Oblivion

Oblivion is a B&M Dive Machine rollercoaster located in X-Sector and is the world's first vertical drop rollercoaster. It was designed by John Wardley and has the codename designation Secret Weapon 4, as can be seen on the side of one of the queue line buildings.

Theming & Story
Oblivion (and the whole of X-Sector) is loosely themed around a sinister government facility

Ride Layout
Oblivion has a very simple ride layout. Out of the station, the ride cars climb a 65ft lift hill and do a 90° turn to the left. The ride is then held for a few seconds by a holding break, before plummeting down the 180ft vertical drop, into a tunnel beneath X-Sector. As it comes out of the tunnel, the ride take an overbanked turn before an upwards airtime hill into a set of brakes and block breaks. From here, it makes another 90° left turn back into the station.

2004 noise abatement order
In 2004, Oblivion was the centre of a legal battle between Alton Towers and nearby residents Stephen and Suzanne Roper which Alton Towers lost. The "Don't Look Down" audio effect played at the top of the drop was removed, however no further action to reduce screams or mechanical noise was taken. The judge in the case said "Obviously the 'don't look down' message played as the car hangs over the edge is designed to heighten the white knuckle effect. This induces screaming." and "I find that the screams and mechanical noise is intrusive and constitutes a nuisance."