Sitting on the footprint of the extinct Son of Beast wood coaster, Banshee's eye catching blue and magenta body brings life to this coaster graveyard. Opened in 2014, this modern inverted coaster constructed by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) filled a missing piece in Kings Island's coaster collection. Featuring seven inversions and 150-foot first drop, this roller coaster provides the full package for coaster enthusiast. There is also several unique parts of Banshee that you don't typically find on other B&M inverted coasters. First you will notice that there are new vest-style restraints similar to those found on B&M Wing coasters which eliminate annoying head banging. This coaster also has a steep decent off the chain lift with no pre-drop. This drop provides you with unusual airtime typically not associated on inverted rollercoasters. Finally, Banshee features a pretzel knot and a slow inline twist which are uncommon for B&M inverts. This phantom has plenty to offer for those making the trip up to Mason, Ohio.
Walking up to the queue, you get a full view of Banshee's haunted layout. For those who marvel at the site of coasters, this ride won't let you down. There are so many "Kodak moments" that caused a geek like me to spend a full hour taking pictures from multiple angles of this beauty. As I entered the line I heard the ghostly screech that Banshee yells as it crests the first drop. The haunted queue has wonderful feel to it as you can spot the tombstones of former Kings Island coasters scattered about. As you get to the station, there is no spectacular theming however, even if there was, I wouldn't have noticed because my gaze was set on the spectacular operations performed by the Kings Island ride ops. I was amazed at how fast and well trained each operator was. Bravo to the Banshee crew, your dispatches and conduct was flawless. Now buckled in and climbing the lift, I was entertained by the views. The first drop caught me off guard because I was not expecting so much airtime on a B&M invert. Even though the transitions were not as quick as those found on Montu and even Batman the Ride, the vast layout still provided quite the experience. This is definitely one of those coasters that you hop back in line to try again.
Element by Element
First Drop: Very steep and gives you a very unusual feeling of weightlessness especially in the back row.
Dive Loop: This element slows down a bit at the top which gives some nice hangtime.
First Loop: Very forceful loop that has some nice foot choppers as you enter the element.
Zero G Roll: This element actually was disappointing. I love zero G rolls but the lack of speed through the twist, really didn't provide any excitement.
Pretzel Knot: Very strong G forces throughout this double inversion.
Second loop: Forceful but seemed randomly thrown in.
Upward helix: Really cool and unexpectedly entertaining maneuver.
In line twist: Not as good as the ones found on wing coasters. However this is a scream worthy inversion and a great final element choice.
Finale: The ride finishes up with some pleasant banked turns that guide you back to the station.
Banshee is a must ride at Kings Island. What I liked the most about this coaster was how different it was from the other two B&M inverts I have ridden. Sometimes B&M multilooping coasters all feel the same. A lot of times it's the same elements in different order. However, Banshee seemed to stray away from the normal in some ways brilliant and in other ways least preferred. One of Banshee's biggest complaint is that it is forceless. While Banshee doesn't press you to your seat quite like Montu at Busch Gardens Tampa, if you are fan of G forces and twisted inversions than this rollercoaster won't disappoint. This is currently (2017) my third favorite coaster at Kings Island and is very different from the rest of it's line up. I believe Banshee gives us a taste of the future of B&M inverts. If this is the case, than I am very excited to see more of these grim reapers haunting theme parks in the future.
Ratings:
Overall: 8/10 - Very fun and unique. G forces and inversions are the name of the game.
Excitement/Intensity: 8/10 - G forces are strong through the loops. The first drop lifts you out of your seat.
Fun: 9/10 - With several twisted inversions and speeds that seem mere inches from the ground making you feel, this coaster will have you yelling with joy throughout.
Layout/Elements: 8.5/10 - The duration of this ride is beyond satisfactory. The amount of inversions is wonderful, however I think the vertical loop at the end could have been replaced with a corkscrew or something innovated.
Speed: 7.5/10 - The speed on this coaster is great. I would have liked to see some more velocity through the zero G roll. These elements are more fun when they get snappy.
Inversions: 6/10 - My favorite inversion is the dive loop and how much hangtime you get on it. The rest of the inversions were enjoyable, however I feel like my experiences with these elements on other coasters were much more thrilling. Example being the zero G roll which felt underwhelming compared to Batman and Montu's. With that being said inversions are inversions. As long as they are not painful, they provide me with happiness.
Positive G's: 8.5/10 - Most of these inversions and helixes pull heavy G forces. Not as strong as Montu and Batman, but definitely enough to get the blood rushing.
Lateral G's: 3/10 - This rollercoaster doesn't boast about it's lateral forces, nonetheless they aren't completely absent from the ride. These forces make an appearance on the first drop and zero G roll.
Duration: 10/10 - With most coasters at Kings Island you will not be cheated on ride time. Banshee continues that trend with it's lengthy journey through the rollercoaster cemetery.
Smoothness: ?/10 - Hmm? I have ridden this coaster seven times. Five of those seven rides provided me with a very smooth experience with a hint of shaking here and there. However two of the rides I had featured a strong vibration. One of the rides on the very left side of row six had a non-stop rattle so bad, I just closed my eyes hoping the ride would end soon. The five good rides I would have rated this coaster 9/10 and the other two I would have given a 2/10. Luckily I think my bad experience is very uncommon and definitely won't stop me from hoping on again.
Train/Comfort: 9/10 - Even though over-the-shoulder restraints limits upper-body movement, B&M vest restraints are very comfortable and don't hinder the rider's experience.
Appearance/Theming: 8/10 - The plaza and the coaster structure are gorgeous to look at. The theming is certainly not on the level of Disney or European parks but the ride itself certainly is pleasing to the coaster enthusiast's eye.
Banshee draws a wide range of opinions. Write in the comments below if you are team Banshee or not!
