Click here for a downloadable video!!! (225kb)
The video includes a 3D working model, pictures and a comentary!!!
The coaster designer John Wadley once said that, “theming a ride is about more than creating a nice piece of handiwork. It is about creating a desired emotion”. Well the theme for Apocalypse is ‘the end of the world’. This is far from the most obvious of themes for a ride, yet this does not seem to matter. In fact it is basically an excuse to create as intimidating an environment as possible. Getting to the point of this anecdote the main purpose of Apocalypse is to intimidate its riders, using whatever means it requires.
The ride system itself it a simple one, involving cars be dragged to the top of a tower before being pulled back down to the bottom. What sets Apocalypse aside from the many other similar tower rides is the drama surrounding the plummet, which at the end of the day only lasts a few seconds and could so easily become a one trick pony.
Guests, or should I say victims, pass beneath a giant gateway. The majority of the queue is a feeble affair packing as much into as little a space as possible thrown up quickly on a minimal budget. To be frank if this cattle grid was even half full it really would be an intimidating affair-quite possibly the end of the world. Or rather it would be by the time you got to the front.
Luckily I don’t think this has ever happened, it wasn’t even quite full on launch day. We march through until the line diverges; one marked ‘sit-down’ and the other ominously-‘stand-up’. We recommend that first time riders select the sit-down option and build up to the others.
Whichever option you are planning to dare the experience differs little until you board your gondola. Steps lead up into a ‘bunker’ where we enter a balcony that looks down upon the loading platform below. We are then led down to await our peril. The interior is basic but includes some nice touches like mock doors and gadgets to reinforce the futuristic bunker environment. Even the shape has been cleverly designed into a pyramid, thus angling our gaze up the tower where for the first time we really appreciate its height.
Due to the short length of each ride and the number of guests willing to pass up on the opportunity to experience the end of the world; we are soon being ushered to a car. Here the experience begins to differ. I will therefore give a generic review before focussing on the differences between each element.
The wail of a siren is our cue to depart for whatever the future holds. Briefly work lights whiz round, the type associated with construction sites. As we depart from the security of the bunker we accelerate until we slow at the top before being held for three agonizing seconds. While first timers contemplate their fate wondering whether it really is too late to turn back while those already acquainted with Apocalypse are treated to some great site seeing. Standing at 54 metres we are at the highest point in the park. When on the right side of the tower you can see everything spread out before you, almost as if the park map has been bought to life.
I would recommend drawing your eyes to the distant green roof of Pirate Adventure, I have no idea how many traditional ghost trains can be packed into such a large area but it is a real eye opener…bang…! Site seeing over chum, because this is the end of the world, or at the very least the end of the ride. The gondola is pulled down to earth at 4G. Therefore it plunges theoretically several times the pace we would expect to fall under the force of gravity, thus having the effect of pushing us hard into the restraint. It’s an amazing sensation that enthusiasts know as ejector airtime.
As we enter the bunker magnetic brakes bring us to an abrupt hold. By this time we are descending rapidly and would continue to do so were the seat not in the way. Here we are pushed down hard into the seat resulting in a fairly extreme effect. Scientifically we have gone from fairly high negative Gs to fairly high positive Gs in under two seconds. Apocalypse is quite literally breath taking.
Sit down is the standard option. Despite being seemingly less intimidating than the other two it has very similar forces involved, perhaps slightly higher. Therefore despite relieving the initial fear the final rush is every bit as terrifying. The other two elements tip forwards 20 degrees having the vindictive effect of making the tower seem even higher and making it difficult to calculate how close to the top you are. Floorless stand up may appear to be a more painful version, particularly for male riders, yet looks are relatively deceptive. Instead the ascent is more exhilarating than ever and it is definitely worth the ride.
Apocalypse epitomises everything I love about the park and is a real triumph, at least everything after the initial pre-bunker queue. The three elements offer three rides for the price of two. All of which are short but pack an incredibly punch. Theming and effects, although minimal, really enhance the experience and seem to ladle on the ‘fear factored’ that is so essential for tower rides.
Official /
CF /
Coaster Kingdom /
MM /
DMP Plus /
Click here for a downloadable video!!! (225kb)
The video includes a 3D working model, pictures and a comentary!!!
The coaster designer John Wadley once said that, “theming a ride is about more than creating a nice piece of handiwork. It is about creating a desired emotion”. Well the theme for Apocalypse is ‘the end of the world’. This is far from the most obvious of themes for a ride, yet this does not seem to matter. In fact it is basically an excuse to create as intimidating an environment as possible. Getting to the point of this anecdote the main purpose of Apocalypse is to intimidate its riders, using whatever means it requires.
The ride system itself it a simple one, involving cars be dragged to the top of a tower before being pulled back down to the bottom. What sets Apocalypse aside from the many other similar tower rides is the drama surrounding the plummet, which at the end of the day only lasts a few seconds and could so easily become a one trick pony.
Guests, or should I say victims, pass beneath a giant gateway. The majority of the queue is a feeble affair packing as much into as little a space as possible thrown up quickly on a minimal budget. To be frank if this cattle grid was even half full it really would be an intimidating affair-quite possibly the end of the world. Or rather it would be by the time you got to the front.
Luckily I don’t think this has ever happened, it wasn’t even quite full on launch day. We march through until the line diverges; one marked ‘sit-down’ and the other ominously-‘stand-up’. We recommend that first time riders select the sit-down option and build up to the others.
Whichever option you are planning to dare the experience differs little until you board your gondola. Steps lead up into a ‘bunker’ where we enter a balcony that looks down upon the loading platform below. We are then led down to await our peril. The interior is basic but includes some nice touches like mock doors and gadgets to reinforce the futuristic bunker environment. Even the shape has been cleverly designed into a pyramid, thus angling our gaze up the tower where for the first time we really appreciate its height.
Due to the short length of each ride and the number of guests willing to pass up on the opportunity to experience the end of the world; we are soon being ushered to a car. Here the experience begins to differ. I will therefore give a generic review before focussing on the differences between each element.
The wail of a siren is our cue to depart for whatever the future holds. Briefly work lights whiz round, the type associated with construction sites. As we depart from the security of the bunker we accelerate until we slow at the top before being held for three agonizing seconds. While first timers contemplate their fate wondering whether it really is too late to turn back while those already acquainted with Apocalypse are treated to some great site seeing. Standing at 54 metres we are at the highest point in the park. When on the right side of the tower you can see everything spread out before you, almost as if the park map has been bought to life.
I would recommend drawing your eyes to the distant green roof of Pirate Adventure, I have no idea how many traditional ghost trains can be packed into such a large area but it is a real eye opener…bang…! Site seeing over chum, because this is the end of the world, or at the very least the end of the ride. The gondola is pulled down to earth at 4G. Therefore it plunges theoretically several times the pace we would expect to fall under the force of gravity, thus having the effect of pushing us hard into the restraint. It’s an amazing sensation that enthusiasts know as ejector airtime.
As we enter the bunker magnetic brakes bring us to an abrupt hold. By this time we are descending rapidly and would continue to do so were the seat not in the way. Here we are pushed down hard into the seat resulting in a fairly extreme effect. Scientifically we have gone from fairly high negative Gs to fairly high positive Gs in under two seconds. Apocalypse is quite literally breath taking.
Sit down is the standard option. Despite being seemingly less intimidating than the other two it has very similar forces involved, perhaps slightly higher. Therefore despite relieving the initial fear the final rush is every bit as terrifying. The other two elements tip forwards 20 degrees having the vindictive effect of making the tower seem even higher and making it difficult to calculate how close to the top you are. Floorless stand up may appear to be a more painful version, particularly for male riders, yet looks are relatively deceptive. Instead the ascent is more exhilarating than ever and it is definitely worth the ride.
Apocalypse epitomises everything I love about the park and is a real triumph, at least everything after the initial pre-bunker queue. The three elements offer three rides for the price of two. All of which are short but pack an incredibly punch. Theming and effects, although minimal, really enhance the experience and seem to ladle on the ‘fear factored’ that is so essential for tower rides.
| Official / CF / Coaster Kingdom / MM / DMP Plus / |
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