CANNON FODDER This initial launch on this roller coaster packs a mighty punch, but the rest of the ride is a snoozefest. Unveiled to a massive amount of hype, Maxx Force is the newest addition to a coaster lineup at Great America that already contains a few blockbusters (X-Flight, Goliath). Scheduled to start at the beginning of the 2019 season, it was delayed by several months and finally opened on Independence Day. The line reuses some of the old Pictorium paving, though the majority of the queue is a series of switchbacks atop a massive concrete slab. There's NO shade here, so during the summer it can get scorching hot. The ride has a quasi-racing thing going on, most notably the front of the trains that have a Formula 1 motif. The station, sadly, is uninspired. At a mere 800 riders/hour, you can be assured a longer wait for Maxx Force than Batman (1,400 riders/hour), Raging Bull (1,560 riders/hour!), or nearly any other ride in the park except for Giant Drop. Trains are comfy and seat 8 rows of 2 across, with a seatbelt + lap bar combo. Seating is assigned (you're told where sit), so those wishing to get a front row spot will likely be disappointed. Once locked in, the trains slowly roll onto a straightaway where they engage the launch mechanism. After a minute of waiting, you're catapulted to 78mph from a standstill in under 2 seconds. The compressed air launch is thrilling but not prolonged; it's got the ability to take your breath away. Immediately following the launch is what RCDB.com dubs a 'dog tongue', essentially a twisted Immelman that segues into a twisted dive loop. Personally, I think it's dumb they're calling this a "double inversion", as it really only feels like one. whatever. Inversion #3 (or #2, if I'm the one keeping score) is a heartline roll that's navigated at roughly 60mph, which gives them a dubious title in "world's fastest inversion". The best inversions are ones taken slowly -- like the 'Jojo roll' on Hydra @ Dorney Park -- so blitzing through this did nothing for me. The final element is something they're calling a 'Maxx Dive Loop', a lame attempt to capitalize on an otherwise standard dive loop by giving it a unique name. Naturally, Six Flags claims this is also a double inversion, bringing their count to 5 (I'm a purist, so I say it's only 3). This ride uses compressed air as its method of acceleration, so that means you inevitably wind up with exhaust gas. Seconds after a train launches you can hear what sounds like cannon fire echoing throughout the entire park! The resulting loud noise is "action vs. reaction" at work, when the compressed air is released in a deafening BOOM. Full Throttle @ Magic Mountain in California is the closest match to Maxx Force: both are launch coasters, both are unique to their park, and both are rather short (FT at 2200ft in length, MF at 1800ft). I imagine Full Throttle delivers a better, more well-rounded ride experience. Plus, it offers two launches compared to Maxx Force's single launch. What I take the most exception with, is the fact that brakes on Maxx Force start HALFWAY UP the final inversion. The designers incorporated no space for a level brake run, so instead they castrated the ride's 2nd significant 'drop'. One circuit lasts a blink-and-you'll-miss-it 23 seconds. I'm all for roller coasters that have a nice aesthetic, and Maxx Force, well.......looks ugly. The heart-shaped dual inversion is okay I suppose, but the support structure sticks out like a sore thumb. It definitely affects the skyline of the park, and not in a good way. * TL;DR * I enjoy launch coasters of all shapes and sizes, from the massive Top Thrill Dragster to the lazy Backlot Stunt Coaster. Some have a hydraulic winch from energy stored in flywheels, others benefit from a series of Linear Induction Motors, and a few even use a tire-propelled launch. That said, Maxx Force is one of the least-satisfying launch coasters I've ridden. It's vastly inferior to Flight of Fear @ Kings Island, and nowhere near the same intensity as Xcelerator @ Knotts Berry Farm. Hell, Vertical Velocity on the other side of the park is better (and offers a ride that's 3x as long). Although station ops were doing their best to dispatch trains in a timely fashion, Maxx Force just doesn't have the same throughput as most roller coasters and that hurts its re-ridability. It gets the point across, just don't go expecting groundbreaking things from this one and bank on a LONG wait. Per usual, Six Flags felt the need to lay claim to a whole bunch of questionable records for a ride that's a lousy 1,800ft long. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be marathoning rides on American Eagle's blue side while the rest of the world gets suckered into waiting for this gimmicky eyesore. read more