Nemesis
B&M's inverted masterpiece. While laying foundations for a new ride, Alton's construction staff accidentally woke up a monster lying just beneath the surface. Struggling against its steel restraints, it wreaks revenge on those who dare to come close.

Of all the coasters I have ridden around the world, Nemesis after 10 years is still my Number 1. It's not the biggest, it's not the fastest, it's not the most intense in the world, and it doesn't have any airtime. So why do I rate it so highly? Read on...

There is a long and complicated storyline attached to Nemesis. It is an alien that has been rejected throughout the universe which has finally found peace beneath the ground at Alton Towers...until staff began to excavate the earth in preparation for a new ride. Nemesis had to be restrained, and now people come to ride it. But don't pay too much attention to the theme, just enjoy the ride!

skip the following photographs of Nemesis

Nemesis has been built inside a huge pit in the Forbidden Valley area of the park. Severe planning restrictions meant that the ride could not be seen above tree height, but this apparent show-stopper has turned Nemesis into one of the most imaginative and thrilling experiences you could wish to have. The track weaves between the trees, squeezes through narrow tunnels and stone ravines, and is so close to the landscaping that the feeling of speed is emphasised and riders are convinced they are going to slam into the rocks. It is an inverted coaster meaning that the seats are suspended below the track, which leaves riders in the front row very exposed. To get the full effect, you must keep your eyes open!

The centrepiece of the attraction is the alien itself, which houses the station. The queue for the ride is a winding path that is intertwined with the track itself, so people who are waiting are treated to some excellent views of the ride in motion. The path leads into the side of the alien's body, and you are soon in your seat on the loading platform, waiting for the floor to drop away and the train to glide out of the station. For the most amazing visuals, queue for the front row. Ignore the signs that tell you this will add 30 minutes to your queuing time - this is when the ride has only one train running. I've never known it to run with only one train! You can expect to wait on average an extra 10 minutes, maybe 15-20 minutes on busy days.

A short lift hill takes you to the top of the valley, over the heads of the waiting people. Since you are following the side of the valley, when you reach the top you are still only a few feet off the ground. The train leaves the lift hill and heads around a left hand corner, gradually sloped. Gathering speed gracefully, you fly through a gap between the trees and bushes, only a few feet above a stream that is strangely coloured pink. A surprise sudden drop, and then the ground disappears from beneath you at the edge of the valley and riders in the front row think they're about to fly off the edge of the earth. As the stream cascades over the side of the rock face, the train is pulled upwards high into the air to negotiate the ride's first inversion - the Corkscrew. So far, it's been a gentle ride, but now the ride's character changes completely. The inversion whips you sideways, tumbling head over heels with great ferocity...and do remember to smile for the on-ride camera.

On leaving the Corkscrew, you are aware that you are now travelling at a tremendous speed as you fly high above the heads of the waiting people and head straight for the main path that leads through Forbidden Valley. You are suddenly tilted on your side just before hitting the wire fence and enter the 270° downward Helix, which for me is the most impressive part of the ride. Following the wire fence closely for the first half, then entering a narrow rock-sided ravine through which another stream flows, the Helix is powerful and intense. 4Gs are pulled here, and riders in the back row will feel extremely heavy and your feet will start tingling. Remember to keep your eyes open, otherwise you won't know how close your feet come to the sides of the ravine!

The train straightens up and then you notice you're on collision course with the alien itself. At tremendous speed, the mass of tentacles and the alien's eye rushing closer is just a blur but just before the inevitable happens, your body is rotated sideways and your feet are lifted clear of the alien's body with inches to spare. The Zero-G Roll rotates you about your heartline over the top of the alien's body, riders in the front-left seat normally lift up their feet at this point for some reason. The Zero-G Roll element is always an impressive manouevre to watch and to experience, but sending it over the top of the alien's body turns it into a work of art.

Reaching the other side of the valley and the climbing up the rock face again, the train follows the path of a waterfall. If you're in the front seat, you're likely to get some splashes on your feet! A tight 180° turn leaves your feet brushing the branches of the nearby trees and you then head downwards to the bottom of the water-filled pit. Up and into the vertical loop, experiencing extremely high G forces again, then down and into a short tunnel, and up and around in a swooping left hand turn over the queue line.

A drop into a tunnel, but then a surprise awaits you. You can't see it coming, but there is a barrel roll hidden at the other side. This final inversion whips the seat sideways from underneath you just before hitting a stone wall and with extreme viciousness it sends you head over heels, close to the ground, and past a derelict vehicle that somewhat bizarrely is labelled with "Mushroom Cloud Luxury Tours". Through another tunnel, round another tighly banked corner, then the train hits the brakes still travelling at an impressive speed.

If you stand by the exit and watch the expressions of the people as they trundle back into the station, you will notice that everyone is laughing and smiling, and some can't believe what they've just experienced. This is an extremely intense ride and it doesn't let up at all. It has a very unique profile in that there is no big drop at the beginning with all the other elements gradually getting smaller and tamer. Nemesis starts off being gentle and then increases in ferocity all the time, giving you that feeling of relentlessness and being out of control. I have probably ridden Nemesis about 200 times, and still can't get enough!

There are only 4 days of the year when it is possible to ride Nemesis in the dark. Then, it takes on a whole new meaning. Particularly impressive is the exit of the tunnel just before the final inversion where the rock pillar in front of you is floodlit and seems closer to you than ever before.

The combination of the ride intensity and the interaction and close encounters with the landscape truly make Nemesis a world-class coaster. It is more than the sum of its parts and I have yet to see anything that comes anywhere near close.

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