The
Joker – Six Flags Great Adventure
This 4-D
free fly coaster from S&S rides has been installed at a number of Six Flags
parks. It’s known as The Joker at all
parks with the exception of Six Flags Fiesta Texas Texas Texas
The
Joker operates with five vehicles seating four riders in swivelling face-off
seats on either side of the track.
(There’s a purple and a green side, representing The DC Comics villain’s
signature colors.) The seats are tilted
slightly backward. When the vehicles are
dispatched they ascend a 120-foot 90- degree chain lift hill and riders get contrasting
views depending upon which way they are facing.
The inclined seats rock while going up the lift hill, adding to the
anticipation. After reaching the top the
seats flip over for the first of half a dozen times, at seemingly random
intervals. As is evident from the
photograph, this is a multi-level ride with a series of dips and short
hops. And because there is no way to
anticipate when the seats will flip, the ride is utterly chaotic. There are two 90-degree “raven drops” which
feel like free falls. The riders find
themselves facing almost straight down.
The
ride experience is disorienting and unpredictable with everything topsy-turvy. At times it can be pretty intense and I find
that it varies according to weight distribution. The most intense ride I had occurred when I
was riding with two people facing me while there was an empty seat beside me. The combined weight of the two riders facing
me caused me to flip over harder than had I been riding four to a vehicle. While The Joker is by no means an extreme
thrill ride, it’s a fun ride that wreaks havoc with the senses. 3 ½ out of 5 stars. For more information about rides at Six Flags
Great Adventure, visit https://www.sixflags.com/greatadventure
