Six Flags Great America's 4D Justice League: Battle for Metropolis ride offers family-friendly super fight

GURNEE – Ever wanted to help the Justice League take down the Joker and Lex Luthor? A new ride at Six Flags Great America puts you on the Justice League Reserve Team to do just that.

Justice League: Battle for Metropolis debuted to the public Memorial Day weekend in partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products and DC Entertainment, joining three other DC-character themed rides in the park – Batman: The Ride, Superman: Ultimate Flight and The Dark Knight Coaster – according to a news release from the park.

The 4D interactive ride, which integrates high-definition 3D animation, animatronic characters and wind, fire, mist and fog effects, uses six-passenger vehicles that spin, turn and dip along with the animation to immerse riders into Metropolis as they help the Justice League capture two of the most well-known supervillains in the DC Universe.

“It’s flexible enough that teens are going to love it. It’s thrilling enough with all of those twists and turns, but also it’s very adaptable and everybody’s going to love it from young kids on up to seniors like myself,” Great America President Hank Salemi said.

An earlier version of the Battle for Metropolis ride at Six Flags in Texas and Missouri was named the 2015 Best New Ride by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, as well as the Best New Attraction by Theme Park Insider, Salemi said, adding this ride is more advanced.

Battle for Metropolis is situated at the back of the park past the Southwest Territory, taking the place of an amphitheater there in a new area called Metropolis Plaza. Riders enter through the 22,000-square-foot Hall of Justice’s doorway into an air-conditioned room decorated with banners featuring the logos of The Flash, Cyborg and Green Lantern – the three superheroes most prominently featured on the ride.

[ Take a 360-degree view of Six Flags Great America from the second deck of the Columbia Carousel in a 360° video ]

The line winds into the loading area with a waiting area featuring a realistic-looking animatronic Cyborg and a giant screen. Film audiences might recognize the character from the recent “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” movie.

The cars are easy to get in and out of, and the ride lasts about 4 minutes. It features 10 scenes, including the first virtual vertical loop, which simulates going head over heels, and a virtual 180-degree barrel roll, according to the news release.

Each of the six seats has its own laser gun and score counter. Riders score points by hitting targets on the video screens, such as Lex Luthor, his Lexbots, the Joker and their henchmen.

The other Justice League members featured in the scenes are Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and Supergirl. One notable absence is Aquaman, who prominently will be featured in upcoming films in the DC Extended Universe.