"Roller Ghoster Ride" is another one of the earlier seen episodes on first watch, which is not too long after 'What's New Scooby Doo' started airing. Found it to be a very entertaining and well done episode then, but found the ending infuriating. Theme park, and similar, settings are a good backdrop for mysteries and that was evident in two episodes before this one, 'The New Scooby Doo Movies' "The Haunted Carnival" and the best one 'Scooby Doo Where are You's' "Foul Play in Funland".
Don't find "Roller Ghoster Ride" as good as those episodes, but it is an episode that makes the most of its setting (in no way is this wasted) and still entertains hugely. Still do find it a very good episode, while finding that there are better episodes from Season 1 ("Toy Scary Boo" being a primary example). The one aspect that infuriated me on first watch still does now though, which stops it from being great like it very nearly was up to that point.
The setting is great and made imaginative use of, absolutely loved the roller coasters and the rides and it took me back to the days of regularly going to theme parks as a kid which was a great authentic feeling. The coda is very sweet and visually imaginative (as well as making my mouth water), boasting the best visuals of an episode full of clever details with how the rides are used. The music has atmosphere and groove, with the catchy intro still not grating. The chase scene is typically entertaining and well animated, even if the song is not one of the most memorable.
Furthermore, the villain is one of the most dangerous of Season 1, perhaps even the most dangerous considering what they do. The Shaggy and Scooby humour is as ever endearingly goofy and despite the kid being too short repeated joke being a bit overworked it is actually also relatable. The mystery is compelling and is well paced with a surprising amount of jeopardy and all the gang are true to character and are well balanced with each other.
Voice acting is very good. The perpetrator is a surprise, as "Roller Ghoster Ride" does a great job making one think it was somebody else. Having said that, the ending is also one of the most frustrating of the show and has always infuriated me (same with the lead up). It doesn't make sense and trivialises what the perpetrator did pretty much (absolutely do not agree that what was done was not illegal), and that "I'm telling mom" line made me cringe.
In conclusion, very well done apart from the denouement. 8/10.
Don't find "Roller Ghoster Ride" as good as those episodes, but it is an episode that makes the most of its setting (in no way is this wasted) and still entertains hugely. Still do find it a very good episode, while finding that there are better episodes from Season 1 ("Toy Scary Boo" being a primary example). The one aspect that infuriated me on first watch still does now though, which stops it from being great like it very nearly was up to that point.
The setting is great and made imaginative use of, absolutely loved the roller coasters and the rides and it took me back to the days of regularly going to theme parks as a kid which was a great authentic feeling. The coda is very sweet and visually imaginative (as well as making my mouth water), boasting the best visuals of an episode full of clever details with how the rides are used. The music has atmosphere and groove, with the catchy intro still not grating. The chase scene is typically entertaining and well animated, even if the song is not one of the most memorable.
Furthermore, the villain is one of the most dangerous of Season 1, perhaps even the most dangerous considering what they do. The Shaggy and Scooby humour is as ever endearingly goofy and despite the kid being too short repeated joke being a bit overworked it is actually also relatable. The mystery is compelling and is well paced with a surprising amount of jeopardy and all the gang are true to character and are well balanced with each other.
Voice acting is very good. The perpetrator is a surprise, as "Roller Ghoster Ride" does a great job making one think it was somebody else. Having said that, the ending is also one of the most frustrating of the show and has always infuriated me (same with the lead up). It doesn't make sense and trivialises what the perpetrator did pretty much (absolutely do not agree that what was done was not illegal), and that "I'm telling mom" line made me cringe.
In conclusion, very well done apart from the denouement. 8/10.
