I never actually got round to posting on TT my views on this ride so I will do so now!
The new area, although clearly unfinished when we visited, is bright, kooky and enticing. From the wonky Eiffel Tower stylised obelisk to the cheeky sphinxes around the area it is full of nice touches! The coaster is integrated, yet dominates the area in a really great way that immediately draws you over to the entrance which, with its hypnotizing eyes, really sets the scene for the ride you're about to experience. The outdoor queue line gives you some great views as the trains roar past, while the part has some fantastic themeing and is really a visual treat on all fronts. From the MC Escher style illusion in one of the rooms to the beautiful lighting and colours throughout the rest of the queue and station it really is amazing.
Onto the ride itself and my what a beast! On the front row you really see how steep the first drop is! It is also one of the best drops on a coaster that I have had the pleasure of riding especially on the back row. The ride flows so well and pulls a decent amount of force throughout, although nowhere near the forces that Nemmy can reach. Special mention must be given to the zero g rolls as they really do make you feel like you are floating. Also the zero g behind the station really caught me off guard as it twist the opposite way to every other invert zero g I have been on! Fantastic!
We tried it on the front, back and pretty much middle rows and it truly is a great all round ride.
It’s the perfect addition for Asterix and this, along with Defi de Caesar, are my main reasons for wanting to return some point soon!
Oh and Dave, I prefer it to Nemmy I think but I agree it wont beat Nemmy on many, many counts! The closest to Nemmy for me in intensity is probably Monster!