I heard that The Dark Knight had some effects restored, or potentially new effects. Can anyone confirm?
The Dark Knight
- Thread starter nyxmike
- Start date
I've heard the same, and I'm really looking forward to seeing them on my next visit! This ride has been dire need of rejuvenation for several seasons now and it's exciting that the park has seemingly acknowledged that.
That would make sense. SFGAm is in the process of restoring their Dark Knight.
Very happy to be able to confirm the return of a large amount of effects and a fix of the leaking roof. The building has once again been made pitch black during the hairpin turns after the lift hill and a good amount of the illuminated graffiti + scenery has been restored. The second half of the track doesn't have a whole lot until the station return, but the ride is still miles ahead of the previous state it was in.
The graffiti in particular has been brightened substantially. Even with the pre-show doors wide open and light pouring in, it still stood out in a big way:
The graffiti in particular has been brightened substantially. Even with the pre-show doors wide open and light pouring in, it still stood out in a big way:
Thanks for the update! What's missing from the second half of the ride? I don't really remember other than the horn at the end which I assume isn't working still.
This was a fun little ride— glad to see it get some love finally!
That horn was very memorable! I don't particularly mind avoiding the jump scare aspect of it, but it would be nice to see the lights on that subway car turn on again as riders pass by.
The main effect I recall is the one right after the double drop. There was a small replica building/room in the corner that would flash and make machine gun sound effects as you went around the turn. There was also a billboard (public works/department of sanitation, I think?) near that would light up just before the larger drop by the end - that was always my cue to prepare for the bright and disorienting camera flash that followed soon after!
One of the billboards just before the burning building at the end of the hairpin turns used to have something elaborate too - an effect that almost made it look transparent, with the henchmen behind it peering through. Looking back (and hopefully forward too), I really appreciate the thought and creativity they put into this ride.
The billboards used to have a animated holographic effect with the henchmen looking through blast holes and one firing a PGO pump shotgun at you. There is also a set of steam pipes that never worked. Other Dark Knights have the pipes working but GAdv's never worked. Also GAdv never installed the exterior Gotham skyline that the other Dark Knights have. I even seen them in crates under Batman's station.
^I distinctly remember seeing that skyline in the initial renderings and wondering when they'd be installed. I didn't know that the panels actually arrived at the park.
While we're at it, this also had what might be the coolest media preview material ever. Awesome touch with the glow in the dark invite (both the skyline rendering and the invite can be seen in the spotlight linked below, which is well worth reading in its entirety!).
While we're at it, this also had what might be the coolest media preview material ever. Awesome touch with the glow in the dark invite (both the skyline rendering and the invite can be seen in the spotlight linked below, which is well worth reading in its entirety!).
I wish they did that, especially since they already remastered the queue line & the rides special effects
After waiting 2 and a half hours for it opening year, I was disappointed because I had no idea what kind of coaster it was and expected a much different ride. That said, it really grew on me as a ride with a station wait, and I’m glad to see it’s getting the attention from the park it deserves.
Hard to believe it’s nearly 20 years old, it was the first coaster I ever rode during its opening year.
Hard to believe it’s nearly 20 years old, it was the first coaster I ever rode during its opening year.