ANALYSIS/OPINION:

It’s time to dispense some Justice.

Six Flags Great Adventure’s newest ride, “Justice League: Battle for Metropolis,” has effectively wedded video games and a simulator ride into a new kind of experience so encompassing that you are immersed into the world of the DC superheroes battling against The Joker and Lex Luthor’s dastardly schemes.

But note: If you just sit back and enjoy the ride, without picking up the cartoon blaster gun provided, you are missing out on the fun by half.

Billed as a “4D” experience, “Justice League: Battle for Metropolis” begins as an old-school, Halloween-style maze ride in the vein of “The Haunted Mansion,” with a track swirling and tilting the ride’s carriage through Metropolis as The Clown Price of Crime (once again voiced by Mark Hamill) unveils his schemes. The rider wears special glasses that, when the tram passes in front of certain 3-D screens, make The Joker and his fellow villains jump off the screen.

Lex Luthor tosses little meanie robots at the rider, and it’s up to you to send those little mechanized devils to kingdom come with your lasers.

Remember, you’re both rider and participant.

“Battle for Metropolis” then ramps up the action, as the ride suddenly takes on “Star Tours” motion simulator dimensions. With the tram vibrating, the 4D elements jump into your lap as the simulation makes you feel as if you’re rocketing forward through the streets of Metropolis as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, et al. try to take down Lex and crew. And mind you, even amid this virtual symphony of motion and action, you still need to focus on aiming your laser at the bad guys and their machines.

Meanwhile, jets of air and lights are synced up with the action to truly make you feel like you’re a part of the team duking it out with DC’s supervillains.

It’s rather overwhelming, but in a good way. This is immersive, interactive adventure entertainment at its most enthralling and enveloping. When The Joker is finally left dangling by his ankles at ride’s end, a counter scores the “players” from within your tram, and the winner gets bragging rights as you disembark the vehicle and head to check out the requisite ride photos.

Now if I were a betting man, I’d say that “Justice League: Battle for Metropolis” will likely be both more interesting and more memorable than when the actual film comes this fall, but it’s a contest we’ll have to wait to behold.

In other rides, ride it again!

To see some ride video, visit SixFlags.com/GreatAdventure.

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