself with this one. This a ride that will never be forgotten and a story I will live to tell.
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