After over a year of building, Themeparkmaster's first solo release at NE is finally here in the shape of 'The Burning Secret'. During construction this park was very popular in the Ad. District, and TPM's top 10 placing in Hi Rollers and top 5 in the Blockbuster competition helped to stoke anticipation even further. Now we all get to see what cataclysmic themes he has been concocting in a park filled with beasts, terrors and the devil himself. TPM created all but the final area of the park, which contains an incredible hacked coaster from the master of the beast, Midnight Aurora, themed by rctfreak. Although there is an obvious difference in style between this area and the rest, the apocalyptic atmosphere is maintained throughout and this park left me feeling quite terrified.
This picture shows 'The Destroyer', a monstrous 4D in the first area of the park to be made, back in Summer 2002. Perhaps the age shows, but the twisting layout makes for an intense ride and the surrounding architecture and foliage creates a unique bleached effect as if all hope for the village's inhabitants was lost a long time ago. Also in this area is a 'Jet Ski Performance' to lighten the mood, and a haunted ship, 'Haunts of SS Satan' to immediately dampen it again.
This shows perhaps the most bewildering part of the park, an entire area dominated by the sprawling mass of two coasters: 'The Guardian' vs 'Kyrex Serpent of Hell'. Featuring unique head-on duels (the first appearance from MA) these coasters swamp the landscape and architecture, tearing through buildings and rocks before flying at each other through a hybrid cobra roll element. The fortress behind the coasters is just as scary, with countless stairs and ladders leading up the hillside. A broken dam beyond the coasters is an indication of the damage caused by these beasts, and the next area can only be reached by chairlift due to the bridge having been destroyed!
After a slightly industrial looking area including a giga-coaster, 'Fallen Angel', and a creative water coaster/shooter ride, 'Northern Star Training Ground', the final area is the MA/Freak collaboration. The main attraction is 'Satan', one of the most hacked rides I have ever seen. Incorporating flying cars, the train is launched up a vertical spike twice in quick succession, before rising up a broken, twisting spire, splitting into up to 5 sections in the process. On the way back down the train re-assembles into two sections which fly through a cobra roll in opposite directions, magically avoiding collision in the middle! Another vertical spike reunites the pieces before throwing them through a unique half pipe element, a loop, and a final zig-zag element that defies belief. The buildings are suitably frightening and the landscape is scorched and jagged.
As a whole, this park weilds an atmosphere never seen before - at once grimy and captivating, the themes are like Legendary Tales but more-so (in fact, Burning Secret was probably the inspiration for some of that group park). TPM has shown he is a great industrial themer, with Odium and Aliens cementing his reputation as a creative force in the community. Although some of this park may seem outdated it still showcases TPM's astounding creativity. We can only imagine what he'll come up with next, especially seeing as this is only his first megapark at NE. Congratulations on winning this runner-up spot!