Good launch vs good first drop

[CookieCoasters]

I find that great launches are rarer than great first drops. There are a few that stand out (Stealth, Xcelerator, Fluch Von Novgorod etc.), but mostly I find them a bit underwhelming. A great first drop is a signature element for me in many of my favourite coasters, so I'm gonna say that.

 

[toofpikk]

It is a toughy.

I think a good drop because nothing is as ferociously exhilarating as hitting them wiggly hills on a wacky worm.

 

[Ben]

^Tbf, some of us are trapped in the US, so we can only get the best of the US. If S&S made a new Air Launch here, it'd maybe be better than TTD.

Sent from my VS840 4G using Tapatalk

Why, have you got a criminal record? Home arrest?

No? Then you're not 'trapped'.

 

[SilverArrow]

Drops all the way!

Although I haven't done that many launches, the ones I have done, I haven't really enjoyed that much.

 

[GuyWithAStick]

^Tbf, some of us are trapped in the US, so we can only get the best of the US. If S&S made a new Air Launch here, it'd maybe be better than TTD.

Sent from my VS840 4G using Tapatalk

Why, have you got a criminal record? Home arrest?

No? Then you're not 'trapped'.

It was a metaphor for being unable to travel outside the US. I myself have yet to go outside the US due to age and travel restrictions. And I'm sure there are plenty of other users here that are like me, and are currently unable to travel outside the US, or whatever country they live in.

 

[SaiyanHajime]

Drops stopped doing anything for me some time ago. The vast majority of great first drops people talk of are, to me, near void of sensation.

I first realised this with Millennium Force that people often praise for its first drop - but to me, it was devoid of any sense of acceleration. I much, much prefer near-scenery directional changes and short, sharp mid-course drops... First drops' only sensory benefit is related to height, which I have absolutely zero fear of, and in the UK height is such a rarity anyway.

Coasters that are all about the first drop, then **** about doing nothing, annoy me. Especially something like I305, which could have been SO GOOD if its focus was dancing about near ground at speed and not that absurd drop that does nothing but blur vision. Oblivion is of course different, because it's less a coaster and more a flat ride tbh, and there's no bull.

So I guess launches by default?

 

[MouseAT]

It's close, but I'm definitely a sucker for a good launch. It's got to be an absolutely amazing one though. A half-assed LSM launch won't do it for me. It's got to be a suitably insane kick in the back to get the adrenaline going. Intamin's best hydraulic launches are amazing, but there are also a lot that feel weak compared with the likes of Rita and Stealth. I'm a big fan of insanely forceful acceleration. Top speed is secondary.

I'll definitely take a great first drop over a launch that doesn't make the grade.

 

[Serena]

For me:

Rolling launches > good first drops > stand still launches.

Rolling launches are just so fun!

I do love a huge first drop that goes on for days though; as found on Shambhala, Thunder Dolphin and Nitro.

 

[Edward M]

There's nothing like a good launch. Though I love a great first drop, the adrenaline rush of a launch just seems like a better experience to me.

 

[Karly]

A really tall first drop over any launch. But a launch over a short drop. I like the scariness factor for my adrenaline rushes. I'll admit to screaming, but launches don't scare me the same way tall drops do.

Don't get me wrong I love a good launch, but I find going down a big drop and feeling like you are going to fall over the lap restraint and end up in the dirt a little bit better. I think I turned my boss off Skyrush using that as a description of the drop. :?

 

[Ayy Lmao]

Which do you prefer and find more enjoyable? A good launch like that of Top Thrill Dragster, Formula Rossa, Dodopna (and Stealth + Baco if you're currently stuck to Europe like me) OR a crackin first drop e.g. Milf, Fury 325, Skyrush etc.

I've experienced some pretty solid first drops now (looking at Shambhala and Oblivion) and I enjoy the weightless feeling they provide but personally, I can never get enough of the excitement and intensity of launching to 80 odd mph on Stealth + Baco in 2 seconds so if I love that, I'll probably cum in my pants should I ever ride Top Thrill Dragster, Formula Rossa or Dodopna.

A good launch.
TBH I hate non curved drops

 

[Anac0nda]

I can't decide between great drops and great launches. However, you can have boring and dull drop but not a boring launch. So I'll say launches.