Oblivion Review, Alton Towers B&M Dive Coaster | Best Drop of Any Dive Coaster!

[@CanobieCoaster]

One small error, most dive coasters since 2005 have had vertical drops, but not all. Baron, Krake, and Oblivion the Black Hole are 3 that did not. I tried to edit that part as best I could without taking the video down.

[@CoasterThunder]

The drop at night is something else. You literally can’t seen down the tunnel it’s that dark !!

[@CanobieCoaster]

Sounds awesome! I'd love to experience this park in general at night.

[@DonkeyPopsicle]

"Local residents complained" is a phrase you never want to hear

[@Sauci55on]

Certified Alton Towers ahh momento™️

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's the story of so many theme parks, especially Alton Towers.

[@sarahkellett4926]

The locals in Alton complain about everything. They're annoying

[@SmudgysCoasters]

Arguablly the best Dive Machine. The whole point of the Dive Machine is the drop, so the one with the best drop is the best. The feeling of coming in and out of that mist is amazing.

[@ToliiRH]

I disagree. Drops are a big part of a roller coaster, but if I just wanted a good drop, I’d prefer a drop tower. Having ridden oblivion and Yukon striker, I much prefer the latter. It’s just far more complete

[@zero-gravitythrills7163]

How??? Have you ridden any other ones????

[@SmudgysCoasters]

@ Yes, I have

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's an epic plunge.

[@CoasterPlanet]

Thanks for reviewing! I love Oblivion and I have fond memories of lapping it over and over again with minimal queues. At the end of the day the ride is almost always walk-on. This is my second most ridden coaster with 42 rides, behind Millennium at Fantasy Island with an estimated 160.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Nice!

[@mae_sunflower_emoji]

when I hear "lawsuit" im worried like "oh no who died" but then its "people screamed too loud" 🙀

[@CanobieCoaster]

Definitely not as concerning, but still annoying for the park.

[@maxmustermann6612]

Honestly a fun coaster despite its shortness. The soundtrack honestly makes it that more special to me. And the crew did a super efficient job while beeing incredibly friendly when we visited

[@MoyleCoasters]

The soundtrack is incredible! Super underrated.

[@CanobieCoaster]

That's good!

[@stephenboshears4832]

Honestly surprised you managed a 13 minute review of a ride with exactly 2 elements. Also Tennessee Tornado’s tunnel drop is longer than Oblivion’s falling 128’ underground to Oblivion’s 115’

[@CanobieCoaster]

But what's the max distance from the ground to track? I don't think that distance ever hits 100ft on Tennessee Tornado since the tunnel is on a downward slope.

[@dannyj.246]

Love oblivion rode it 100 of times and the drop still gets me every time 😊

[@CanobieCoaster]

Nice!

[@Trace_AM]

I used to be scared of Oblivion and avoided it but once I experienced that floater air time it definitely became a firm favourite. I try to give myself plenty of space in the restraints then arms up all the way down, its one of the best feelings on a coaster 😊

[@charlie-rae4436]

Ay same ! Sometimes the airtime hits too hard so I bring them down

[@CanobieCoaster]

Love the drop!

[@joshslater2426]

Oblivion is my favourite coaster in the entire park, and it’s only probably because I hardly ever have to queue for it and because it builds up to the drop so well. It makes a lot of sense to not have much after the drop because that’s the main focal point. It’s short but sweet, and I also love the extremely large ride cart. The general mimimalist retro-future aesthetic is nice, and the theme is very funky. It’s a ride I could go on for years without being bored, although I wish it still held you at the top longer and said “don’t look down”. It deserves the Nemesis: Reborn treatment of a re-track for its anniversary.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I hope it sticks around and I think it will.

[@katashworth41]

There’s been a couple of days I’ve been where the walk up to the station was longer than the queue.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I've had that happen too.

[@charlie-rae4436]

Ah I love this ride so much. It's the ride that got me over tummy airtime. I met someone at the park who later became a close friend . He got me to go on it but I was so scared and the voice over guy says something like "there is not logical reason" and I just thinking,yeah wtf am I doing. I haven't been on any other dives but the trains having a floor and the 'hole' make it a lot less scary for me. I'm big scared of heights. Thank you for the video Ps the music goes so hard

[@CanobieCoaster]

I love the soundtrack for this ride, especially when it plays in the station after that video.

[@NathanHydra]

2:35 not all dive coasters have gone vertical since. Baron 1898 only hits 86 degrees

[@CanobieCoaster]

Thanks, didn't realize that one stopped before vertical.

[@somethingsinister8493]

You are right about the cost of digging the hole being the reason the ride was so short, it's also true of Nemesis, according to John Wardley it was half the cost of the entire project just to blast the hole. As for Oblivion there was no other way to have such a large drop at Alton Towers and in the end both Nemesis and Oblivion stand out on the world stage simply because of the holes that were dug so I'd argue it was definitely worth it! Nice review btw, it's nice when enthusiasts are capable of contextualising a coaster with the time it was built. It's senseless comparing a 30 year old ride with one that was built a couple of years ago but I do see a lot of reviews that fail to honour the history and innovation.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I completely get why they put all their money into the tunnel to get a drop of this scale. While the treeline rule is annoying, it has led to some creative coasters.

[@monkeygaming2841]

4:52 fun fact, that giant equipment pieces was from the park's planetarium that operated during the 80s and closed in like.. 1989?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Cool!

[@danielward4868]

I love oblivion and is one of my favourites in the park. I rarely get to ride it because it has been closed on a lot of my visits. My luck hasn't been great in recent years

[@CanobieCoaster]

That's odd it was closed. Usually it is reliable for me.

[@mateoalvira3514]

One small error, most dive coasters since 2005 have had vertical drops, but not all. Baron, Krake, and Oblivion the Black Hole are 3 that did not. I tried to edit that part as best I could without taking the video down. You said that, Canobie Coaster. Of those three dive coasters, which one do you prefer? Why?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Of those 3, Baron since it has nice theming.

[@dingo137]

Being an old fart by coaster enthusiast standards, I rode this in its opening year. Back then it was by far the steepest drop I'd ever been on, so it was a big deal. The theatre surrounding it really helped too - the videos in the queue, the holding brake, the "don't look down" all added to the tension nicely. Without all that though, and with vertical drops now being pretty standard, it doesn't seem anything great at all. Still a fun drop, but I only bother if the queue's short.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I get why it was such a big deal when it opened.

[@monkeygaming2841]

When is the queue not short?

[@coasterboss1654]

Smiler review coming soon?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Yes

[@destinedpotato1577]

Fun Fact: Oblivion is the fastest coaster at Alton Towers. I love Oblivion even if I had ridden more "complete" dive coasters, it still holds a place in my heart. I am curious if Alton Towers intends to give it the Nemisis Reborn Treatment because that would be quite distruptive to X-Sector if they did so. I know there are people who would like a retrack to also extend the rides layout, but where the heck would those extra pieces of track go? Oblivion is deisgned around the drop and my god does it deliever

[@CanobieCoaster]

Makes sense why it's the fastest since it has the largest drop. The one thing I'd love to see changed (if the layout were modified in a retrack) is a barrel roll into the brake run (instead of the gradual climb).

[@edwardholmes91]

Great review. Of the dive coasters I've been on, this is my favourite. I feel if they had added addional elements that it would have taken away from the experience of the drop. Like you, I ride it at least 2 or 3 times as I love the freefall. I really do miss the soundtrack and hold at the top though... now it barely comes to a standstill before you drop. I also prefer the front row, as on the back row you cant actually see the hole until your dropping, which IMHO takes away from the anticipation somewhat.

[@CanobieCoaster]

That's a fair reason to prefer row 1. I know that's the preferred spot for most.

[@Paolo8772]

The only B&M Dive coasters I've ridden are Valravn, Oblivion and Yukon Striker. I like Yukon Striker the best, then Valravn, then Oblivion. But the drop on Oblivion is better because it has hard restraints. But despite the depth of the tunnel, you can see the track get less steep before it gets dark, so even if I found the drop to be good I can't imagine it having a better drop than Griffon; the third biggest drop on a B&M dive with the older harder restraints and heavy 30 passenger trains, especially in the back row.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I have those 3 in that order as well. The bigger layouts help.

[@Lolfromskull-l7d]

Oblivions drop is something else its smaller than the others but the tunnel is too good

[@CanobieCoaster]

The drop presentation makes it special.

[@coolredpen]

May oblivion be due a retrack soon? + Potential extension

[@CanobieCoaster]

I'm not sure if it needs a retrack. I suspect it'll stick around though.

[@AG7-MTM]

I hope that "Oblivion Re-Appearance" goes for the true vertical drop - If B&M is still smooth by then

[@CanobieCoaster]

Nemesis Reborn is still smooth, so they can retrack a ride smoothly.

[@ballinagarbagetruckfan3158]

The acceleration of the drop is wild

[@CanobieCoaster]

Love the drop.

[@Thrills_And_Chills_WQAQ]

now im wondering if we'll be getting more reviews of rides like galactica at this park plus other reviews for rides in this country from you.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Yes, I have some UK content coming in the next 2 weeks.

[@CoolDude-il2mp]

Oblivion is good in the dark bcuz the drop feels way longer as u have no idea if u r above or below ground. It’s sooo disorienting and gives a gut punch. Also, will you do a review on wicker man?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Yes, there will be one in the future.

[@Ste_vengeance]

Got to ride at night before last season ended and the entire drop being in darkness made it seem like you are falling for an age.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Sounds amazing!

[@solarflare457]

Imo oblivion has the coolest trains of any dive machibe

[@joshslater2426]

I think John Wardley once said that the trains were designed to mimic a football stadium, hence why it’s so wide and the back row is slightly raised. That way everyone can see the drop. It also helps that the design is visually pleasing, and the over the shoulder restraints look a lot safer than a lap bar.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I wish they were floorless, but the floors don't change it too much.

[@joeltownley8037]

I really wish they would just extend the layout

[@CanobieCoaster]

That would be nice, but I doubt it happens.

[@jarretstroud1842]

Hope you review Valravn next

[@Southeastern_Thrills]

Worst 200+ foot dive coaster in North America

[@CanobieCoaster]

I won't be reviewing it next, but I will be reviewing it eventually.

[@JFrombaugh]

Despite the queue video that does its best to scare the crap out of you, oddly enough I would say Rita is the "scarier" ride. Both in terms of suspense and because the launch gives you a MUCH stronger "stomach feeling".

[@CanobieCoaster]

I think Oblivion is scarier because of the hype around the drop. Like both rides though.

[@benjaminalston8884]

I can only assume anyone complaining about this being short etc etc has either never ridden it or is being overly picky. 1) it was the original dive coaster, so you have to give some leeway there 2) the drop looking so short from the outside to being 180ft overall is VERY deceptive This, imo, is one of the best and only “true” dive coasters. I think this is what dive coasters should have remained as, at least the first drop anyway, it’s just so much scarier being hidden and in a tunnel. You can be picky about it having basically one standout element but the point is it was the original, and you have to understand the time it was built. The fact it STILL holds up nowadays is what should impress people the most. Oblivion and Nemesis are by far the best 2 rides in the park.

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's short. Can't deny that. But the drop is epic.

[@Southeastern_Thrills]

I'm surprised Alton Towers never gave Oblivion floorless trains

[@CanobieCoaster]

It doesn't necessarily need them for the ride to work, so I get why they didn't spend the extra money years later.

[@Southeastern_Thrills]

@ It would improve the experience though