After many months of renovation, Bizarro (http://www.gadvoutpost.com/home.php?action=attractions&park=ga§ion=coasters&id=31), formerly known as Medusa, is now open to the public!
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Mark Kane, SFGA President, announces the opening of Bizarro
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Most of the staff here at Outpost have had the opportunity to ride Bizarro, and we can safely say that it has given Medusa a new lease on life that should keep the crowds coming to ride this coaster all through the season.
To start off with, we all know that Medusa in itself was a great ride. The world's first floorless coaster, it opened at Great Adventure in April of 1999. The coaster has been loved ever since, but in recent years has begun to have small lines, and is situated in a pretty quiet corner of the park.
So enter Bizarro - Six Flags' transformation of Medusa into a new coaster with new sights and sounds throughout the ride. When you first enter the queue you will see, well, some Bizarre things. Like what? Well, a wagon with square wheels (http://www.gadvoutpost.com/gallery/albums/2009%20Pictures/052109/001.JPG) and a cow on the side of a building (http://www.gadvoutpost.com/gallery/albums/2009%20Pictures/052109/009.JPG), for starters! Also throughout the queue is story information (http://www.gadvoutpost.com/gallery/albums/2009%20Pictures/052109/008.JPG) about who or what Bizarro actually is. And obviously you can see that the whole place got a paint job (http://www.gadvoutpost.com/gallery/albums/2009%20Pictures/052109/003.JPG).
When you get up into the station the first thing you will notice are the updated trains!
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Each row now has five speakers (http://www.gadvoutpost.com/gallery/albums/2009%20Pictures/052109/027.JPG) between the seats to make sure everyone can hear the sounds throughout the ride. And you will definitely notice that the last row of each train now only has two seats - the audio system is taking up the middle!
Once you are in your seat and launching out of the station, a story will begin to unfold in the speakers. It definitely gets you going, and it is something you listen to throughout the ride. As best we can figure a wormhole opens in the middle of Metropolis, and the police/army go to investigate. Lois Lane comes as well, and ends up falling into the wormhole. This all happens as you go up the lift (http://www.gadvoutpost.com/gallery/albums/2009%20Pictures/052109/028.JPG). Noises are heard inside, and as you begin to go down the first drop and through the first new effect (fog and flashing lights!) you enter the wormhole yourself. At one point you hear someone scream "Take cover!" and then you go through a loop into fire (http://www.gadvoutpost.com/gallery/albums/2009%20Pictures/052109/030.JPG)!
Throughout the rest of the ride you are sent around bizarre (and through) images of buildings, and even around (TWICE!) a misting Auger of Doom!
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I won't spoil the end of the ride for you with the audio, lets just say its something you need to experience for yourself. But it doesn't sound like Bizarro has been defeated, that's for sure! Bizarro #1!
All in all, this was a great update to an already great coaster. Everyone should go and check it out this season. If you liked Medusa at all, then you will love what it has become. After writing this all I can think of is that I want to go back on it again to hear the effects and get pumped up some more!
Oh, and I have to say one of my goals is to see this coaster in the dark. With the lights, fire, fog effects (and I hear the main entrance sign lights up as well), this could be something to really see. And ride.
So what are you waiting for? Go ride Bizarro!
And I'll leave you with one final thought: Bizzaro Your Hero Now!
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You can see our full gallery of photos right here (http://www.gadvoutpost.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=492).
And you can see our full Media Day LiveBlog coverage here (http://www.gadvoutpost.com/home.php?action=liveblogs&id=2)!
The official page (http://www.sixflags.com/greatAdventure/rides/bizarro.aspx) has been updated with some new information and photos, especially from angles that us normal people can't get to!
Yeahhh...I got night shots. Click the pics to enlarge them:
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Through the lazer beams!
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Fire!
More located in this park album (http://www.gadvoutpost.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=494)!