This is a pretty big discussion within the theme park community. Which is better, the original Nemesis, or its newer younger sibling, Nemesis Inferno? In this blog I’ll weigh up the pros and cons of both rides, and see which one I think is better overall!
To start with, anyone who’s seen my other blog pages will know that Nemesis sits at number 3 on my list of top rollercoasters so to spoil the ending, it is the original (for the moment at least!)
So why do I think Nemesis is better than the original, well lets break it down into sections, as I did with my Smiler vs. Stealth post.
Theme and Score
Both rides feature great theming. Nemesis is themed to a monster, with the track being used to hold the destructive beast back. Inferno on the other hand is themed to a volcano and the layout weaves around a jungle.
I like Nemesis’ theme and station building, but in honesty, I actually think I prefer Nemesis Inferno for its theme, station and surrounding area. It’s very pleasant and on a summers afternoon is a lovely place to be
Though Nemesis’ theme is a bit more than just a pretty space, it does look a little tired in places. The waterfall usually doesn’t run anymore and when it does, it doesn’t run red like it used to! I’ve never actually seen it running under the first drop too, but hopefully this will make a return soon!
As many of you’ll probably know now, Nemesis is due for a retrack for its 30th anniversary and in the plans, its been suggested that the theming is being spruced up, so it’ll hopefully see the waterfall return and the station building looking back at its best!
As for score, Nemesis takes this for me. Infernos tropical sounding track is pleasant to listen to and quite eerie in places, but the original Nemesis’ theme just fits much better in my opinion. You can’t talk about soundtrack and not mention the famous Nemesis roar as it hurtles around the helix and into the main pit. It is immense and one of the best features of the ride!
Ride experience
For me, Nemesis is the rougher ride of the two, but also the more intense. That’s not to say that Inferno is a gentle romp through the jungle by any means! There’s very little headbanging on Inferno but it is also the newer of the two rides being built in 2003, 9 years after the original ride.
I’ve had a few rides on the original Nemesis now that are a little unpleasant in places. 1 particular ride at Scarefest in 2020 was really quite bad and did leave me with quite a sore ear afterwards! I’ve never had a ride so bad on Inferno by contrast.
This is a difficult one to pick between. You’ve got a more intense but rougher ride on Nemesis, vs an ever so slightly less intense ride on Nemesis Inferno but with very little headbanging at all.
I think at the moment, I’d pick the original Nemesis for its overall ride experience. If its running on top form its absolutely no question that Nemesis is on top, but at its worse it can leave a sour impression!
Though as mentioned earlier, Nemesis is getting a retrack and hopefully that will alleviate any issues noted previously!
Offride Experience
Both rides are a sight to behold, its so easy to stand around and watch both coasters running their layouts! They’re very photogenic and have great opportunities for some snaps, specifically after the first corkscrew and helix on Nemesis, and the initial loop and interlocking corkscrews on Inferno.
Both queue lines weave under each attractions tracks, though Nemesis’s queue can seem overly long when the extended queue is being used, and takes you right into the woods with little to see unfortunately so it can feel a little lacking. I think Nemesis is the one I’d prefer to stand and watch, but only just! It’s queue line is lacking when compared to Inferno but the noise it makes is sublime.
So Which should take the top spot?
As mentioned earlier, I think that Nemesis is the overall better ride. Dividing these two literally divides the theme park community as so many pick one over the other. Saying Nemesis is better than Inferno though shouldn’t detract from the fact that Nemesis Inferno is in itself a truly excellent ride, a nicely themed area and a nice intense ride too!
Given how intense the ride is, how great the score is and also the roar it makes, I do think that Nemesis is the better of the two, at least currently! Every ride on Inferno makes me like it more and more and assuming it continues to impress, then I will certainly move it up the rankings this season!
Hopefully this year I’ll get a couple more night rides on each too as I’ve only done 1 on each, and Inferno was the better night ride, but I think Nemesis looks nicer at nigh!