Samurai: n. Japanese
warrior; a member of the military aristocracy.
In
Short:
Samurai
is a fast spin and spew ride, taking riders on a whirlwind journey
to heights of 60ft.
Statistics:
Opened: 2004 Manufacturer: Mondial Area: Lost City Ride Type: Top Scan On Ride Photo: No Official Rating: Extreme Thrills
Max
Height: 59ft (18m) Max Revolutions: 7.5rpm Max G. Force: 5 Throughput: 500 people/hour
Ride Duration: 120 seconds
Photos:
Video:
Switch between 360p, 480p and 720p HD!
Music:
Hear the Samurai Soundtrack in the TTP Music Player - click the link below to open the player in a new window. Copyright for these tracks remains with the original artists and Thorpe Park.
TTP
Review:
Samurai
is a Mondial Topscan, which originally resided in Tussauds' Chessington
World of Adventures. However, it was decided that Samurai was
too intense for Chessington's changing target audience, and so
it was moved to Thorpe Park in 2004, after a refurbishment by
Mondial in Holland.
Samurai
gives a really fun ride. Riders are seated in rows on one of
6 pods on the end of a mechanical arm. The arm raises the pods
and can rotate 360º, in doing so rotating the pods, sometimes
through 360º
themselves. Most often the arm will make huge circular sweeping
motions. The pods are lifted to over 60ft high, which gives riders
great views. Often, you feel all too close to the nearby lakes
and trees, and it is this feeling that makes Samurai so good. One
minute, you are nearly touching the platform, the next, you are
suspended 60ft high over a mass of water. You are constantly being
flipped, inverted and moved around, the ride soundtrack compliments
the ride perfectly, the location, being next to a lake, is ideal
for thrills.
Samurai
has a lot going for it. However, your ride on Samurai can vary
due to the setting that it's on. If you get it on a fast and
intense setting, Samurai is stunning. Get it on a slow and bland
setting, and Samurai is tame (avoid mornings when Samurai is
warming up!).
Overall,
Samurai is right up there with Thorpe's best flat rides. It's
a shame it is only a recycled ride from another Park, but Samurai
takes intense spinning, a fantastic ride soundtrack and a superb
location and and shakes them up into one brilliant ride.
Positives:
Fast,
disorientating and fun.
Offers fantastic views of the lakes and neighbouring SAW -
The Ride.
Negatives:
Quality
of ride varies hugely, depending on the setting.
Nowhere
near as intense as similar rides on the travelling fair circuit.
9/10
Your
Reviews:
"This
ride is intense; you never know what its going to do. It gives
you exhilerating G-forces and great views! Duration is good
as well :)" Andrew, London, UK.
"Awesome
thrill! It's right next to Saw and you go flying over the tree-tops!
Ace!" Tommy Murray, Bracknell, UK.
"Purely
amazing ride!" Graham Lowsley,
London, UK.
"I
really love this ride - and I'm only 11!" Jordan, Chinnor, UK.
"Samurai is my favourite ride at Thorpe :) I have never been on a slow setting, I always ride around lunchtime! But its too short when busy, so I would ask nicely for the long setting." Lukee, Sussex, UK.
"This is an immense ride!! It flings you about which is so fun! It's one of my favourites :D" Ciara, Barnsley, UK.