I’ve been nervous to even write about the new Bizarro at Six Flags New England. Obviously, the revamped Intamin hyper coaster isn’t really new. It’s another in a line of renovated roller coasters in Six Flags’ new era of roller coaster makeovers. Why would I be nervous?
Superman Ride of Steel is my #1 ranked roller coaster and I consider it the best roller coaster I’ve ever ridden. Its airtime has been unmatched by all of the coasters that I’ve ridden since I rode it in 2005, although El Toro came close. And it’s interesting layout with great highs and lows, two tunnels, and helices is a masterpiece. So, when I heard that Six Flags was going to enhance and improve it, I was very skeptical that a coaster rated as the Best Steel Roller Coaster (by Mitch’s Internet Poll & the Golden Ticket Awards), would come out better than ever. Read my full Superman: Ride of Steel review to see why I gave it a 10 out of 10.
The Bizarro Transformation
Let’s take a look at the upgrades that the ride underwent during its transformation from world’s greatest super hero to little known villain. Like, the Medusa to Bizarro transformation at sister park Six Flags Great Adventure, this Bizarro ride received a fire, misters as riders pass through the shields, and on-board speakers. I’ll try to add some more information about the ride from some reviews I can find, but for now I’d like to hear from you!
What’s the Verdict?
While I haven’t been to Massachusetts to ride it yet, I’d love for readers to leave their take and mini-reviews. Is Bizarro better than Superman: Ride of Steel, pretty much the same, or dare I ask,…. worse? Leave a comment below and keep my feelings in mind. Just kidding.
June 27, 2009 at 04:04
I think its total waste. I think the ride just made it a little stupider. The on board sound track you cant even hear because everyones screaming. In my opinion, they wasted their time and money on this
June 27, 2009 at 04:10
Thanks for the comment Matthew. So by a little stupider, would you say that they actually made it worse?
For everyone who comments, if you've ridden Bizarro I'd like a verdict. Better, Just as Good, or Worse.
After a while, I'll tally up the votes and post a Final Verdict.
June 27, 2009 at 06:05
I rode this one on my recent trip to Massachusetts. I think that this is even better than Apollos Chariot. And that is saying something.
June 27, 2009 at 15:54
If anyone reads this before 8:00 Eastern Time. There is a show called brain rush on cartoon network. my little brother told me about it. I know its on a kids channel, but they answer questions WHILE RIDING A COASTER!!!!!!!!!!!! i need to check this out. just telling you guys so you know to watch it if you have a chance.
June 27, 2009 at 16:59
Nice find JaMeS. I forgot about that show. I'll have a post up about it soon.
June 29, 2009 at 08:00
I have been on this 5 times now. It's not worse, but it's now amazingly better. The fire is cool, and on the straight after the turnaround you whiz by and through some buildings, which adds to the sense of the speed. While I agree that the sound IS pretty stupid, it doesn't hurt it, and is entertaining THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME! Overall, it's an improvement, but it didn't need it.
The only thing I can think of that really makes the ride better is the restraints. They are GREAT. They feel like a big thing of silly putty that goes on your thighs, not really your lap. You have a much larger sense of freedom, and the seats being taller also help.
My only complaint is that the ride opened a month after the park did, and a lot of people missed out on riding it. Still the best ride in the park, but my second favorite ride, as my favorite is boulder dash.
June 29, 2009 at 08:20
ya those type of restraints are getting so popular right now
June 29, 2009 at 09:07
ok im going to change my opinion on this. I said that everything was a waste. Let me take that back. The mist and the fire was the good parts about that ride. But the sound track should have never been there
July 15, 2010 at 08:44
The sound makes me feel like the ride is more intense because of loud noises and stuff. The flames definately make it better. And they have them in an excellent spot where nobody can complain that they will be burned but they aren't too far away that you can't feel them. The LED lights also add to it and at night, because they are so bright, make you feel like you are almost dreaming. I think the sound also entertains you on the way up the lift hill. Also, it's cool how they say "Didn't your dad ever teach you to look before you leap" And then you plunge 221 feet into the ground at 77 mph. The rest of the ride i will agree that the sound is almost pointless. But the Bizarro music at the end is cool.
MY VERDICT: SIX FLAGS NEW ENGLAND SUCCEEDED AT IMPROVING SUPERMAN: RIDE OF STEEL BY CHANGING IT INTO BIZARRO. SO, THE ROLLER COASTER IS BETTER IN MY BOOK.
I will admit, however, I miss Superman as the theme as he is so cool. But Bizarro seems pretty bad ass.
July 1, 2009 at 20:58
I'm reposting my experience that I also shared with rideofsteel.com:
"I had been waiting for this: my boyfriend had never been on a rollercoaster. Ever. Of course, I planned to change that when we visited my parents this year and took a short trip up to SFNE. Imagine Superman being your first coaster?!
I'd known about the Bizzaro make-over even if it hadn't been heavily toted on the local radio. I don't quite get the full name change – they couldn't have called it Superman: Bizzaro? Anyway, due to unexpected maintenance issues, after arriving and immediately jumping in the queue, we waited almost 25 extra minutes in line. This gave us time to gawk at the external changes to the ride, which included some nice, legit signage, a television monitor that wasn't on and a really thick paint job that was already chipping in some places. Not to mention, the purple and blue scheme is almost the same as SFNE's Batman coaster.
So how bout that ride? The new speakers built into the seats not only spewed cacophony at a volume that was painful to the point I resisted putting my head all the way back into the seat until physics forced me to, but the gibberish "soundtrack" ruined what has always been my favorite part of the ride – the anxious descent 200 ft. into the air beside the Connecticut River! The placement of the speakers distorts your view in either direction, forcing you to look straight ahead for the ascent which is no fun at all!
Some of the added scenery was fun – the hollow, inverted Superman Symbol shaped rings for instance, but others were distracting from the experience of the ride (Like the initial Bizzaro figure above the first underground portion.) The pyrotechnics might have been a fun surprise if I'd not been watching them go off five or six times in line. Also, as a coaster fan cursed with a weak stomach (we exist,) the blast of heat was an unnecessary stomach churner.
My boyfriend was glad for the experience, his overall opinion vacillates between enjoyment and fear, but I couldn't quite contain my contempt for those damn, painful, annoying speakers. I put the kibosh on my usual finishing the day on the Superman (Bizzaro, sorry. Do you know how many times that happened at the park?) I just have a bitter taste in my mouth about all the cosmetic changes so that it ruined such a fabulous ride."
July 2, 2009 at 21:12
Lynnie. Thanks for your detailed review. I'm sorry to hear that my fears came true and S:ROS may not be what it was when. It'll be interesting to see if it slides in the Coaster Awards this off season. If it stops competing for best steel coaster like it has for years, then we'll know that maybe the makeover wasn't such a good idea.
Thanks for reading (& reviewing)!
July 5, 2009 at 05:56
I was at the park all day yesterday, july 4th. Bizzaro was a must to go on, we heard so much about it. Well, it has lived up to it reputation, it was absolutely AWESOME, I still like Kingda Ka a little better, but this is a very close call.
July 5, 2009 at 09:56
cool steve ive always wanted to go on the new version of the ride. Alot of people told me what they think. They said it was bad, but if you think its good ill take your word for it!
July 6, 2009 at 11:13
I rode the ride on press day after having been on it multiple times every year since it opened and I was very much disappointed. I can see that if you have not ridden Superman that you would very much enjoy Bizarro since the track is exactly the same and is one of the best layouts of any roller coaster but the additions did not improve the ride. The trains may work better for shorter riders but I am 6 feet and the trains did not fit my legs. The addition of music was not all that bad except they blasted it at the end of the ride while waiting to return to the station making it impossible to talk. The new themeing was so-so with the only really good addition being the fire which of the 3 times I rode the coaster worked for only 1. The rest of the scenery seemed like cheap additions that seem to not add much and in my opinion take away one of the best views of the ride (coming around the far turn). I used to have Superman as a must-ride every time I went but now I am much more willing to pass up going on the ride if the line is at all a wait. It is sad that Six Flags would try to improve such a great ride in such a halfhearted way to create a lesser ride.
July 6, 2009 at 11:23
I loved the superman theming of this ride. They had to change it. I miss superman at Six Flags New England. But bizarro isnt that bad. I mean i loved the fire thats the best part of the ride, and that breath taking first drop!
July 6, 2009 at 13:22
Like I said before: Great ride.
July 14, 2009 at 08:57
Worse. The ride just isn't the same. The larger cars and higher seat backs ruin the "open" effect of the original ride. All the added smoke, fire, and sound efects detract from the sensations of the pure coaster ride itself. The smoke in teh tunnel at the bottom of the inital drop makes the drop look smaller. IMO, they took a great ride and made it average.
July 14, 2009 at 09:31
On our recent visit to 6 flags New England we were really disappointed with the changes to the superman ride to Bizarro. The audio portion of the ride ruined the whole experiance of the coaster. Way to loud. I'm sure it does not pass any safety for audio Decibel. 130 dB represents the threashold for pain, 140 dB causes irreparible hearing damage, and 150 dB can cause instant deafness, anything greater than about 192 dB can kill you, please make changes as we will have to reconsider a trip back.
July 14, 2009 at 19:16
I have been on superman before the change and after. I must say that i love everything. But what ruined it was the trains. I HATE the headreasts/sound system. But the park manager says they still are trying to get the volume down. And the fact that a row is missing makes it really ugly. The restraints i like about the same as before. But i have ridden millenium force and liked those ALOT better. So i would have liked the original restraints best. So overall the trains missed by me.
July 23, 2009 at 17:36
im goin this week so ill leave a comment about it
July 28, 2009 at 16:51
No way just went on it.Seats dont get in ur way of the view of the river.And they didnt have the sound on in the seats.The extra ten feet higher really makes a difference.There so much more air time with the ten extra feet.The only con is the leg room but the seats r nice and almost the same as supermans were.I would say it got a lil better. i waited two hours it doesnt sound like it got worse.
February 1, 2010 at 06:49
I'm very confused by your post. What 10 ft? Bizzaro is using teh same track as Superman no modifications were made to the track itself. So there is no increase in height.
Also even a terrible Superman/Bizzaro is better then most of the coasters and rides in teh park so a 2 hour line on a busy day isn't saying much.