Europe 06/24 – Europa Park
It’s been 9 long years since I last visited Europa Park. For the sake of a crazy statistic I had 126 creds to my name at the time, meaning there’s been just another 1500-odd in the interim.
I really, really liked the place back then, it was clear that it was a global standout. I had also always looked forward to returning some day but it was always on the preface that they got something worth returning for, to sweeten the deal. The years went by…
I heard they got something.
We spent 2 days on park, which was the perfect amount for our own needs and pace.
The primary need was to experience #1 Voltron as much as possible. I avoided whatever spoilers I could and went in knowing as little as possible.
Presentation-wise, I think the whole thing looks excellent. An entrance exterior with that start coming out of the top of it.
A dedicated observation tower built within the layout. Plenty of opportunity to get in, up and under a lot of track for views and photos, while maintaining a little mystery about the back end of the layout. With constant trains buzzing round, on a summers day it’s a coaster lovers dream.
Plus other stuff in the area going on because why not.
The indoor queue brought new hope to my hobby. As I passed through for the first time and absorbed the details in here a crescendo of emotions built to a level of excitement for a new rollercoaster/attraction that I haven’t felt in what seems like quite some time. Far surpassing the simple raw excitement of skipping down some queue in China (that’s actually open) to ride some world’s fastest Mack thing, no, this was an anticipation you can only build with a themed experience. The development of character for a ride. A reason you want to like it, to support it, to back this creation of steel. Standing there in that room for the first time, with those feelings, is exactly why I’m in this game.
The big turret thing that plugs itself into the wall to power up. Mr. Tesla waffling on about who knows what.
Easter egg characters in the return to station screen.
The fact that the shutters close when you see a train enter the preshow, to hide what’s going on. And then the ride theme injected into your eardrums by terrifying tesla coil noises. Awe, intimidation, elation, the lot. This is how you make someone (like me) want to like a coaster.
From a practical standpoint, the locker system is the best I’ve seen yet. Choose your own locker with an RFID card, get on the ride. Don’t worry about remembering the number after an overwhelming experience because it can just tell you at the end. Unlike Wildcat’s Revenge.
The throughput, capacity and efficiency with the moving station and just Europa Park being Europa Park in general is beautiful to behold once more.
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Onto the ride experience then. I didn’t know what the trick was, and it’s hilarious. Brilliant for first timers and crowd reactions. I love it, but it loses impact over a few goes, so I kinda hope it remains somewhat unique to this attraction and that not everyone starts doing it, there’s a risk of losing the magic as always. Possibilities are endless though, so mix it up.
Before you’ve fully recovered from that you’re lurched off, and up, and over, and out. Of that start. It’s so unnatural but it’s done so gracefully considering the combination of technology and forces. Looking at it, it shouldn’t feel like it does, but it works, and then you’re suspended in the air for a brief moment for a ‘this is where the fun begins’ into the layout proper.
Frantic, I think is the word for all the elements that go on in between the defined sections, namely a combination of inversions and airtime moments. It’s our bread and butter at this point. It reflects the theme of science experiment gone wrong rather perfectly in this regard, but, critical hat on, I’m going to introduce another word into the fray. Lumpy.
I like and appreciate the individual components of what’s going on in this sequence, but there’s something about the flow. It’s lumpy. I think this is just an inherent issue I personally find with shorter trains and ride vehicles. It reflects back to my experience with the Big Dipper model, and by extension Infinity coasters (both of which I love more than most) and Eurofighters. Regardless of their execution I just can’t see myself sitting in one and thinking ‘this is the best rollercoaster layout in the world’. You can’t create as beautiful a symphony of forces with a ride that’s built for the tightest of manoeuvres. Blame physics.
Anyway there’s a multi launch bit on a curve in there which follows the recent industry trend of ‘adds a little pep, doesn’t take your breath away’ moments into the recent industry trend of the stall. A couple of newer rides have made this their own standout moment (Batman GCE and the Super Boomerang spring to mind), sadly Voltron does not. Surprisingly the most characterful moment for me hits home when you come slamming into the brakes at the end of the first half. It’s pretty brutal. And then you’re on a turntable with lightning and what the hell is this?
I’ve got two ways of looking at this – it’s amazing, clever, fun to behold, did you know it can turn in either direction? I didn’t until a few laps in. Quirky, love it.
The other – it leaves a little to be desired in terms of presentation when compared with the station, queue, pre-launch experience. You’re just in a crude circular cage with no roof and a sunbleached graphics display. Doesn’t quite uphold the wonder.
What it does lead to is a wild backwards launch, again another great crowd reaction moment but you can give it your own extra punch with anticipation by putting your arms and legs directly in front of you and getting a wicked ‘fold you over the restraint’ moment. Then you’re forwards again with the most satisfying launch, one which lands closest to those I personally adore with their ‘the fun is far from over yet’ sensation. It’s faffy, but given it isn’t detracting from ‘damn near best thing ever’ status either side of it, I think it works.
The wonky top hat puts me straight back into the ‘lumpy’ mindset however, albeit what follows is an incredible sequence of powerful airtime moments, shouty after shouty, including up into and back out of another mid course. Dizzying inversions and strong positives round out proceedings before one final shout of airtime into the brakes. Ends strong this one.
And I think that review should demonstrate a little why I’m all over the place on Voltron. There’s so much of the experience that I adore to the core, but as a coaster it fell short of perfect in many, many ways. To clarify, the ‘lumpy’ business is nothing to do with ride comfort. I’ve heard riders found discomfort in left wing seats etc. and while there was noticeably a bit more shake there, it didn’t impact my personal ride experience. It is pretty damn intense though, and I don’t doubt that the ‘lumpy’ flow of the layout does exacerbate such feelings.
I’ll stop saying lumpy now, but I will also mention that a few of the inversions lack definition and character. If you’re going for the golden seven, make them count.
Though I went in with lack of spoilers there was a little thought at the back of my mind with the whole 9 years away from Europa Park thing. What a wonderful moment it could have been, having traversed the globe and, by my most recent assessments, ridden basically everything worth riding, to come back to such an early days trip and land a new #1. It was Mack, it was Multi-launch, it was Europa Park. It was possible. It wasn’t to be.
Enough ramblings, it’s the perfect prototype and near perfect showcase. Go ride it if you haven’t already, it needs to be beheld.
Technology 11/10. Presentation 9.5/10. Layout 8/10.
By all rights it should be threatening my top 20, but I keep talking myself out of it.
Maybe.
For the feels.