“Whatever that thing is in front of us is, I really hope it can hold all of our weight,” says roller coaster aficionado Robb Alvey as the car he is sitting in reaches the end of the track. And it literally is the end – just a couple of feet ahead of where the train has come to a halt, the rails suddenly stop and there is naught but blue sky.
This is the Gravity Max roller coaster in Taiwan’s Discovery World theme park, a ’tilt coaster’ built by Dutch thrill rides designer Vekoma which features a section of track at the top of the chain lift that slowly tilts from horizontal to vertical before clicking into place and releasing the safety lock to drop the train down. Provided, of course, that the rails line up…
Shot by the professional thrill seekers from Theme Park Review, the following video shows just how terrifying Discovery Land’s roller coaster really is. For anyone who’s afraid of heights (right here!), roller coasters can be nerve-racking enough, but add in the fact that the track your car is connected to isn’t even complete until seconds before you’re thrown into the abyss, and you reach a whole new level of fear.
▼ Um, are you quite sure this thing’s finished?
▼ If that safety latch were to break open… <shudder>
▼ Still no track.
▼ Please line up, please line up, please line up…
We’ll leave you now with Robb’s video in full. Honestly, just watching the footage is enough to make us feel a little queasy, and we’re not entirely sure we’d be able to get on this thing without a little man-handling and maybe a gentle tranquiliser.
After all, as Robb says, there are two kinds of fear to be dealt with when riding the Gravity Max: “The ‘oh shit’ factor is when you come to the top and you realise there’s nothing in front of you; the ‘shit’ factor is when you go down the drop.”
Rather you than us, sir. Rather you than us.
Love roller coasters? Check out our top 10 coasters in Japan!
Source: Kotaro (Japanese)
Video/images via YouTube themeparkreviewTPR
Hold on tight: 10 unmissable roller coasters in Japan
Universal Studios Japan roller coaster stops, leaves passengers dangling 98 feet above ground
Universal Studios Japan reveals plans for record-breaking roller coaster to mark 15th anniversary
Japan’s bone-breaking and record-breaking roller coaster is permanently shutting down
“Japan’s slowest roller coaster” derails, passengers don’t notice
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Starbucks Japan closing only Shinkansen platform branch for popularity-triggered renovations
Can a downtown Tokyo super sento bathhouse beat a hotel for a one-night stay?
Two food hacks take Japan’s convenience store fried chicken to amazing new sandwich heights
Cute hedgehog cup clingers from Japan join you for a drink in seven cute varieties
Expensive Japanese nail clippers: Are they worth it?
Tokyo turns its phone booths into free Wi-Fi hotspots, and here’s how to use them
Yoshinoya’s new ramen doesn’t smell like it tastes【Taste test】
Which Japanese beef bowl chain’s near-identical demon grater onioroshi ponzu gyudon is the best?
Japan now has stricter requirements for foreigners applying for citizenship
Tokyo’s best museum for foreign travelers finally reopens after being closed for four years
Pokémon lacquerware series expands for Year of the Horse with new handcrafted design[Video]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Tokyo subway and almost all Tokyo train lines now accepting credit card tap payments
Fading Tokyo – Searching for signs of the Showa era as local neighborhoods evolve[Photos]
Totoro Fund line of beautiful artwork and apparel lets you help the real-world Totoro Forest
Studio Ghibli adds new My Neighbour Totoro 2026 Corn Gift to its anime store for Mother’s Day
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
No screaming allowed on Japanese roller coasters, and new video shows it can be done【Video】
Japanese roller coaster keeps breaking riders’ bones, now under federal investigation
Final Fantasy Universal Studios Japan VR roller coaster shown off in cool rider experience videos
Japan’s thrill ride theme park finds new way to terrify: A slide over twice as tall as a Gundam
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba gets new roller coaster attractions and food at Universal Studios Japan
Attack on Titan roller coaster, Monster Hunter VR hunt to open at Universal Studios Japan!
A terrifying new way to view Mt Fuji: From a deck at the top of a giant rollercoaster!
Tokyo Disneyland’s Space Mountain is now closed
The roller slide of terror: Treetop fun ride for kids is a terrifying experience for adult butts
Universal Studios Japan’s new Final Fantasy attraction is a VR roller coaster
Super Nintendo World expansion gets delayed for several months at Universal Studios Japan