Six Flags Darien Lake might not have the largest collection of coasters, or the most flashy, but considering it was the first amusement park I've ever experienced, I'm always going to have a soft spot for the park and its ride lineup. Today I'll examine the park's eight roller coasters and see how they stack up against each other.
8. Hoot N Holler - N/A - This is the park's kiddie coaster, and the one I have never ridden. The ride requires you to be with a child who falls within the height requirements to ride, and frankly I'm not that desperate to put that extra effort in.
7. Boomerang - 3/10 - Boomerang is one of many identical coasters known as "Vekoma Boomerangs" that exist around the country. The ride is simple, but surprisingly intense. The problems is that the ride's track is so rough that the ride's inversions are near unbearable, and the fact that you have to do it all backwards really makes this a workout for your head and stomach. Overall my least favorite coaster model and one I often dread to ride, even if I have nostalgia with this one.
6. Mind Eraser - 3/10 - I have not ridden this ride too recently, however this is another ride model (Known as the "Vekoma Suspended Looping Coaster") that has a bunch of clones at other parks. My memory with both this coaster and from those other clones is of an intense, but insanely rough experience with awful restraints. Even if this ride has decent restraints, the track is so poorly profiled that the experience (combined with the rides intense layout) is still not very exciting. That said I put it over Boomerang as Mind Eraser does feature a couple interesting elements and a decent sense of speed.
5. Predator - 5/10 - I used to absolutely despise Predator, but for some reason I actually enjoyed my recent rides. This is one of the roughest wooden coasters one will find, yet my recent rides I found that it didn't bother me much, and I enjoyed the coaster's airtime. That said some sections are quite unbearable and I would be stretching to call it a good ride. Perhaps if it continues to give enjoyable rides next year I'll move it into the "good" category.
4. Motocoaster - 6/10 - Motocoaster is solid for a family ride, and meets the bare minimum requirements in my eyes for a "good ride". The launch is very good, and the ride's motorcycle seat gimmick elevates this above being just a decent family coaster. Past that, the rides course is fairly uninspiring. That said, Motocoaster is a comfortable experience with a good gimmick and a fun launch.
3. Viper - 6/10 - Viper is a ride that has grown on me in recent visits, and I find it to be a solid "classic" looping coaster. This was the first coaster in the world to feature 5 inversions, and I enjoy the rides layout. The first half with the drop, loop and batwing is the highlight of the ride, as the inversions are smooth and exciting. The second half features two corkscrews, however they are not nearly as rough as those on Corkscrew at CP. The ride finishes with an exciting tunnel feature that adds some nice variety. Viper is still an old ride and therefore isn't the most well designed ride out there (also the trains are quite uncomfortable), but it still earns its title as a classic coaster with some exciting inversions and a fun tunnel element.
2. Tantrum - 6.5/10 - Tantrum is Darien Lake's newest coaster, and it is a good fit for this park. It isn't exactly a noteworthy ride, but it certainly is a good supporting coaster. Tantrum's drop is the highlight, being beyond vertical and launching the rider out of their seat. Beyond the drop the ride is smooth and the inversions are well executed. When you hit the breaks, you are out of breath but also a little underwhelmed due to the short track length. That said, the short experience is made better by the use of lap bars, which is always the ideal ride restraint. While too small to be a standout, Tantrum has some solid moments and is a fun ride.
1. Ride of Steel - 8/10 - Ride of Steel is Darien Lake's marquee attraction, and has been for over two decades. Standing at 208ft tall, Ride of Steel features a great first drop aided by some amazing lap bar Restraints. While the remainder of the layout is a bit repetitive (two helixes for some reason), I really find this to be at the standard of most hypercoasters. The airtime throughout is consistent and often intense, and the coaster maintains an exciting sense of speed throughout. Even with a questionable layout, Ride of Steel is an airtime-packed speed machine with great restraints and noteworthy moments that put it in the same league as other hypercoasters.
As someone who has grown up in the Western New York area, Darien Lake was the place to go growing up so seeing this perspective on the rides was a new way to look at it. Personally the Viper was my favourite ride even though as you stated it is on the older ride.
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