I’ve been nervous to even write about the new Bizarro at Six Flags New England. Obviously, the revamped Intamin hyper coaster isn’t really new. It’s another in a line of renovated roller coasters in Six Flags’ new era of roller coaster makeovers. Why would I be nervous?
Superman Ride of Steel is my #1 ranked roller coaster and I consider it the best roller coaster I’ve ever ridden. Its airtime has been unmatched by all of the coasters that I’ve ridden since I rode it in 2005, although El Toro came close. And it’s interesting layout with great highs and lows, two tunnels, and helices is a masterpiece. So, when I heard that Six Flags was going to enhance and improve it, I was very skeptical that a coaster rated as the Best Steel Roller Coaster (by Mitch’s Internet Poll & the Golden Ticket Awards), would come out better than ever. Read my full Superman: Ride of Steel review to see why I gave it a 10 out of 10.
The Bizarro Transformation
Let’s take a look at the upgrades that the ride underwent during its transformation from world’s greatest super hero to little known villain. Like, the Medusa to Bizarro transformation at sister park Six Flags Great Adventure, this Bizarro ride received a fire, misters as riders pass through the shields, and on-board speakers. I’ll try to add some more information about the ride from some reviews I can find, but for now I’d like to hear from you!
What’s the Verdict?
While I haven’t been to Massachusetts to ride it yet, I’d love for readers to leave their take and mini-reviews. Is Bizarro better than Superman: Ride of Steel, pretty much the same, or dare I ask,…. worse? Leave a comment below and keep my feelings in mind. Just kidding.
Coaster Critic 
51 responses to “Superman Ride of Steel Goes Bizarro at Six Flags New England”
I think its total waste. I think the ride just made it a little stupider. The on board sound track you cant even hear because everyones screaming. In my opinion, they wasted their time and money on this
Thanks for the comment Matthew. So by a little stupider, would you say that they actually made it worse?
For everyone who comments, if you've ridden Bizarro I'd like a verdict. Better, Just as Good, or Worse.
After a while, I'll tally up the votes and post a Final Verdict.
I rode this one on my recent trip to Massachusetts. I think that this is even better than Apollos Chariot. And that is saying something.
If anyone reads this before 8:00 Eastern Time. There is a show called brain rush on cartoon network. my little brother told me about it. I know its on a kids channel, but they answer questions WHILE RIDING A COASTER!!!!!!!!!!!! i need to check this out. just telling you guys so you know to watch it if you have a chance.
Nice find JaMeS. I forgot about that show. I'll have a post up about it soon.
I have been on this 5 times now. It's not worse, but it's now amazingly better. The fire is cool, and on the straight after the turnaround you whiz by and through some buildings, which adds to the sense of the speed. While I agree that the sound IS pretty stupid, it doesn't hurt it, and is entertaining THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME! Overall, it's an improvement, but it didn't need it.
The only thing I can think of that really makes the ride better is the restraints. They are GREAT. They feel like a big thing of silly putty that goes on your thighs, not really your lap. You have a much larger sense of freedom, and the seats being taller also help.
My only complaint is that the ride opened a month after the park did, and a lot of people missed out on riding it. Still the best ride in the park, but my second favorite ride, as my favorite is boulder dash.
ya those type of restraints are getting so popular right now
ok im going to change my opinion on this. I said that everything was a waste. Let me take that back. The mist and the fire was the good parts about that ride. But the sound track should have never been there
I'm reposting my experience that I also shared with rideofsteel.com:
"I had been waiting for this: my boyfriend had never been on a rollercoaster. Ever. Of course, I planned to change that when we visited my parents this year and took a short trip up to SFNE. Imagine Superman being your first coaster?!
I'd known about the Bizzaro make-over even if it hadn't been heavily toted on the local radio. I don't quite get the full name change – they couldn't have called it Superman: Bizzaro? Anyway, due to unexpected maintenance issues, after arriving and immediately jumping in the queue, we waited almost 25 extra minutes in line. This gave us time to gawk at the external changes to the ride, which included some nice, legit signage, a television monitor that wasn't on and a really thick paint job that was already chipping in some places. Not to mention, the purple and blue scheme is almost the same as SFNE's Batman coaster.
So how bout that ride? The new speakers built into the seats not only spewed cacophony at a volume that was painful to the point I resisted putting my head all the way back into the seat until physics forced me to, but the gibberish "soundtrack" ruined what has always been my favorite part of the ride – the anxious descent 200 ft. into the air beside the Connecticut River! The placement of the speakers distorts your view in either direction, forcing you to look straight ahead for the ascent which is no fun at all!
Some of the added scenery was fun – the hollow, inverted Superman Symbol shaped rings for instance, but others were distracting from the experience of the ride (Like the initial Bizzaro figure above the first underground portion.) The pyrotechnics might have been a fun surprise if I'd not been watching them go off five or six times in line. Also, as a coaster fan cursed with a weak stomach (we exist,) the blast of heat was an unnecessary stomach churner.
My boyfriend was glad for the experience, his overall opinion vacillates between enjoyment and fear, but I couldn't quite contain my contempt for those damn, painful, annoying speakers. I put the kibosh on my usual finishing the day on the Superman (Bizzaro, sorry. Do you know how many times that happened at the park?) I just have a bitter taste in my mouth about all the cosmetic changes so that it ruined such a fabulous ride."
Lynnie. Thanks for your detailed review. I'm sorry to hear that my fears came true and S:ROS may not be what it was when. It'll be interesting to see if it slides in the Coaster Awards this off season. If it stops competing for best steel coaster like it has for years, then we'll know that maybe the makeover wasn't such a good idea.
Thanks for reading (& reviewing)!
I was at the park all day yesterday, july 4th. Bizzaro was a must to go on, we heard so much about it. Well, it has lived up to it reputation, it was absolutely AWESOME, I still like Kingda Ka a little better, but this is a very close call.
cool steve ive always wanted to go on the new version of the ride. Alot of people told me what they think. They said it was bad, but if you think its good ill take your word for it!
I rode the ride on press day after having been on it multiple times every year since it opened and I was very much disappointed. I can see that if you have not ridden Superman that you would very much enjoy Bizarro since the track is exactly the same and is one of the best layouts of any roller coaster but the additions did not improve the ride. The trains may work better for shorter riders but I am 6 feet and the trains did not fit my legs. The addition of music was not all that bad except they blasted it at the end of the ride while waiting to return to the station making it impossible to talk. The new themeing was so-so with the only really good addition being the fire which of the 3 times I rode the coaster worked for only 1. The rest of the scenery seemed like cheap additions that seem to not add much and in my opinion take away one of the best views of the ride (coming around the far turn). I used to have Superman as a must-ride every time I went but now I am much more willing to pass up going on the ride if the line is at all a wait. It is sad that Six Flags would try to improve such a great ride in such a halfhearted way to create a lesser ride.
I loved the superman theming of this ride. They had to change it. I miss superman at Six Flags New England. But bizarro isnt that bad. I mean i loved the fire thats the best part of the ride, and that breath taking first drop!
Like I said before: Great ride.
Worse. The ride just isn't the same. The larger cars and higher seat backs ruin the "open" effect of the original ride. All the added smoke, fire, and sound efects detract from the sensations of the pure coaster ride itself. The smoke in teh tunnel at the bottom of the inital drop makes the drop look smaller. IMO, they took a great ride and made it average.
On our recent visit to 6 flags New England we were really disappointed with the changes to the superman ride to Bizarro. The audio portion of the ride ruined the whole experiance of the coaster. Way to loud. I'm sure it does not pass any safety for audio Decibel. 130 dB represents the threashold for pain, 140 dB causes irreparible hearing damage, and 150 dB can cause instant deafness, anything greater than about 192 dB can kill you, please make changes as we will have to reconsider a trip back.
I have been on superman before the change and after. I must say that i love everything. But what ruined it was the trains. I HATE the headreasts/sound system. But the park manager says they still are trying to get the volume down. And the fact that a row is missing makes it really ugly. The restraints i like about the same as before. But i have ridden millenium force and liked those ALOT better. So i would have liked the original restraints best. So overall the trains missed by me.
im goin this week so ill leave a comment about it
No way just went on it.Seats dont get in ur way of the view of the river.And they didnt have the sound on in the seats.The extra ten feet higher really makes a difference.There so much more air time with the ten extra feet.The only con is the leg room but the seats r nice and almost the same as supermans were.I would say it got a lil better. i waited two hours it doesnt sound like it got worse.
C.C., can you review the mummy coaster? just went on today. HRRR was running but not accepting people. Hulk was 75 minuete wait 10 min. after park opened
It's in my review queue JaMeS. Thanks for the request.
My opinion about Bizarro is that IT IS WAY BETTER THAN SUPERMAN! You should Go in September because the crouds will be gone and you won't have to wait in a long line. When you go remember to raise you hands as high as they go and sit in the frount row. The fire throws off extreme heat so a cooler day in September will be a good day to go. The sound effects are awesome especially at the end where you heresomeone say
"That Just Happened" It's Awesome!
Good Luck
To whomever disliked Bizzaro; I totally disagree and say that the ride was improved through renovations. I myself had never been on Superman: Ride of Steel at the theme park, and living nearly half an hour away I had ony dreamed of experiencing the amazing ride. Here is a little story of how I came to find that S:ROS was no longer part of SFNE.
I hadn't been to the park in years, due to a busy schedule with sports and other conflicts. So, I was really pumped when I discovered that our 8th grade class would be visiting the park for a music festival titled Music in the Parks. We were on the bus when anticipation took over the minds of many of my classmates and me. Finally, after a lot of commotion of head counts and giving out tickets, we had enter the park, only to find a strange purple coaster in the place of Superman: Ride of Steel. Everyone was confused for a split second, until curiosity flooded our brains. It was a race to ride the new coaster.
As many people ran over the new phenominon, we noticed that there had been no occupants of the ride for quite some time. Then we realized that the new roller coaster wasn't running, nor would it be for the rest of the day; it was under construction. It took only a few minutes to realize that S:ROS was no longer a main attracion in the park. Then and there I knew that I would never get to ride it.
So, I have never been on the original Superman: Ride of Steel.
A few weeks ago I visited the park in celebration of my 3rd cousin's birthday. We rode Bizzaro [Superman's "Evil Twin" if you will] and I absolutely LOVED it. My cousins had been on Superman before and I will take their word for it when they say that Bizzaro is 100% better than SUPERMAN: RIDE OF STEEL.
'Nuff Said.
Bizarro, (formerly Superman: Ride of Steel) has been greatly improved, upgraded and modified from it's plain past. The speakers are intense, making the lift chain more heart pounding then ever. The on board sound system, if you listen, is about a daily planet reporter getting lost and people trying to find her. It has some random movie phrases. Here is what you hear going up the lift chain.
"I think he's coming, Mr Luthor."
"Lets move out." (footsteps)
"Keep Moving"
"You have great power"
"What's Your Status"?
"It seems to be a wormhole, sir."
"We're on a mission from god."
"We're sitting on top of the story of the century here!"
"The descision of the council will now be heard."
"There goes a reporter from the Daily Planet!"
"What is she doing?"
"See anything farmiliar here?"
"Get Back! Get Back!"
"aaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!"
"She's fallen in!"
"Dose'nt anyone notice this? I feel like im taking crazy pills!"
"Rawrrrr" (Bizarro Growl)
"What was that?"
"You can hear somthing coming from the inside!"
"hold up."
"LOOK OUT!"
We've got to find that reporter!"
Did'nt your daddy ever tell you to… then you go down the first drop.
also, they added as very cool new first tunnel, and some buildings on the 1st and 2nd bunny hills. There are s shields with mist that display 15 million colors. There are also fire tubes that shoot fire when you roll by them. 2nd tunnel is the same, then you are back at the station after 2 last bunny hills.
Bizarro was a total wast of money.The seats where uncomfterble and the speakers just played cheesy quotes that where loud and anoying. They where trying to be like disny and they didn't sucseed it just came out bad. It was much better off as supper man.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME! Bizzaro is way better than Superman:ROS the theaming is way beeter and the fire and seats were the best part. as for the speakers i cant say since they broke when i rode on it. but the buildings were great it looks as if your going to crash into them. the buildings were great it looked as if yopu were about to crash into them and they added a banked s-bend before the bunny-hop they also added lights and fire which are awsome especialy if you are riding at night. i agree whith some people about the soud thing and that if it had been working it probably ruin the ride expierience. also in line, thres much more to keep you busy so the line goes by quicker. over all it was an improvent and is now my favorite roller coaster (Yes and that means it passes kingda ka too)
okay, heres my own review im a little rusty on writting reviews bt ill do my best.
so, it starts out whith the qeueu line wich all rides do. (whats the point of waiting in a 2 hour line to get off) the line has tvs and giant boards telling the story of bizzaro (not the dc story, the six flags story) you stand by the bizzaroized metropoils buildings (the roatating earth on the daily planet building is now square and gray) and the trees and plants which nearly fill the dc super heros area of the park. it was on a sunday during fright fest so i got on bizzaro 3 timeswhith the longest line being 20 minutes so i didnt have to wait to long to ride. after you get strapped in, the train leaves the station and you listen to the well planned out comments fitting in with the themeing of the ride. while i was looking down at the con. river i saw some jet skiers looking up at us. they waved and everyone who wasnt talking, freaking, or had found a sudden interest in their shoes waved back.
as we rounded the top of the lift hill a slight roar getting louder and louder as you go down that one SWEET drop. there is a HUGE board thing whith bizzaro on the front beacause of the roar, long first drop,and board it feels as if bizzaro is litteraly flying tords you. as you go in the tunnle, there are red strobe lights linning the corners. i liked how it fit in whith the ride and all but i just wished that they had left one of the tunnles alone.(whats the point of a well light in-the-dark tunnle) although the 10 foot taller drop didnt affect the drop too much, it did add to the airtime on the first couple of hills and the intensity of the overbank curve. wile flying through the overbank you start to notice the well-placed scenery thruoghout the ride. you fly by and through in one case, a couple of buildings that look unearthly and weird. thy`re cheap but still add to the themeing. you rise and drop as you go over the airtime hills being pulled out of your seat and treated to some great g-forces on the way down. afer the 4th dive you take a slight turn through some s-shaped rings that light up and make an alien blaster-like noise while you go through them. it`s a neat effect. the turn elevates as you lift, twist, and siral down into the first helix. by now, the trains have slowed down enough for the sound effects to be herd, but your still to busy throwing your hands up and sreaming in delight at the flamethrowers as they explode right next to you, if you realy want to experience the flame effect ride to the right side of the train at night. by the time you start to notice the sound, your leaving the first helix and venturing to the second. the sound effects are made up of lines from different d.c. super-hero movies, some of them included are: "where are you", "game over pal", and 'lets put a smile on that face". you whirl through the second helix and dive into the second tunnle, as i said i wished they would of left one tunnle alone so that the in-the-dark tunnle was actualy, in-the-dark. you fly out, and journey over the bunny hops before you come to a finaly curve before smoothly slowing to a complete stop behind the station. whats funny is that right after you stop, the sterios go "that just happened" . the funnypart about it is that, beacause of the speed and overall intensity of the ride, that`s exactly what it feels like, "that just happened".
this WAS an improvment by almost all mesures and i dont know what you guys are talking about, "the sound being to loud" it was fine. i`m not trying to offend anybody but seriously. i think that six flags will, after 2 or 3 years, change bizzaro to superman reaturns or something and then change it back in the same amount of time. this is the best ride around and it just got better.
I have ridden it both before and after the change (I rode it as Bizarro 9 times so far), and I really don't get why people are complaining so much. The audio really gets me pumped up on the lift hill (I do agree that the audio should be toned down a little though). On Superman, the ride up the lift hill seemed too peaceful and quiet, but with the new audio on Bizarro, the climb felt very dramatic, and felt like the end of the world was approaching. The 2d buildings gave an awesome sense of speed, and the shields give a sense of fear. More comfortable trains, fog shields, fire…all add up to a drastically improved ride experience (not to mention new safety features). Theming is more important to a ride than most may think. Seriously people, it's the same ride in terms of g-force and airtime, so enough of all of that nonsense that they "ruined" the ride. If you haven't ridden this yet I strongly reccomend you do. Don't worry about throwing up, I do get dizzy easily, but this is all smooth, pure g-force: I never felt like I was going to throw up. My personal favorite seat is the very front because it feels like you're flying, the view, and I love hanging over the top of the first drop; very dramatic. The back is best for all you airtime hounds, but can be pretty violent, and the middle…well, if you prefer a less intense ride experience(first timers). I can really see why this is much better than Millenium Force!!
You know, I don't think it was a total waste of money, but some of the affects are hard to see/feel/hear. The trains are a little less comfy, but still pretty comfy. I think the sound track is a little unnessasary though because you can't hear it during the ride. Altogether Bizarro = superman
No.
turns out Brainrush got cancled due to the Xelerator accident.
Shoot! I liked that show! That was the only reason I ever watched Cartoon Network, I hate cartoons.
I'm very confused by your post. What 10 ft? Bizzaro is using teh same track as Superman no modifications were made to the track itself. So there is no increase in height.
Also even a terrible Superman/Bizzaro is better then most of the coasters and rides in teh park so a 2 hour line on a busy day isn't saying much.
I have been Ridding Superman since it's Debut and experienced it's highs and lows. I have even had the opportunity to take it's firs and last rides or a few seasons. So I know the coaster well. It's not my top coaster nor is it anywhere near the worst.
The bizzaro Chang over makes the coaster worse. It's not better then it was before. the experience, in a nut shell saw some positive and negative changes.
The audio is too laud in the station and on the brakes and inaudible during parts of the ride. While during the media day the audio was there to guide you through the story. some extra sounds were in there and unneeded but easily ignored. Since then the story has been slightly lost and a hodgepodge of random sounds were added that have nothing to do with the ride. which cheapens the experience and removed the need for the audio.
Decorations were added. the sign at the tunnel entrance could go either way. it's not better or worse. The cheap building mock-ups almost cardboard cut out style buildings on the straightaway look terrible but they do add to a section of the ride that was lacking. The shields you shoot through are a great addition though the sound effect is annoying the LED lights are also lost during the day. Misters are can't operate as planed since they flood the exit area.
The Fire is the biggest waist of money they added. the effect is OK but no surprise since you're bombarded with its heat while in line and in the station if your waiting towards the back. The effect also is not guaranteed since slight increases in weather will trigger and emergency shut off.
The most positive chance it LED lights have replaced the tunnels Florescent lights. No longer are you subject to only one color but a random color as you fly through
The coaster itself is the same; same Hill, same Height, same drop, same layout. but the lift is slower to accommodate the sound track and the extra trains weight. So the forces re not as strong as they once were. The new train setup detracts form the experience the head rests obstruct your view and the sound system electronics replaced 2 seats lowering the coasters capacity. The new restraints while blissfully free of the ankle restraints added as a quick fix, are tighter and limit your ability to get air time. I found myself holding myself down since on the extreme air during the bunny hills were causing me pain. Which removed Bizzaro from my Multiple rides a day list.
Bizzaro has lost something for me compared to it's Superman Version.
Rode Bizarro on press day. I am 66 years old and I rode the incredible maschine more than 20 times. It's still incredibly smooth, incredibly fast,and has the same insane airtime. For all purposes the ride is the same- a breathtaking fun maschine which has deservedly topped the best list over the years. High, fast, reridable.
Bizarro is an amazing ride. A lot of people complain about the audio but for me once we flew down that awesome first drop I didn't even hear the audio anymore. I was too focused on the ride. The airtime is incredible! The S shields are probably the best addition to the ride. Having mist and lights back in the tunnels again brings it back to the earlier days when it was Superman ROS.
Riding the coaster at night is when these changes are most noticeable. At night, when the train crests the lift hill, the tunnel below is glowing white and purple.
I say that Bizarro is better than S:ROS.
I hear Bizarro's audio is having problems. Can anyone confirm this?
what do you mean the flouresents were replaed with LED?
so here`s the second vote of "prettey much the same"- any more?
finally, another nightrider! (sounds like the name of a comic book, dosen`t it)
they already fixed it, although again i don`t understand the complaints.
I rode Bizarro for the first time today. S:ROS was one of my top 2 coasters (along with Millenium Force) – not any more.
I do like most of the changes – the mist, flames, and tunnels add greatly to the experience. The exception would have to be the audio, both in how the headrests block the view and in terms of how loud it is. I mean painfully loud. My ears were literally ringing after riding. When we go back, I'm seriously considering earplugs.
The sound makes me feel like the ride is more intense because of loud noises and stuff. The flames definately make it better. And they have them in an excellent spot where nobody can complain that they will be burned but they aren't too far away that you can't feel them. The LED lights also add to it and at night, because they are so bright, make you feel like you are almost dreaming. I think the sound also entertains you on the way up the lift hill. Also, it's cool how they say "Didn't your dad ever teach you to look before you leap" And then you plunge 221 feet into the ground at 77 mph. The rest of the ride i will agree that the sound is almost pointless. But the Bizarro music at the end is cool.
MY VERDICT: SIX FLAGS NEW ENGLAND SUCCEEDED AT IMPROVING SUPERMAN: RIDE OF STEEL BY CHANGING IT INTO BIZARRO. SO, THE ROLLER COASTER IS BETTER IN MY BOOK.
I will admit, however, I miss Superman as the theme as he is so cool. But Bizarro seems pretty bad ass.
we did the six flags new england park today, didnt realize that superman changed to bizarro until we got thier today. last years was 1st year since 80s when it was riverside park…i would rate it as same as superman. its always been my fave coaster.
i wanna see a POV vid of this!
Unfortunately, I never got to ride Bizarro before its makeover, but I have to say the ride is spectacular. I've been to most of the large parks on the East Coast along with Cedar Point, and Bizarro is my number 1 coaster. El Toro is its only rival in terms of airtime, but Bizarro just nudged out the bull for the spot. Alpengeist, Apollo's Chariot, and Nitro round out my top five, but Bizarro jumped past them. I wish I got to ride the original S:ROS, but I actually liked the special effects as I thought they added to the ride. Millennium Force is overrated, and it doesn't hold a candle to this ride.
i went on the coaster today and the difference was very noticeable. there were more effects and the speakers gave the ride more action and thrill. The best part of the transformation is the 4 or five places where you think your gonna hit your head. the best rollercoaster ever
In this economy, especially with Six Flags' struggling finances, WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY!!! If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Simple rule.
S:ROS was sheer perfection, as is, so why tamper with it? Consistently on almost every Top 10 list, it and MF at Cedar Point were masterpieces of their time. This was like gving the Mona Lisa a facelift. And who needs sound effects on a great coaster? Design and construction speak for themselves. Six Flags should have just made another payment to the bank with that cash. Or bought a new flat ride to keep the coaster lines a little shorter. LOL!
I'm a senior in High School, and have ridden both as part of my school music program's yearly trips. Personally, my review would be mixed. All of the improvements except for the sound are good, and pay a good homage to Bizarro, however miniscule a character he may be. However, the Superman theming was still better, and made it instantly recognized. I would still reccomend it however.
I haven't actually ridden the ride (thanks to my eternal fear of roller coasters) but my friend has and she kept on begging and begging me to try it out. Months after she's ridden it she's still jabbering about how awesome it was. her exact words were: "Next time we go i'm going to make sure you come along! Don't worry there's so much adrenaline you can barely feel the first drop, well actually you can, but it's the best ride ever! Especially when you go through the tunnels and the mist and the fire….." This was said all in one breath.