CoastrGlxy
Posts: 358
Registered: 5/23/2005
Rank: Silver Critic
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 9/1/2005 5:19:59 PM
I feel like some reviewers give out 10's like they're going out of style. If you've only been to two parks in your life and say Outlaw at Adventureland is the best coaster you've ridden, I give you a pass. But I don't get it when more experienced critics do that. I guess it all depends on how you define a 10.
It also really irks me when a reviewer points out several things that's wrong w/ a coaster and then gives it a 10. In my opinion, a 10 is something that's the BEST of it's kind and/or has no or very few flaws that you can find. For example, I gave S:ROS @ SFNE a 10. I honestly don't think it could be better. That's how I define a 10, how do you?
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adriahna
Posts: 4692
Registered: 6/4/2003
Rank: Site Moderator
Skooter Junkie
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 9/1/2005 6:22:54 PM
As for me, if I come off of a ride, and really feel that it's given me a heck of a lot of joy, thrill, laughs, you get the idea - I mean really done it's job well and served it's purpose with enthusiasm, it darned well deserves a ten. It could be a coaster, a carousel, a dark ride, you name it. As well, I don't reserve my tens for just one ride out of all that I've ridden of that category - to me, for example, I cannot hold back from giving tens to the Phoenix, Millenium Force, Kingda Ka, the Cyclone and such - they're all pretty darned perfect, in their own ways. Good question - anyone else have an opinion?
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Timberman
Posts: 845
Registered: 9/21/2004
Rank: Gold Critic
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9/1/2005 7:13:14 PM
I'm with adriahna. My tens aren't necessarily based on the perfection of the ride, so much as my estimation of whether it makes the world a qualitatively better place to live. Son of Beast, for example, has many flaws, but I live a better life knowing that such an uncompromisingly ferocious roller coaster can exist in this world. Riding SOB is a riveting, totally absorbing experience. When I'm on it, I'm fully in the moment. Shivering Timbers, on the other hand, has all the technical elements of a ten, but it just doesn't hit me where I live. I'm not totally in the moment on Timbers because I'm thinking, "Okay, yet another hill. What's next? Okay, yet another hill. What's next? Okay..."
That said, I try to be reasonable. I feel that Cyclops makes the world a better place by offering an incomparable moment of ejector airtime that I want to experience over and over. However, I realize that the ride is otherwise fairly short and limited, so I can't give it a ten. Similarly, I can't give Nitro a ten because I don't consider the ride experience transformative, but I do recognize that it is an excellent, impeccably-engineered roller coaster with a well-designed layout, so I give it an eight, which means only about 20% of coasters can top it.
I always try to consider the merits of a ride from an objective standpoint, but ultimately, an indefinable chemistry separates an exciting, well-conceived ride which might get a seven or eight from a legend that deserves a nine or ten.
Message updated 9/1/2005 7:15:25 PM by Timberman
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Danny
Posts: 6316
Registered: 5/23/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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9/1/2005 7:21:50 PM
I base it on how much I like the ride, not necessarily if it's the most famous or the largest. A ride has to be really great for me to give it a ten. My top ten coasters are all tens along with many rides at Disney and IOA. (Pirates, Splash Mountain, Tower of Terror, Spiderman, Ripsaw Falls, Popeye, and JPRA)
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hrrytraver
Posts: 1270
Registered: 7/16/2005
Rank: Platinum Critic
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9/1/2005 11:38:43 PM
coasters should be unique unto themselves, so how can we compare them to each other? in figure skating, these people go to all this trouble to get crazy costumes and pick songs, but basically the judges are just looking at how perfect their "triple axles" etc are. their scores and medals have little or nothing to do with creativity, but rather with mechanics. this makes sense because let's say some judge really hates gwen stefani which happens to be a skater's song choice. this way they will be judged objectively, not through biases. however, i prefer creativity to technique. most will agree that a lyrical guitarist is more interesting than one who just shows off their technique. roller coasters are similar. i don't think one can judge them by a checklist - i.e. did it have a curving drop?...check...did it have comfy seats?....check...did it..?....and so on. when roller coasters are concerned, i just extend a type of "antenna" which "absorbs" the spirit of the coaster. a ten is an unmistakable moment, where you sense an affinity and a friendship with the coaster.
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BobFunland
Posts: 7962
Registered: 8/9/2001
Rank: Site Moderator
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9/1/2005 11:57:15 PM
First off rides are only rated against others in a similar category: i.e. wood vs. wood, log flumes vs. log flumes. This is why Lusse Skooters get 10s while 95% of coasters do not for me. If I think a certain ride is at the top of its class (at least out of the rides that I have ridden), it will more than likely get a 7 or above.
From there, I guage how much I happen to like the ride an enjoy it. Rampage is a better coaster than Lightning Racer, but we had a blast that saturday night at Hershey winning all 4 times. It was just one of those memories of a summer that you won't forget, so I gave it a 10 while Rampage, a better coaster, only got a 9. Rampage still wins in the end since its in my top 10. If I like the ride a lot then a 9 is a solid choice.
The jump from 9 to 10 is big for me -- I do not hand out 10s like Canada hands out perscription drugs. Rather, the ride has to have a special something. Whether its something like "Lightning Racer is my girlfriends fav. woodie and we had a blast that night", so be it. If it's a longevity attachment, much like Mind Bender, so be it. If I think the ride is just so far at the top of everything, then it will get a 10. If I truly believe that a ride is hard to beat (like Spiderman and Dollywood express), it will get a 10.
I guess that's it in a nutshell. I've given about 15 ten's out of 282 reviews, which equates to about 5%, so I hold a ten with the highest respect possible and endow only the elite rides with a ten to keep such an honor prestegious.
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002
Rank: Platinum Critic
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9/2/2005 12:00:51 AM
for me a ride has to be best of breed to get a ten although it doesn't have to be perfect. Is there really a perfect ride?
For example the woodies I have given 10s are all great all around coasters and the best at something:
Cyclone - Scariest/Wildest
Phoenix/Shivering Timbers - the airtime kings
Boulder Dash - best terrain coaster
Avalanche - unbridled force and pure insanity
Silver Comet - relentless
Thunderhead - best front row coaster, best coaster from any seat
Beast - best night coaster
Hades - unique, inventive, best pre-lift hill action
off the top of my head I don't know if I gave any other woodies a 10 (maybe Cornball Express)
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Mom always said, "Don't play ball in the house".
Message updated 9/2/2005 12:03:15 AM by larrygator
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CoastrGlxy
Posts: 358
Registered: 5/23/2005
Rank: Silver Critic
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9/2/2005 11:41:48 AM
It's really interesting to hear everyone's explanation behind what they think creates 10 status. I have a pretty analytical mind, so I think that's the reason why I judge on "perfection" or at least something with no discernable flaws in my opinion. I do analysis at work and deal w/ numbers all day and in my free time I'm into reviews & ratings (tpc.com & rottentomatoes.com) So I'm a numbers guy and I can pretty much seperate my feelings for a ride from its overall quality. So I can have a really GREAT time on Volcano and still step back and give it an 8. Do you remember when you got a paper back in grade school with a 100 at the top written red ink? For that assignment you didn't get anything wrong. That's how I see coasters that are 10's. It's cool to see what others think though.
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002
Rank: Platinum Critic
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9/2/2005 12:07:06 PM
Quote:
CoastrGlxy said:
Do you remember when you got a paper back in grade school with a 100 at the top written red ink? For that assignment you didn't get anything wrong. That's how I see coasters that are 10's. It's cool to see what others think though. |
thats why I liked tests with extra credit questions
Message updated 9/6/2005 1:08:27 PM by larrygator
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RCGenius
Posts: 1180
Registered: 12/23/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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9/3/2005 6:24:01 AM
When I give my rides a 10, I base it on the overall experience & how I can describe the whole layout showing how perfect or almost perfect it is. As ya'll know, I only gave like 12 coasters a perfect 10 since I've been logged in to this website. That's b/c I try to see if the overall ride experience was to my liking or not. Even coasters that I'll give a 10 to might have maybe 1-2 drawbacks, but besides that, as long as the coaster was a lot of fun & it gave me that special so'em that'll make me want to give it some re-rides, the coasters that make a 10 on my rating's right at perfection to me.
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fergusonat
Posts: 813
Registered: 5/2/2005
Rank: Gold Critic
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9/3/2005 2:34:19 PM
I myself have only given seven 10's out of 58 reviews, hmm...I guess I'm tougher than I thought I was  I judge rides on how much fun I have on them. When you analyze a ride as much as some people do, then the fun is often lost. 
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therock
Posts: 127
Registered: 6/8/2005
Rank: Bronze Critic
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9/6/2005 11:44:13 AM
Hey ferg, you are right. Although some analysis is required, over-analysis often kills the spirit of the ride. I learned this last week when riding Katun 4 times in Italy. I did not find it to be as wrecklessly violent as Alpengeist, but the elements were well laid out, and it was smooth and fast. It is the only coaster that I have ever ridden in which I ran back onto the queue right after riding. After riding Alpie, I ran home.  Katun was just so much fun to ride that I was shouting out Here comes (insert name of element) in joyous exiliration before each element. It was powerful and unique, but it was also smooth and fun.
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To be the man, WHOOOO! You gotta beat the man.
Message updated 9/6/2005 11:44:33 AM by therock
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AmsmtPk
Posts: 117
Registered: 9/12/2005
Rank: Bronze Critic
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11/13/2005 2:44:02 PM
Wow, someone else in this group is a figure skater. Me too. I rate roller coasters the same way I do figureskating. Every competetive skater can jump and spin but very few can actually skate. Coasters the same way. It's not the size, speed or fame that excites me, it's the way the ride makes me feel. I have only ridden two coaster that actually made me cry real tears of joy, and that the Ghostrider and N.M. Rattler. Ghostrider, because I use to work at Knotts Berry farm, back in the 1970's when the rides were owned by Hurlbut amusement company. I use to look at the park and the land ad dream of what could be. Twenty years later, poof, a dream come true, a wonderful new roller coaster. A great layout that you can walk under and even drive your car under. It is a beautiful structure with a LOT of extra wood for earthquake protection, (It smells great on a rainy day) I gave it a high mark but not quite a full "10". The waiting line is long and boring. The ride operators don't seem to be able to handle the number of trains and they "stack" them outside the station more often than not. The last helix is a bit rough, and to me, looks like an after thought. ......The N.M. Rattler made me cry as well. I didn't expect to experiance such a thrill from such a small roller coaster. The structure is unique in the way it is woven around the existing trees and flat rides in the park. The coaster is built directly over the existing miniature train ride. You can walk under it, and even hug the supports as the coaster passes over head. There is a park bench with it's back up against the final helix that is fun to feel the rumble. The track crosses over the waiting area and the line is short. If you want the front car or back car you will wait a bit longer, but in a seperate line. It is also the last CCI coaster ever (1/2) built. The company went bankrupt and Cliff's had to finish building the ride. That, to me, makes it very special and I do give it a great big TEN.
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I'm moved to Albuquerque, across the street from Cliff's Amusement Park.
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Canobie Coaster
Posts: 2694
Registered: 7/26/2005
Rank: Platinum Critic
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11/13/2005 4:57:45 PM
I give 10s out if a ride is fantastic to me, one of my favorites, memorable ride, best of its kind, fun, and how good it is compared to other rides in the park.
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Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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11/14/2005 2:32:13 PM
^ I really don't like comparisons within the park. To me, I think that is where some rides can get a bad rap. I personally think that The Wildcat at Lake Compounce is a solid wooden coaster, but with Boulder Dash in the same park it gets pretty well trampled on.
^^ WOW. An analogy that incorporates figure skating to describe roller coasters. That makes a lot of sense though and I enjoyed reading that. It is kind of like a pitcher that throws macho fastballs but doesn't really know how to pitch. Very cool.
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mrceagle
Posts: 13804
Registered: 6/9/2001
Rank: TPC News Minister
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11/14/2005 7:18:17 PM
I'm one that some think I give out too many tens. For me it is a ride that gives a great amount of fun exitment and I give it credit for its location, park, Style, etc. I won't look down on a kiddie coaster because its a kiddie coaster or say that a 75ft coastaer is bad because its smaller then some Hyper I've riden. Like mentioned before If I get off and am hapy and had a good ride I am likely to give it a ten. I tack off points for a short ride if it looks run down, I had to wait way too long to get on, things like that.
I rate verry little low and have given out only a few 1's.
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The Lado
Posts: 178
Registered: 5/24/2004
Rank: Bronze Critic
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11/28/2005 6:19:54 PM
With me a coaster can't be too predictable. There should be a tunnel or an unexpected turn or something in that nature. Also, enough g's to make ya laugh, but not enough to scare the shit outta ya. Lastly, when you get off the coaster you should want to go back on and not be rubbing any bruises.
Dalado.
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Timberman
Posts: 845
Registered: 9/21/2004
Rank: Gold Critic
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12/3/2005 12:19:18 PM
Quote:
AmsmtPk said:
Wow, someone else in this group is a figure skater. Me too. I rate roller coasters the same way I do figureskating. Every competetive skater can jump and spin but very few can actually skate. Coasters the same way. It's not the size, speed or fame that excites me, it's the way the ride makes me feel. I have only ridden two coaster that actually made me cry real tears of joy, and that the Ghostrider and N.M. Rattler. Ghostrider, because I use to work at Knotts Berry farm, back in the 1970's when the rides were owned by Hurlbut amusement company. I use to look at the park and the land ad dream of what could be. Twenty years later, poof, a dream come true, a wonderful new roller coaster. A great layout that you can walk under and even drive your car under. It is a beautiful structure with a LOT of extra wood for earthquake protection, (It smells great on a rainy day) I gave it a high mark but not quite a full "10". The waiting line is long and boring. The ride operators don't seem to be able to handle the number of trains and they "stack" them outside the station more often than not. The last helix is a bit rough, and to me, looks like an after thought. ......The N.M. Rattler made me cry as well. I didn't expect to experiance such a thrill from such a small roller coaster. The structure is unique in the way it is woven around the existing trees and flat rides in the park. The coaster is built directly over the existing miniature train ride. You can walk under it, and even hug the supports as the coaster passes over head. There is a park bench with it's back up against the final helix that is fun to feel the rumble. The track crosses over the waiting area and the line is short. If you want the front car or back car you will wait a bit longer, but in a seperate line. It is also the last CCI coaster ever (1/2) built. The company went bankrupt and Cliff's had to finish building the ride. That, to me, makes it very special and I do give it a great big TEN. |
I just want to say that I think this is a terrific and moving post. How great is it that a roller coaster can bring on tears of joy? AmsmtPk touches on an important point here in that part of how we perceive a ride depends upon how we approach it. If you're always looking for a ride's flaws and not opening yourself up to the overall experience, you might miss the big picture. The line between proficiency and art is still what separates a fun or exciting experience from a transformative one.
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hrrytraver
Posts: 1270
Registered: 7/16/2005
Rank: Platinum Critic
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12/5/2005 10:43:06 AM
i had tears streaming from my face on the beast after the last ride i ever had on it (1993!), but that my have been from the cold of early april. my nose was also running snot of joy. it FELT like the tears and snot were because of the ecstasy of a dark thrashing through the woods on a beast night trip, not merely the cold and wind.
anyway, many say ghostrider rides rough nowadays. this is a destination coaster for me for sure. i was in LA this year and didn't try it for various reasons and i'm kicking myself for it. does anyone have any info on this? anyone ridden it over the years it's been open to compare it?
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coasterwom
Posts: 1446
Registered: 3/23/2001
Rank: Platinum Critic
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4/19/2006 6:22:10 AM
I rate rides a 10 when they are very exciting, have alot of different elements to them, are alot of fun, and when they make an impression on me that I can't forget.
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