• ℹ️ Heads up...

    This is a popular topic that is fast moving Guest - before posting, please ensure that you check out the first post in the topic for a quick reminder of guidelines, and importantly a summary of the known facts and information so far. Thanks.

Most “marmite” coasters

Matt N

Matt N

TS Member
Favourite Ride
Shambhala (PortAventura Park)
Hi guys. A few weeks back, I remember @Rick saying something about Icon at Blackpool Pleasure Beach being one of the most marmite coasters out there. With this in mind, I was inspired to ask; what do you guys feel are some of the most marmite coasters out there?

I’ve got a few candidates of my own. As much as I do love it, I certainly agree with Rick’s nomination of Icon, and I have some other potential options, from what I’ve analysed:
  • The Beast at Kings Island: I’ve never ridden it, but from what I can gather, most people seem to think that Beast is either the best thing since sliced bread, or that it’s absolutely dire; there seems to be very little middle-ground, and I’d say the “loving Beast” and “hating Beast” camps are pretty equally split.
  • The Smiler at Alton Towers: I’d definitely say that Smiler is quite marmite. On this site alone, I’d say that there’s equal measures of people who love it, and people who aren’t keen on it. Personally, I wouldn’t say that I hate Smiler by any means (my last ride was actually not too bad at all), but I’m not its biggest fan; it’s not one of my favourite coasters.
  • Hades 360 at Mount Olympus: I remember when this ride had only two reviews on Captain Coaster. One was a 5-star review, while the other was a 0.5-star review; if that’s not polarising, I don’t know what is! Even away from Captain Coaster, I’ve noticed that this ride sharply divides opinion; there are a fair few people who absolutely adore it, and revere it as one of their favourite coasters, but there seems to be an equal amount of people who despise it with all of their being, and push it down as one of their least favourites. Hades 360 is definitely a polarising one, from my experience!
  • The Ultimate at Lightwater Valley: I’ve never ridden The Ultimate, but from my experience, Europe’s longest roller coaster certainly divides opinion! I remember doing a UK roller coaster poll on here once, and The Ultimate was either at the very top or very bottom of people’s lists, with nobody really putting it in the middle!
But what are some of the most marmite/polarising coasters out there from your experience?
 
Would probably throw in Megafobia at Oakwood - some people love it, while others seem to hate it!
 
The Beast at Kings Island is due to the fact for Americans it's seen as a massive coaster to conquer at an young age so they all have great memories as its a symbolic coaster for them. Plus it's likely the older they are the less 'big' coasters existed for comparison.

However when UK enthusiasts (for example) rock up, they've undoubtedly already visited and ride other newer world class coasters so turn up expecting something amazing, and then find every time it seems like it's gonna be good they hit another trim break.
Plus now you go and they've got Mystic Timbers, Banshee, Diamondback, and Orion (not there when I went) to also compare it against.

It's a fun coaster but I'd imagine Americans coming over would be equally confused at my love of things like the grand national.
 
Furius Baco, with the majority despising it and some oddballs love it.

See also Tornado at Bakken. Though it appears more people love that.

There's so many Intamins that fulfil this list.


I really like Beast, reminded me of Ultimate in that very much shouldn't be good on paper but is incredibly fun. Especially at night.
 
NuttySquirrel said:
Would probably throw in Megafobia at Oakwood - some people love it, while others seem to hate it!
Click to expand...
Having ridden Megafobia, I’d personally say it’s quite inconsistent, and varies a fair amount depending on where you sit. In the front, it was quite good fun. In the middle, it was kind of average. In the back, I didn’t enjoy it much as it was a bit too rough for my liking, in spite of the stronger airtime in the back. I’d argue that the difference between the front & the back on Megafobia is perhaps more like night & day than any other coaster I’ve ridden!
Danny said:
Pleasure Beach is/has been home to some pretty solid marmite candidates. Nash, Big One, Wild Mouse...
Click to expand...
Yes, that’s a good suggestion! A lot of Blackpool’s coaster selection is quite polarising; I’m not sure I’d agree with Wild Mouse, as everyone seemed to love that when it operated, but I’d certainly agree with Grand National & Big One; the opinions of those two often fall starkly on the two extreme ends of the spectrum! To be honest, I think bits of Blackpool’s coaster selection on the whole, particularly the woodies & some of the Arrows, are pretty marmite, and I find it interesting that even their new coaster in Icon is shaping up to be somewhat polarising! Maybe polarising stuff is just the Blackpool way?
John_P said:
The Beast at Kings Island is due to the fact for Americans it's seen as a massive coaster to conquer at an young age so they all have great memories as its a symbolic coaster for them. Plus it's likely the older they are the less 'big' coasters existed for comparison.

However when UK enthusiasts (for example) rock up, they've undoubtedly already visited and ride other newer world class coasters so turn up expecting something amazing, and then find every time it seems like it's gonna be good they hit another trim break.
Plus now you go and they've got Mystic Timbers, Banshee, Diamondback, and Orion (not there when I went) to also compare it against.

It's a fun coaster but I'd imagine Americans coming over would be equally confused at my love of things like the grand national.
Click to expand...
Interestingly, it doesn’t only seem to be Americans who love Beast. I’ve seen plenty of Brits who absolutely love Beast and I’ve seen plenty of Americans who absolutely hate it, so I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily nationality that dictates opinion on Beast, personally!
 
John_P said:
The Beast at Kings Island is due to the fact for Americans it's seen as a massive coaster to conquer at an young age so they all have great memories as its a symbolic coaster for them. Plus it's likely the older they are the less 'big' coasters existed for comparison.

However when UK enthusiasts (for example) rock up, they've undoubtedly already visited and ride other newer world class coasters so turn up expecting something amazing, and then find every time it seems like it's gonna be good they hit another trim break.
Plus now you go and they've got Mystic Timbers, Banshee, Diamondback, and Orion (not there when I went) to also compare it against.

It's a fun coaster but I'd imagine Americans coming over would be equally confused at my love of things like the grand national.
Click to expand...

Not least because The Beast is 100x better than the Grand National! ;)
 
I’d also nominate Parc Asterix as a park that’s home to a couple of polarisers, personally.

Tonnerre de Zeus seems quite polarising, with a notable number of people considering it one of their all-time favourite woodies and an equal number seemingly considering it profoundly average.

Goudurix is also a little marmite, I’d argue. As much as it has the reputation among many of being absolutely awful, there’s a fair number of people who actually rather like it!
 
Sorry Matt...the dead rodent at Blackpool.
Everybody loved it, apart from the many who came off in tears, usually from the headbutting from the rider behind.
Lots of people hated it, and only ever rode it the once.
Not like shakey who hates the Nash, but would ride it every week if he could.
 
rob666 said:
Sorry Matt...the dead rodent at Blackpool.
Everybody loved it, apart from the many who came off in tears, usually from the headbutting from the rider behind.
Lots of people hated it, and only ever rode it the once.
Not like shakey who hates the Nash, but would ride it every week if he could.
Click to expand...
Wow, really? I was under the impression that Mouse was almost universally loved to the same degree as the likes of Nemesis; I’ve only ever heard rave reviews of it…

I dare say that it comes across as possibly Blackpool’s most universally loved coaster of all time from my perspective, and up there with Nemesis as one of the UK’s most universally loved coasters.

I never really heard much about it prior to its removal, however…
 
Last edited:
D4n said:
Saw: The Ride
Click to expand...
Ooh, Saw’s definitely a marmite one! I’m not personally that keen on it at all (although I feel like I’m in an increasing minority there), but my dad who is often riding directly next to me absolutely loves it!

I do feel like I’m in a minority who doesn’t particularly like Saw, though, as I feel like most seem to absolutely love it these days; it has a very substantial fanbase, and it feels like it’s almost universally liked these days. I certainly feel in a minority of people who doesn’t especially like it.

I just find it so rough, though; never fails to give me a pounding headache. Am I the only one who finds Saw incredibly rough?
 
Last edited:
Sorry for double posting, but I’ve thought of two more, both of which are common clones.

I actually think that Premier Sky Rocket IIs and S&S Free Spins are both rather polarising. I’ve heard numerous rave reviews of both ride types, but I’ve also heard reviews that absolutely despise both ride types.
 
Matt N said:
Sorry for double posting, but I’ve thought of two more, both of which are common clones.

I actually think that Premier Sky Rocket IIs and S&S Free Spins are both rather polarising. I’ve heard numerous rave reviews of both ride types, but I’ve also heard reviews that absolutely despise both ride types.
Click to expand...
I think in both those examples there is a contingent who don't like them simply because they are off the shelf models. I understand why people don't like that aspect of them, especially if you're well travelled. That said, for me, a Sky Rocket II in particular is one of the best mid-tier rides in years for my money.

In the same way that if there was a single SLC somewhere, I suspect it would be held in slightly different regard than all its peers are today.
 
I think most gerstlaurs tend to be polarising. SAW and the smiler have already been mentiomed. I would add speed at oakwood and even hang time at knotts berry farm.
Other coasters that could be mentioned are shockwave at Drayton Manor (and most stand-up coasters) and also nemesis inferno at thorpe park.

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk
 
Balder at Liseberg is something I hear various opinions about. Loads of people love it, others aren't that keen either. I think EGF is as well.
 
Anything violent will always get split reviews. Ultimate, Nash, Mouse even some SLCs. Another is anything too safe, I'm in the Icon is boring camp, but also I've found the 2 Mack spinners I've done (Storm Chaser and D''Wervelwind) to be utterly boring as well.
 
Controversial but is say Oblivion

People loved it when I opened as it was new and innovative but has since been surpassed by bugger and probably better versions.

Now a lot of people see the layout at bland and the ride as a one trick pony

For me it’s a definitely a love or hate ride. Personally I still love it
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top