Nerf Fall 2018 Press Kit (From Toy Fair 2018)

Just to make it easier to find, here’s the press info from Toy Fair 2018 Nerf blasters, Nerf Nitro, Super Soaker, and more are all posted here.

The Fall 2018 N-STRIKE ELITE line includes:

NERF N-STRIKE ELITE INFINUS Blaster (Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $69.99/Available: Fall 2018) Load and fire fast with the NERF N-STRIKE ELITE INFINUS blaster! The INFINUS blaster features motorized Quick-Load Technology; as kids feed darts into the blaster, the darts are automatically loaded into the 30-dart removable drum. With motorized, rapid-fire blasting, kids can quickly unleash a barrage of darts on their targets. Hold down the acceleration button to power up the blaster, then pull the trigger to fire. The INFINUS blaster includes 30 Elite darts. Requires x batteries, not included. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF N-STRIKE ELITE DELTATROOPER Blaster (Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $29.99/Available: Fall 2018) Be prepared for any battle with the NERF N-STRIKE ELITE DELTATROOPER blaster. With four ways to configure, this blaster gives kids epic possibilities with each removable accessory. No matter where the battle takes fans, the DELTATROOPER has you covered. Take along the core blaster when in action, attach the stock to stabilize shots, or attach the barrel extension for distance targeting. The DELTATROOPER blaster comes with a 12-dart clip and 12 ELITE darts allowing kids to unleash a dozen darts in a row. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF N-STRIKE ELITE ACCUSTRIKE QUADRANT Blaster (Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $9.99/Available: Fall 2018) Take on targets with intense accuracy with the NERF N-STRIKE ELITE QUADRANT blaster! This single-shot blaster features a 4-dart rotating drum so players can sweep through the battlefield. Load the darts into the drum, pull the handle back to prime, then pull the trigger to fire one dart. Small and compact, the NERF N-STRIKE ELITE QUADRANT blaster is great for high-intensity, on the move battles. Package includes blaster, four ELITE darts, and instructions. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF ACCUSTRIKE MEGA THUNDERHAWK Blaster (Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $49.99/Available: Fall 2018) Introducing Nerf’s first ever MEGA ACCUSTRIKE blaster! Blast with power and precision with the NERF MEGA THUNDERHAWK blaster. The barrel extension slides back and forth on the top of the blaster for custom performance allowing for distance targeting or a more compact blaster. The THUNDERHAWK allows for steady shots with the flip-down bipod for MEGA performance with ACCUSTRIKE accuracy. The THUNDERHAWK blaster includes a 10-dart, side-loading indexing clip and 10 NERF MEGA ACCUSTRIKE darts. Also compatible with NERF MEGA darts. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

The Fall 2018 MODULUS line includes:

NERF MODULUS GHOST OPS EVADER Blaster (Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $39.99/Available: Fall 2018) Stay in stealth mode or light the way with the NERF MODULUS GHOST OPS EVADER blaster! Part of the GHOST OPS series, the MODULUS EVADER is completely clear to keep players undetected on any mission. Illuminate the blaster to guide the way in low-light situations by pressing the light activator. Customize the blaster with the barrel extension which lights up when attached to the blaster. Load the 12-dart clip into the Evader blaster, take aim, and unleash 12 darts in a row with rapid-fire motorized blasting. Enemies will never see you coming! Package includes blaster, clip housing cover, barrel extension, 12-dart clip 12 darts, and instructions. Requires 4 “AA” alkaline batteries (demo batteries included). Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF MODULUS ULTIMATE CUSTOMIZER PACK (Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $99.99/Available: Fall 2018) Upgrade any NERF MODULUS blaster with the NERF MODULUS ULTIMATE CUSTOMIZER pack for the ultimate in Nerf Modulus blaster building and customization! The motorized blaster comes with 7 tactical accessories to prepare for any mission or battle. The NERF MODULUS ULTIMATE CUSTOMIZER pack gives player the power to switch on the tactical light to illuminate targets for practice, power up the blaster’s motor with the acceleration button for rapid-fire dart blasting, focus their aim with the flip-up sight, and so much more. Package includes seven tactical accessories, two 10-dart banana clips, 40 darts, and four missiles. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF MODULUS GHOST OPS REFLECTIVE TARGETING KIT (Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $14.99/Available: Fall 2018) Battlers can practice their skills day or night with the NERF MODULUS GHOST OPS REFLECTIVE TARGETING kit. The two Reflective targets feature LED lights, so no matter the time of day, targets are visible and ready for target practice! Attach the adjustable sight to the tactical rail of the NERF MODULUS GHOST OPS EVADER blaster, sold separately, to send a beam of light allowing players to perfect their accuracy skill. The REFLECTIVE TARGETING kit includes adjustable sight and two reflective targets; blaster sold separately. Requires two “AAA” alkaline batteries (not included). Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF MODULUS GHOST OPS CHRONOBARREL (Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $14.99/Available: Fall 2018) Players can upgrade their NERF MODULUS GHOST OPS EVADER blaster (sold separately) with the dart counting accessory, of the NERF MODULUS GHOST OPS CHRONOBARREL attachment. Attach the NERF MODULUS GHOST OPS CHRONOBARREL to the front of the blaster then program the barrel to see how many darts have already been fired or the number of darts remaining in the blaster. With a built-in memory, the accessory keeps players updated in real time on remaining darts in the barrel! For additional intel, the NERF MODULUD GHOST OPS CHRONOBARREL attachment measures the velocity of the darts being fired in either feet or meters per second to keep track of all shots! The CHRONOBARREL attachment includes six darts; blaster sold separately. Requires two “AAA” alkaline batteries (not included). Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

The Fall 2018 RIVAL line includes:

NERF RIVAL PROMETHEUS MXVIII-20K Blaster (Ages 14 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $199.99/Available: Fall 2018) Head into battle blazing to take on the competition with the NERF RIVAL PROMETHEUS MXVIII-20K blaster! This blaster features the new ADVANCED ACCELERATION SYSTEM which allows it to fire at a rate of 8 high-impact rounds per second! This blaster also holds a whopping 200 high-impact rounds in its easy-load hopper. The PROMETHEUS MXVIII20K blaster is fully motorized with a rechargeable NiMh battery for endless fun. Package includes blaster, 200 highimpact rounds, rechargeable NiMh battery, charger, two flags, shoulder strap and instructions. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF RIVAL PHANTOM CORPS HADES XVIII-6000 Blaster (Ages 14 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $69.99/Available: Fall 2018) Experience intense head-to-head competition with the NERF RIVAL HADES XVIII-6000 blaster! Load 60 high-impact rounds into the easy-load integrated magazine, prime, and pull the trigger to fire a barrage at your enemies. Whether Team Red, Team Blue, or Phantom Corps, Rival battles will never be the same. Package includes blaster, 60 high-impact rounds, two flags and instructions. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

The Fall 2018 ZOMBIE STRIKE line includes:

NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE SURVIVAL SYSTEM SCRAVENGER Blaster (Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $49.99/Available: Fall 2018) Zombie survivors are prepared for anything with the NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE SURVIVAL SYSTEM SCRAVENGER blaster! This essential zombie defense kit keeps battlers ready for any zombifying challenge that comes their way. Load a 12-dart clip into the SCRAVENGER and unleash a dozen darts in a row. Grab the extra clip from the holder and slam-fire the zombies away with the on/off slam-fire button, or stabilize shots with the stock/blaster attachment to never miss a target. The 2- dart back-up blaster allows battlers to surprise oncoming zombies who will never see it coming. Package includes blaster, stock with blaster, scope, tactical light, barrel extension, two 12-dart clips, 26 ZOMBIE STRIKE ELITE darts, and instructions. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE RIPCHAIN Blaster (Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $39.99/Available: Fall 2018) Rip into action against the zombies with the NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE RIPCHAIN blaster! The 25-dart chain allows battlers to defend their turf against a zombie incursion. Fire one ZOMBIE STRIKE dart at a time, or slam-fire all 25 darts to swarm the targets. Load the darts onto the chain, place the chain on the blaster, then pump the handle to prime the blaster and pull the trigger to fire a dart. The NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE RIPCHAIN blaster is ready to take on any zombie, any time. Package includes blaster, dart chain, 25 ZOMBIE STRIKE ELITE darts, and instructions. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE SURVIVAL SYSTEM CHOPSTOCK Attachment (Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $12.99/Available: Fall 2018) Part of the new NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE SURVIVAL SYSTEM, the CHOPSTOCK attachment gives battlers a new way to strike back at the zombies! The CHOPSTOCK attachment doubles as a foam axe and stock attachment. Simply attach to any NERF blaster with compatible stock attachment point to use as a stock, or extend handle to use as an axe. Package includes foam axe stock. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE SURVIVAL SYSTEM TWINSLICE Attachment (Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $12.99/Available: Fall 2018) The zombie survivors are prepared for anything- with the new NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE SURVIVAL SYSTEM TWINSLICE attachment! Attach holder to any NERF blaster with a tactical rail and remove the stars to send them flying at oncoming zombies. The zombies won’t know what hit them! Package includes two foam stars and holder. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HabsroToyShop.com.

NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE WRATHBOLT Blaster (Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $14.99/Available: Spring 2018) When zombie fighters need to strike back at the zombies, they use the NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE WRATHBOLT Crossbow! Take aim at zombie hordes and release soft-tipped arrows at the targets. To fight back against oncoming zombies, pull back the string and hook it in place, load an arrow into the crossbow, and pull the trigger to send the arrow slicing through the air. Package includes crossbow, bow arms, two whistler arrows, and instructions. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

The Fall 2018 MICROSHOTS line includes:

NERF MICROSHOTS SERIES Assortment (Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $6.99/Available: Fall 2018) Battle opponents like never before with the NERF MICROSHOTS SERIES 2 Assortment! MICROSHOTS blasters capture the iconic look of the original NERF blasters fans know and love, but in a micro, super-deformed fun size. Simply load, prime, and pull the trigger for big fun in a small package. This one-shot blaster is as fun to collect as it is to blast! Series 2 includes one micro-sized version of the NERF N-STRIKE ELITE ROUGH CUT 4X4 blaster, NERF N-STRIKE ELITE STRYFE blaster, and NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE CROSSFIRE bow. Each package includes one blaster and two ELITE darts. Each sold separately. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

The Fall 2018 NITRO line includes:

NERF NITRO DOUBLECLUTCH INFERNO Blaster (Ages 5 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $39.99/Available: Fall 2018) Fire up an inferno of double action blasting with the DOUBLECLUTCH INFERNO blaster! This 2-barrel blaster allows kids to launch two cars at the same time. Set up targets, ramps, and obstacles and send cars flying through the air. Challenge friends to see who can take on the ultimate obstacle, whose car will soar the highest, or go the farthest. Package includes blaster, four NERF NITRO foam cars with plastic wheels, double ramp, eight obstacles, double pop-up target and instructions. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF NITRO SPEEDLOOP Stunt Set (Ages 5 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $19.99/Available: Fall 2018) Create 360-degree stunts with the NERF NITRO SPEEDLOOP Stunt Set! Featuring a 2-piece loop with FLEXWAY technology, the SPEEDLOOP sends cars zooming up the ramp, around the vertical loop, and out the other end to complete the stunt. Create distance jumps and stunt challenges like never before with this epic set. Kids will have a blast zooming and looping through the SPEEDLOOP all day long. Package includes NITRO THROTTLESHOT BLITZ blaster, two NERF NITRO foam cars, loop, ramp, and instructions. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF NITRO ZAPBLAST Stunt Set (Ages 5 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $9.99/Available: Fall 2018) Build bigger, epic stunt courses with the NERF NITRO ZAPBLAST Stunt Set! Use the spinning barrier with any NERF NITRO blaster to add an exciting twist to stunts and obstacles. Fire a car through the barrier and watch as the center spins! Package includes foam car and stunt. Blasters and sets each sold separately. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF NITRO BARREL KNOCKOUT Stunt Set (Ages 5 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $9.99/Available: Fall 2018) Have barrels of fun with the NERF NITRO BARREL KNOCKOUT stunt set! Use the BARREL KNOCKOUT with any NERF NITRO blaster to fire the car up the ramp, knocking down the barrels! Create countless combinations of barrel obstacles and watch as the NERF NITRO foam car demolishes them all. Package includes foam car and stunt. Blasters and sets each sold separately. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF NITRO DOUBLE ACTION Stunt Set Assortment (Ages 5 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $9.99/Available: Fall 2018) Double the stunt excitement with the NERF NITRO DOUBLE ACTION stunt set! Featuring 2-in-1 stunt action, kids can build big stunt courses for their NERF NITRO world. Drop down the ramp and blast the car up the ramp to soar in the air with the Slammin’ Soar Stunt Set or, blast the car up the ramp and smash through the ring with The Bullseye Blast Stunt Set. Put both stunts together for crazy stunt-action fun! Package includes one foam care and two stunts. Blasters and sets each sold separately. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF NITRO SLIMESTREAM Stunt Set (Ages 5 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $3.99/Available: Fall 2018) Slime is no match for NERF NITRO with the NERF NITRO SLIMESTREAM stunt set! Use the SLIMESTREAM with any NERF NITRO blaster and watch the car fly up the ramp and through the slime ring. Get ready for slimetastic fun all day long as NERF NITRO foam cars break through the slime time after time. Package includes one foam car and one stunt. Blasters and sets each sold separately. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF NITRO FOAM CAR 16 Pack Ast. (Ages 5 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $24.99Available: Fall 2018) Blast into overdrive! Kids can create awesome stunts as they fire foam cars from blasters that feature the power and performance of Nerf! Blast into stunts to go high, go far, go fast! This set includes 16 foam cars for use with Nerf Nitro blasters (each sold separately). Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF NITRO SLAMMIN’ SOAR Stunt Set (Ages 5 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $9.99/Available: Fall 2018) Send cars slammin’ and soaring with the NERF NITRO SLAMMIN’ SOAR Stunt Set! Featuring 2-in-1 stunt action. Smash into the first stunt challenge, and trigger the second stunt challenge into position! Once both targets are hit, the bucket drops down to create the second stunt. Blast into a double challenge and watch as the NERF NITRO vehicle soars into the air! This set includes one foam body car for use with NERF NITRO blasters (each sold separately). Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF NITRO BULLSEYE BLAST Stunt Set (Ages 5 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $9.99/Available: Fall 2018) Launch cars right into the BullsEye with the NERF NITRO BULLSEYE BLAST Stunt Set! This stunt set features 2-in-1 stunt action designed for kids to blast into a double challenge with each launch of a foam body car. Take aim at the first stunt challenge, and when it’s smashed, the bullseye ring swings up, creating a second stunt. Kids can fire the car up the ramp to fly through the ring! This set includes one foam car for use with NERF NITRO blasters (each sold separately). Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF NITRO TRANSFORMERS BUMBLEBEE SPEEDBLAST Blaster (Ages 5 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $29.99Available: Fall 2018) Blast into overdrive with the NERF NITRO TRANSFORMERS BUMBLEBEE SPEEDBLAST blaster! Featuring Transformers Bumblebee character deco, kids can design daring stunts for the Bumblebee, Cliff jumper, and Barricade foam body cars. Blast the cars up the ground bridge and through the barrier! Place the blaster on the floor, pull the handle back to prime, load a car into the blaster, and pull the trigger to send cars flying through the air. Includes blaster, three foam body cars and two stunts. Available exclusively at Toys “R” Us and Toys “R” Us.com.

The Fall 2018 NERF SPORTS DUDE PERFECT line includes:

NERF SPORTS DUDE PERFECT HOVERKUP Game (Ages 6 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $19.99/Available: Fall 2018) Take trick shots to the next level with the challenging NERF SPORTS DUDE PERFECT HOVERKUP game! The NERF SPORTS DUDE PERFECT HOVERKUP game features two battery-powered cups that glide and hover across flat surfaces while players try to bounce the balls into the moving cups! Practice trick shots in solo mode, challenge a friend in 1-on-1 competitions, or have a group split into teams to compete for the highest score or outdo each other’s trick shots. With a customizable play arena, players can adjust the size and shape of the arena to fit any space! Package includes arena, two cups, six balls, four suction cups, cord, and a cord tensioner. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF DUDE PERFECT MINI PERFECT SHOT HOOP (Ages 6 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $14.99/Available: Fall 2018) Practice the perfect shot with the NERF SPORTS DUDE PERFECT MINI PERFECTSHOT HOOP. Hang the hoop almost anywhere and use the innovative clip and ball joint to create the best trick shots at almost any angle. Perfect solo shots or challenge some friends indoors or outdoors. The MINI PERFECT SHOT HOOP includes backboard, rim, net and three foam balls. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF SPORTS VORTEX HOWLER ACCELERATOR (Ages 5 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $12.99/Available: Fall 2018) Kids can amp up every throw with the NERF SPORTS VORTEX HOWLER ACCELERATOR. The easy throw design allows kids to accelerate their throw while achieving a greater distance! Place the VORTEX AERO HOWLER ball in the scoop and then fling the VORTEX HOWLER ACCELERATOR launcher forward to send the ball flying. Includes two VORTEX HOWLER ACCELERATOR launchers and one VORTEX AERO HOWLER ball. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

The Summer 2018 SUPER SOAKER line includes:

NERF SUPER SOAKER ZOMBIE STRIKE RIPSTORM Water Blaster (Ages 6 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $19.99/Available: Summer 2018) Shred or stream water with the NERF SUPER SOAKER ZOMBIE STRIKE RIPSTORM water blaster! This pump-to-fire action blaster holds up to 50 fluid ounces to keep the zombies at bay. Lower the blade into the stream of water and send water spattering wildly onto the oncoming zombie herds. Switch up the attack by raising the blade to drench zombies in a soaking stream of water. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF SUPER SOAKER SOAKZOOKA Water Blaster (Ages 7 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $19.99/Available: Summer 2018) Drench the competition with the NERF SUPER SOAKER SOAKZOOKA water blaster! The SOAKZOOKA holds up to 55 fluid ounces so battlers can keep pouring on the soakage. Soak battlers with a floodtastic blast! Move the handle back and forth to swamp anyone in range with a massive blast of water. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF SUPER SOAKER TWIN TIDE Water Blaster (Ages 6 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $12.99/Available: Summer 2018) The tide is coming in – prepared to be soaked with the NERF SUPER SOAKER TWIN TIDE water blaster! The NERF SUPER SOAKER TWIN TIDE has two barrels to deliver twin streams of drenchifying fun with every shot. Fill the tank with up to 33 fluid ounces, pump the handle, and watch as opponents get drenched with a double shot of soakage. Soak and get soaked with this twin tidal wave of water-blasting action. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF SUPER SOAKER SPLASH MOUTH Water Blaster (Ages 6 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $9.99/Available: Summer 2018) Blast it or dump it – either way, the competition will get soaked with the NERF SUPER SOAKER SPLASH MOUTH water blaster! With two modes for unleashing water, kids can pump to fire a stream of water at opponents or take them by surprise and dup all the water at once! The SPLASH MOUTH holds up to 20 fluid ounces allowing kids to experience a deluge of splashtastic fun all day long. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF SUPER SOAKER ZOMBIE STRIKE DREADSIGHT Water Blaster (Ages 6 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $9.99/Available: Summer 2018) Nothing soaks like a NERF SUPER SOAKER water blaster, and now battlers can take down the zombie with the NERF SUPER SOAKER ZOMBIE STRIKE DREADSIGHT water blaster! This pump-to-fire action blaster holds up to 20 fluid ounces to deliver a deluge of dread upon the zombie herds. Use the targeting scope to focus aim while blasting a stream of water onto the zombies. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

New York Toy Fair Nerf Showroom 2018 – A Blogger Story

The Nerf Wall at New York Toy Fair

Big thanks to Michael Ritchie for taking the time to speak with me while I was visiting today. If you want to see the full gallery, for now please check out Foam From Above on Facebook.

It was quite the visit! I spoke with Michael about a lot of the new developments over the coming year, and not a lot that I can really substantiate (because they have a lot of ongoing discussions.) What these discussions I can’t say, but one key element is the Kingsman agreement with Nerf to open an arena in Asia. I likened this to the Paragon/UK situation a few years ago, but that was very limited in scope to the UK. The arrangement with Asia isn’t. I’ve been messaged by a comrade in Singapore who has some insight to this, and it’s interesting, is all I’ll say. Hasbro’s Singapore branch better pay attention though, there’s a very stout community out there and it would be nice to see that fandom involved somehow in the development of this plan.

I did ask the U.S. side of things and… it’s ongoing. One key thing I think I picked up was that Hasbro is a much larger experience than Nerf. As fans we have to remember that there’s a lot going on at there that’s more than the community. Transformers, Power Rangers now, and Gaming. Hasbro Gaming accounted for one of the top branches of performance in Hasbro’s Business. What does this mean for us? That while yes, maybe arenas will happen, but they will be so much more. As for existing arenas, well, that’s another conversation for another day.

Having spoken to a few arena owners in the past, I brought up the subject of possible industrial-grade supplies and ammo. While the feedback was something unique, who knows if the demand is high enough for them to consider it. The stresses of blasters in arena-level usage might match the stress testing at HQ? Still, it was an interesting point to bring up. One new bit of info I heard was the preference of the pump-action grip vs a handle, as while I was here I heard apparently the Artemis handle has a habit of cracking. Bringing this up to the Nerf reps, they were intrigued about how it happened.

There are a few other subjects we broached, but I’ll leave those to the walls of the showroom.

Let’s talk blasters.

This little surprise is the Delta Trooper. The information wasn’t fully given to me in a press kit, so I don’t have the price on the Delta Trooper right now (I can’t speak for anyone else) but I’ll get it as soon as I can. What I can tell you is it is spiritually like a Retaliator (they say the design is a bit modernized, and I can see that with some of the smoother lines on the blaster) and it has slamfire. Even better that this has slamfire and A STOCK. Maybe someone in the comments can remind me, but slamfire on a Recon was a mod at one point, wasn’t it? Either way, at first glance and a little bit of usage, it felt pretty cool. I like it.

Next up, Nerf Zombie Strike Scravenger. I believe everyone figured this was the Modulus for Zombie Strike, and they were right. You have the attachments and everything to start off the Scravenger main body, and, and then there will be follow up accessory packs. In addition to the first-ever switch for Slamfire/lever blasting action, the accessories included are a smart-AR two shot jolt, barrel extension, magazine holder, scope, and red sight. The Twinslice (buzz saw blades) and Chop Stock (Axe-tension) are going to be future accessory kits to add-on to the Scravenger, sold separately. The fun part about the Twinslice is it’s not the bayonet people initially thought; it’s a holster for throwable buzz saw blades. Caught me by surprise, for sure. The Chop Stock is adjustable, and has foam edges. The main construction is plastic, but the edges are foam.

Evader

Chronograph/Ammo counter

The Nerf Ghost Ops Evader is basically a stryfe; stock attach point, single trigger pull per shot, but obviously the grip and feel is a little different. The big features are the light-up aspects of the blaster, but the additional accessory functions as an ammo counter and chronograph. You can start the count at a certain number (say a 35 round drum) and have it count down, or start counting from 0 to count up. The community has been using chronys for testing for years, and Nerf’s picked up on the pattern. Additionally, they now have their own ammo counter design out now, but anyone who’s been around also knows there’s a third party Ammo Counter, who makes a similar (but with significant differences) product. The blaster was a low enough profile that it didn’t feel awkward to use, so at this point I think it’s pretty neat. Definitely looking forward to seeing it again later this year.

Oh, the Hades. Sweet, sweet, Hades. Huge capacity, slamfire, decent accuracy. At least from what I could tell since the range was full at the time I took the picture and tried the blaster out. The reload is similar to the Artemis, surprising no one. But having the blaster long enough to rest against the shoulder, along with sighting down the barrel, it was super comfortable to use. I recently heard that Artemis handles might break, at the point where it attaches to the blaster, just because of the direction of the force on the handle, versus a shotgun pump grip. I did mention this to Nerf, and they seemed receptive to at least knowing that this happens (and I saw it for myself). Whether that damage happens from inordinate levels of use (necessitating industrial grade plastic or something close) or just super unfortunate user error, or a little of both, I’m not sure. Either way, definitely a really solid feeling and cool blaster for the line. Also, loud. Had to ease up on the slamfire since another group was nearby 😉

The Nerf Mega Thunderhawk…. imposing, aesthetically very interesting, and it feels like a solid and powerful rifle. I’ll have video eventually but I think this was still a very prototype model, as the darts drooped a bit for some shots. Maybe it was the ammo, but I’d give this another look at release. One interesting design note is that the magazine is integrated. It starts on the left, and progresses to the right, then when you empty the mag you push it back to the left, like a typewriter. On the one hand, it spares you buying new magazines, but on the other I don’t know how left-handed users will receive this. Additionally, the mag sticks out so far I’d be wary of using it indoors just in case there’s a narrow doorway and accidents happen. As established the blaster’s barrel extension moves manually, no spring-loaded action when moving the bipod. Even the sliding motion feels robust and powerful, there’s no other way to describe it. Whether you use the snub nose configuration or extend the barrel, the blaster has weight and a feel of transforming it that really makes a significant noise and feel. As for the Accustrike Mega darts, there’s no groove like regular size accustrike darts, and the head is basically solid just flush with the foam body and holes to make a whistle. Worth another look at release definitely.

The Nerf Infinus – what a design. The Quickload technology is new, and pretty freaking awesome. Supposedly works with any mag, and if it jams it knows to shift two times in a row. The door jam is also on the side, so there is a way to get in. You don’t have to hold down the accelerator trigger to activate the Quickload either, it’s basically “always on.” Definitely feels a little heavy in the back, but the blaster is a robust build and feels pretty solid. The blaster is full auto, so you definitely need to reload on the move with something like this. The rate of fire didn’t feel as fast as a Hyperfire I think, but given the early state at Toy Fair, I’ll give it a pass on that for now. But the new feature worked perfectly, and I am heavily encouraged at seeing that. Definitely something to give a look when it’s released as well.

Oh, the PROMETHEUS.

It has its own type of rechargeable battery pack, $199.99 MSRP. So, it’s big, expensive, heavy, and LOUD.

But so neat, to put it lightly.

Right off, as shown in the video, the Prometheus stalled at loading. Like the Nemesis, as the hoppers are gravity fed, sometimes the blaster needs to be shaken. While using this akimbo, that gets a little difficult to do consistently. On the handle, there’s a safety, accelerator trigger, and firing trigger. In a way, it almost feels like what I would imagine a flightstick on a jet would be with all the switches. It has tactical rails, attach points, a slightly higher rate of fire than most other blasters, and super high capacity. You can also hear that it packs a bit of a punch for a stock blaster. Loading issues aside, it’s Nerf’s “shock and awe” level blaster and say what you want, but the strategy works. A blaster that’s $200, 200 shots, and Rival speeds, what’s not to notice about it? The way the blaster is held, at the waist with the strap, almost reminds of seeing Sigourney Weaver as Ripley with a flamethrower in Aliens. The handgrip is different but the stream of ammo and the posture to fire it is satisfying tactile experience. Clearly the blaster won’t be for everybody (because cost) but if you manage to get one, it’s definitely a good blaster to have, even looking at it this early. The loading is easily solved with a little shaking, and with that much ammo to shoot losing accuracy due to shaking isn’t necessarily a concern. 😉

The Nerf Ripchain was different… I didn’t expect to see Nerf going with chains again on any blaster any time soon but it looks like they did here. It opens up like a Vulcan, and the belts looks similar to Vulcan chains (so I think that stack of chains I have from the past are going to come back like a pair of retro bellbottoms). One note is that the plastic on the Ripchain chains feels a bit stronger than the old Vulcan chains, interpret that as you will. As for the blaster itself, it has slamfire, is pump-action, and decorated as Zombie Strike is. It felt comfortable enough to shoot, the chains obviously swing around so it’s not a blaster you can be sneaky with or run without sounding an alarm. But what’s old (chains) is new again here. Much like the zombies in the Zombie Strike universe chains are rising up in Nerf blasters with the Ripchain.

EDIT: The Vulcan chains are not going to be compatible with the Ripchain, per a source from Nerf. In fact, it’s recommended to not even attempt. (March 5, 2018)

There were also new goggles for Rival, Series 2 of microshots (all still one barrel, Roughcut microshot is still one dart), some new licensed bags and things, and then some new store exclusives, including a Phasma Rival blaster like the Deadpool and Boba Fett sets that were out last year. Deadpool is also going to get an Apollo colored version, so plenty more in store exclusives (Best Buy, Gamestop, and so on) with the Nerf line as well.

Buzz Bee 2018 pricing and info!

Fresh off the press kit, here’s the pricing information and copy from the new Buzz Bee items for 2018. Yes, there’s a chronograph/distance accessory among them. Yes, it accommodates Rival ammo and Mega ammo.

● Covert Squad [MSRP $24.99; Ages 6+]: Team up to embark on a covert mission with these two walkie talkie blasters by Buzz Bee Toys. Each blaster has a built in Walkie Talkie with earbud communication that works up to 300 feet range so your opponents won’t hear you coming. With blasting power up to 100 feet, you will be unbeatable!
○ Additional Notes:
■ Includes 2 blasters, 8 long distance darts, and 2 sets of earbuds.

● Velocity X [MSRP $14.99; Ages 6+]: The Velocity X by Buzz Bee Toys measures dart speed and distance from any blaster, at any angle. Its versatility offers three modes so you can use in a hand-held position, on a tripod stand, or you can attach it to compatible dart blasters for continuous readings!
● Mutator [MSRP $29.99; Ages 6+]: The Mutator by Buzz Bee Toys offers unparalleled versatility that allows users to expand the barrel, transform the blaster and select distance blasting up to 100 feet or extreme accuracy with PrecisePro darts.

○ Additional Notes:
■ Includes blaster, 10 long distance darts, 10 PrecisePro darts, two 10
count clips, and removable stock.
● The Walking Dead Abraham’s Demolisher [MSRP $29.99; Ages 6+]: You can have the same blasting power as Abraham with this Demolisher by Buzz Bee Toys! This fully automatic, high speed dart blaster with a motorized barrel will blast darts up to 100 feet!
○ Additional Notes:

Includes blaster, 30 long distance darts, dart clip, and shoulder strap.
Batteries are required.
Target Exclusive

● Thermal Hunter [MSRP $29.99; Ages 6+]: E scape is not an option with the Thermal Hunter! Its heatseeking scope detects a heat source up to 60 feet away, and its crosshairs will turn red to let you know when you’re on target. Its unbeatable spring power and pump action allows you to blast darts up to 100 feet thanks to Buzz Bee Toy’s long distance darts! The unique design lets you customize and build the perfect blaster with other brand’s accessories – and you can even place this scope on other brand’s blasters!
○ Additional Notes:
■ Includes blaster, 20 long distance darts, heatseeking scope, stock, rail
adapter, and a 10 count dart clip. Batteries are required.

● Predator [MSRP $9.99; Ages 6+]: Get ready for high-power, bolt action blasting with the Predator! This bolt action dart blaster by Buzz Bee Toys blasts up to 100 feet and also comes with soft and safe foam suction darts that pack staying power like never before! And with its secret storage area, you’ll never have to waste time refilling this blaster.
○ Additional Notes:
■ Includes blaster, 4 suction darts, 4 long distance darts, scope adapter,
and scope.
● The Walking Dead Andrea’s Rifle [MSRP $14.99; Ages 6+]: Put yourself in your favorite Walking Dead character’s shoes with this clip fed, bolt action dart blaster by Buzz Bee Toys! With a detachable scope you’ll be able to see walkers from afar, and you’ll never have to get too close with blasting power up to 100 feet!
○ Additional Notes:
■ Includes blaster, scope, 8 long distance darts and an 8 count dart clip.

New Nerf 2018 – The Road to New York Toy Fair

Nerf Blasts the Internet with Foam Flinging Reveals for 2018

New York Toy Fair is coming! That means a slew of new reveals on a variety of tech/geek outlets across the internet, and Nerf is getting out ahead for 2018. I can’t help but think there will be something else out there. Yes, a majority of the products from that secret video some time ago are already revealed now but maybe there is still something to come. Nerdist.com sometimes does reveals as well, it was there that the Doominator showed up. Whether that holds this year remains to be seen. Popular Science is another publication that may still hold the biggest reveal of them all (how you get bigger than the Prometheus… I don’t know. Odds are decent though.)

*fair note, I put additional bold formatting beyond the sent copy to highlight features of interest.

NERF RIVAL PHANTOM CORPS HADES XVIII-6000 Blaster
(Ages 14 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $69.99/Available: Fall 2018)

Experience intense head-to-head competition with the NERF RIVAL HADES XVIII-6000 blaster! Load 60 high-impact rounds into the easy-load integrated magazine, prime, and pull the trigger to fire a barrage at your enemies. Whether Team Red, Team Blue, or Phantom Corps, Rival battles will never be the same. Package includes blaster, 60 high-impact rounds, two flags and instructions. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF N-STRIKE ELITE INFINUS Blaster
(Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $69.99/Available: Fall 2018)

Load and fire fast with the NERF N-STRIKE ELITE INFINUS blaster! The INFINUS blaster features motorized Quick-Load Technology; as kids feed darts into the blaster, the darts are automatically loaded into the 30-dart removable drum. With motorized, rapid-fire blasting, kids can quickly unleash a barrage of darts on their targets. Hold down the acceleration button to power up the blaster, then pull the trigger to fire. The INFINUS blaster includes 30 Elite darts. Requires 4 D batteries, not included. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF MODULUS GHOST OPS EVADER Blaster
(Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $39.99/Available: Fall 2018)

Stay in stealth mode or light the way with the NERF MODULUS GHOST OPS EVADER blaster! Part of the GHOST OPS series, the MODULUS EVADER is completely clear to keep players undetected on any mission. Illuminate the blaster to guide the way in low-light situations by pressing the light activator. Customize the blaster with the barrel extension which lights up when attached to the blaster. Load the 12-dart clip into the Evader blaster, take aim, and unleash 12 darts in a row with rapid-fire motorized blasting. Enemies will never see you coming! Package includes blaster, clip housing cover, barrel extension, 12-dart clip 12 darts, and instructions. Requires 4 “AA” alkaline batteries (demo batteries included). Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE SURVIVAL SYSTEM SCRAVENGER Blaster

(Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $49.99/Available: Fall 2018)

Zombie survivors are prepared for anything with the NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE SURVIVAL SYSTEM SCRAVENGER blaster! This essential zombie defense kit keeps battlers ready for any zombifying challenge that comes their way. Load a 12-dart clip into the SCRAVENGER and unleash a dozen darts in a row. Grab the extra clip from the holder and slam-fire the zombies away with the on/off slam-fire button, or stabilize shots with the stock/blaster attachment to never miss a target. The 2-dart back-up blaster allows battlers to surprise oncoming zombies who will never see it coming. Package includes blaster, stock with blaster, scope, tactical light, barrel extension, two 12-dart clips, 26 ZOMBIE STRIKE ELITE darts, and instructions. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF RIVAL PROMETHEUS MXVIII-20K Blaster

(Ages 14 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $199.99/Available: Fall 2018)

Head into battle blazing to take on the competition with the NERF RIVAL PROMETHEUS MXVIII-20K blaster! This blaster features the new ADVANCED ACCELERATION SYSTEM which allows it to fire at a rate of 8 high-impact rounds per second! This blaster also holds a whopping 200 high-impact rounds in its easy-load hopper. The PROMETHEUS MXVIII-20K blaster is fully motorized with a rechargeable NiMh battery for endless fun. Package includes blaster, 200 high-impact rounds, rechargeable NiMh battery, charger, two flags, shoulder strap and instructions. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF ACCUSTRIKE MEGA THUNDERHAWK Blaster

(Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $49.99/Available: Fall 2018)

Introducing Nerf’s first ever MEGA ACCUSTRIKE blaster! Blast with power and precision with the NERF MEGA THUNDERHAWK blaster. The barrel extension slides back and forth on the top of the blaster for custom performance allowing for distance targeting or a more compact blaster. The THUNDERHAWK allows for steady shots with the flip-down bipod for MEGA performance with ACCUSTRIKE accuracy. The THUNDERHAWK blaster includes a 10-dart, side-loading indexing clip and 10 NERF MEGA ACCUSTRIKE darts. Also compatible with NERF MEGA darts. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

Geek.Com’s article on the Nerf Zombie Strike Scravenger and Nerf Modulus Ghost Ops Evader

Popular Mechanics on the Nerf Rival Prometheus, and Hades

Gizmodo on the Infinus and Thunderhawk

Ultimately, Nerf once again is going for premium pricing for their higher visibility blasters. The addition of Accustrike Mega Darts, a faster firing rate from the Prometheus, Quick-load technology, and a slam-fire on/off switch… those are some interesting features for this year. New York Toy Fair will be something else, for sure this year. There will undoubtedly be the smaller range items that have a soft release over the course of the year, so don’t be surprised to see additional blasters release as the year continues. But that’s a thought for another day. Thanks for reading, and make sure to watch for new edits and blog posts as the days to Toy Fair continue to pass!

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2017 Year in Review – Nerf, Buzz Bee, Zuru, and more – The Blasters, the Fails, the Wins, the Ugly

YEAR IN REVIEW: BLASTERS AND MOAR BLASTERS
Vas The Stampede

Blogger note: Each section will not encompass ALL releases for each brand. I am choosing highlights for each.

Nerf Nemesis. One highlight from 2017

NERF CONTINUES TO INNOVATE FOR 2017, BUT ALSO BLASTS YOUR WALLET.

2017. Probably one of the craziest years for blasters thus far. Nerf continues to hit some really high notes with their Rival line, continued world-building with Alien Menace, Doomlands, and hitting stride with continued products for Zombie Strike. However, they also continue to push the envelope when it comes to prices. While they are establishing themselves as the de facto blaster brand (so much that the brand has become eponymous with blaster battle play and games) they also establish with Nerf you get a premium product but also at a premium price.

The Nemesis, Regulator, Judge, Twinshock and even Dreadbolt were all 2017 releases and while impressive big blasters, the lowest of the bunch was $39.99 approximately. The Voidcaster, a semiauto spring pistol also released at around the $19.99 mark. The Raptorstrike looked great but it was another bolt-action rifle and while impressive aesthetically wasn’t functionality we hadn’t seen in previous blasters (bolt-action, magfed, accustrike ammo, etc.) The new blasters for the most part were cool in their own right –

Nerf Mega Twinshock

Nemesis – gravity fed hopper, 100 rounds before empty, usable with the Nerf Battery pack, overall just a great addition and a huge step for toy blaster play, although at $99.99
The Judge – a multishot functionality (3 dart bursts) but HUGE, and expensive.
Regulator – a blaster that introduced 3 dart bursts (a function also used in the Nerf Wii game a few years ago) but also a select-fire switch, a huge feature to go from burst, single, and full auto in a blaster. Bonus points for Modulus functionality to add more accessories. If the Nemesis hadn’t released this might have been my favorite from Nerf this year.
Voidcaster – Another semiauto blaster. Just a lot of fun and a function that needs to be used more often.

The jewel of the Nerf releases I think was clearly the continued monster offering from Nerf Rival. Higher fps, higher capacity, even at the prices it’s what the community was doing and Nerf made an offer for folks to step up their experience right out of the box. The Nemesis is costly, but that just makes blasters like the Hera, Kronos, even Khaos (with mags now sold separately) a bit more accessible and reasonable by comparison. And the Hera and Kronos were sleeper releases that weren’t a Toy Fair but were a huge hit when they came out, adding functionality to the Rival line of a semiauto flywheel Rival blaster and a 5 shot pistol with an internal magazine.

Not to even begin on the licensing for Deadpool, and Star Wars blasters that are perform pretty well (though I’ll say I wasn’t excited to see the Boba Fett Apollo kit), Nerf continues to keep the market stocked with a good amount of product for shelves. It’ll be interesting to see where Nerf goes next (and a leaked video earlier this year hinted at Bigger than a Nemesis, maybe even a Rival rifle…. a Rivle?) and with all the sub brands they have you can only expet more Nerf on the shelves for the coming year (some of which has already leaked onto shelves early, including the Mediator and Tri-Break.) If I had to nitpick anywhere, I wish there was more range out of the Judge, and maybe something new besides another rifle for Accustrike. Impressive as the lineup was in places, there is still some room for improvement and maybe some concepts I would like to see revisited. The Signature Bow was another great item, albeit not your usual blaster fare.

Toss in the additional licensed products from Sakar and Jazwares, there will be a full array of toys, accessories, and items to choose from to add on this year. Nerf continues to pave the way for other brands. And yes, there were also a bunch of smaller releases, repaints, exclusives, but these are the highlights that stuck out most for me. Dare I say it Nerf continues to set a gold standard for blasters in mass market, and whatever innovations they make definitely find their market amongst hardcore fans and casual players alike.

Don’t sleep on the competition – “Nerf or Nothin'” =/=…. Buzz Bee, Dart Zone, Zuru….

Competition is healthy! It’s so good. And when the competition is like this, the real winners are the players.

Buzz Bee came out swinging, releasing the Thermal Hunter, Zenith, Barbarian, Tactical Storm, Dwight’s Crossbow (for “The Walking Dead”)…. all for lower prices than Nerf blasters. The highlights were not only the number of pump-action blasters they made, but some accessory innovation with the Thermal Sensor (shown below!)

Buzz Bee also made magazines that were cross-compatible with Nerf blasters, new ammo types (Precision, Long Distance, in addition to sucker darts) that were compatible with Nerf blasters, even an adapter to make the Thermal Sensor usable on Nerf Tactical rails.

The Thermal Hunter was by and large the most comfortable blaster from this line for me, and the pump-action gave it the advantage over the Tactical Storm. I also have the Monorail (thanks for the sample, Buzz Bee!) but man…. the issues about it loading are pretty apparent. It does jam on me quite a bit from just the initial testings I’ve done, and considering how excited I was at Toy Fair I was a bit frustrated with the final product. Great idea, great look, but I wish the experience with the Monorail so far hadn’t left me wanting.

All the same, heck of a year for Buzz Bee releases. They really stepped up to provide an alternative dart flinger for Nerf, and at the prices they have the offerings are pretty good! If you’re a blaster player on a budget, don’t sleep on Buzz Bee toys. You definitely get what you pay for and a lot extra, I think. They still haven’t made their comparable Nerf Rival blaster, but that brings me to…

With the Thermal Hunter

Dart Zone (Covert Ops!) I used to dub Zing Toys the Dark Horse of the blaster/launcher category.

As Zing hasn’t had a new release in some time (that I’ve heard about) besides some Costco gift packs… I pass that onto Dart Zone. It wasn’t enough that they released the Enforcer, Light Command, Dartstorm, but they made a real splash this year with….

Much like what happened with Buzz Bee, Dart Zone has made a comparable product to Nerf Rival, but cheaper than any other offering from Nerf. $20 for the Powerball, and it’s cross-compatible with Nerf Rival ammo and magazines. The performance is comparable, in range and accuracy. No slam-fire still from these blasters but that’s not a big deal at all considering what you are getting. On top of the ability to use Nerf mags, the BallistixOps blaster comes with a gravity fed hopper, so depending on your style of play you can use either. You have choices. And buying this blaster won’t put you out against anything else except maybe the battery operated Rival blasters. And even then, there are plans for a new blaster called “The Accelerator”.

Dart Zone again makes the case for a budget buy that offers near-premium performance. You won’t go wrong giving this brand a second look in 2018. Their dart blasters are fantastically strong out of the box as well, but the BallistixOps definitely made their mark this year.

Welcome to the…. ZU (Zuru/Xshot)

Zuru by and large may arguably have the BEST value of blasters and darts. Knowing some of their manufacturing methods, their darts come in crazy packages of refills, but there is a caveat with that. While their blasters accommodate nerf darts, the darts are a little shorter than Nerf darts. In early Zuru mags, Nerf darts were way too long and weren’t cross-compatible. The Bug Attack Crossbow fixed that, but it made the magazine and Crossbow unusable with earlier smaller Xshot magazines, a huge oversight on their part in my opinion. Zuru darts however might hiccup in a Nerf magazine but they work a large part of the time.

This year, Zuru put out the much lauded Turbo Advance and the Regenerator…. both really decent blasters. The Turbo Advance may have the advantage in my opinion though, as the blaster only needs to be reloaded via the drum while the Regenerator has two new clip styles and you have to refill those as you go. But the blasters are pump-action which I like, and in addition to the cost Zuru continues to chug along cranking out low cost products for good ranges and decent quality. Another brand that undercuts the premium pricing you find at Nerf with good options that don’t have the spectacle and aggressiveness of Nerf, but fire almost as well as anything else. Again, another brand you won’t regret saving a few bucks on.

The E-thir (Third Party companies/products)

Nerf says to use only products with the Nerf seal of approval, and there’s a litany of legal reasons they have to say that to people. Nerf’s brand has become synonymous with toy projectile play – practically anything that shoots a foam dart, arrow, ball, etc. gets referred to as a Nerf toy. Something goes wrong, like a third party dart injures a kid (anyone who used FVJs and found those uncomfortable to get hit with for instance) or some other product breaks and damages a kid’s toy, it’s Nerf who initially may get put on the hook for it. To my experience, the third party products I’ve used (Headshot ammo, shout out to them for providing a pretty decent Rival alternative) have so far been ok, but that doesn’t necessarily mean all of them will be. With the advent of 3D printing, information exchanges on the internet, and Amazon availability, the third party products available now is at a crazy level. That being said, yes, you may find some products perform better than Nerf products and that’s great. Common sense, not all Nerf products are created equal and not everything “for use with” Nerf is Nerf made nor may it be as safe as a product made by Nerf, or any other retailer that makes their products compatible for Nerf but also make their products for mass market (that means Dart Zone, Zuru, Buzz Bee). Just use common sense, read reviews, ask for recommendations, and happy hunting.

Bring me that horizon:

They’re still out there, and I hope to follow up on them at Toy Fair 2018, but Marshmallow Shooters, Paper Shooters, and Precision RBS are still out there and making products! Alternammo from foam darts are still around, so make sure to stay tuned here to find out more as I get info from them.

Accessories! Modular battlefields!

Earlier I touched on licensed products by Jazwares, utilizing the Nerf brand (those are ok!)

Battle Bunkerz. Fort Boards.

Get familiar with these brands, as they offer ways to create your own adventures and battlefields in two very different ways. Battle Bunkerz offers inflatable barrels, drums, boxes, etc. that you can set up for your own purposes, like they do on Battle Universe. They look really cool aesthetically, and I do need to get these out in the field to try out for myself (it’s winter, and going outside is tough right now in Illinois! Indoor places by me are also few and far between. :P)

Fort Boards (and their sister product, Blaster Boards) are a bit costly to make a HUGE fort, but even the starter kits available can help make some decent panel obstacles for a small battlefield. The blaster board targets make for good objective and target shooting game play, while you also have the added benefit of a construction and fort building kit to add just a little more panache to your battlefield, whether indoor or out. It’s the first year I’ve seen other companies try to market directly to blaster play communities, and it’s interesting to see how everything plays out. The fact that these products exist and have an audience in this manner show that blaster play patterns are really coming to light. Yes, couches, chairs, and tables may still rule the field, but they don’t have to be the only things at risk (and these may save a lamp or two!)

WHEW! What did I miss? 2017 was a big year for blasters and associated products, feel free to sound off and let me know what you want to see in 2018! Happy new year, everyone!

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Dart Zone 2018 New Blasters -Titanium & Accelerator (Adventure Force, Wal-Mart line)

New Adventure Force “Tactical Strike” blasters, from BallistixOps releases from Dart Zone, approximately January 2018! (compatible with Nerf Rival)

Fresh new info from Dart Zone, aka Prime Time Toys!

High-res photos too!

Priced again at just under the cost of other brands, Dart Zone sent over a press release of their new offerings coming to 2018. Under Walmart’s “Adventure Force” brand, the “Tactical Strike” line is where to find these new blasters. I’m not sure what effect this will have on future releases, whether these will be for Walmart only (although in the case of the Powerball, Tactical Strike will have its own paint scheme) but for now I don’t have any info that shows these will be anywhere else.

Queued up is the Accelerator blaster, what looks to be a flywheel, 6D battery monstrosity and the Titanium, another pump-action blaster. A little reminiscent of the original Powerball with a different handle. The new aesthetics look pretty cool though, for sure. What’s new are ammo reloads (Dart Zone is making their own Rival-style ammo) and a mask along with the blasters. As I am all about the details, the blasters and the masks look to have interchangeable color plates for team indicators. Blue, Red, Green for starters (compared to the All-or-nothing color schemes for Blue, Red, and Phantom on the Nerf side of things.) And ultimately the price is definitely nothing to sneeze at considering the current market for 14+ foam projectiles. As a believer in stock play (not that it’s the only way, but I do appreciate my experience straight out of the box) this is a pretty strong toy. And yes, comparable to Nerf performance the Powerball is a smaller profile blaster, and compatible with Nerf Rival magazines. The only real shortcoming is no slam-fire but maybe one day.

I may have samples after the holidays, we’ll have to see! The official release date is January 15 so don’t be surprised if these start popping up around then.

Exciting times, comrades. Dart Zone offers a fine product and if you’re curious here’s a firing video I did when I first got the Powerball:

Going to give these a go? Don’t forget to check out Walmart later this month (or January at the latest) to see if you can find them!

For you YouTube watchers:

RECOIL: THE WORLD IS NOW (available at Target and other retailers!) Game

Nerdist/Geek & Sundry just did such a great job with an overview:

Sponsored content brought to you by Recoil!

RECOIL PHOTO GALLERY

RECOIL: The World is Now Game – a new and really intriguing take on Augmented Reality, mixing it with laser tag, implementing perks/power ups from video games, a heads up display (HUD), mobile gaming, scorekeeping, a life bar, and just a whole lot of features other systems have tried before and didn’t excel in. Recoil though, is a little different!

I haven’t tried the game play yet (that’s coming in a future installment, the game doesn’t have a single player feature and I need to wrangle some willing victims) so let’s talk about what each kit in the line comes with. For now that entails the Starter Kit with Game/Wi-Fi Hub, The Recoil RK-45 Spitfire, the Recoil SR-12 Rogue, and the Recoil Frag Grenade.

FIRST – The Starter Kit.

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RECOIL Multiplayer Starter Set

· Real-time player tracking up to 16 players

· Location based gameplay powered by GPS

· 3D positional audio for ultimate battle awareness

· Real time voice chat between players

· Unique gameplay modes for outdoor & indoor play

· Add-on mobile players

· Location-based pick-ups and virtual weapons

· Includes: (2) RK-45 Spitfires, Wi-Fi base station, downloadable mobile game app and (4) AR tags

· Height: 7.75” Length: 11” Width: 1.7”

· Ages 12+, SRP $129.99

Requires 12 AA batteries (4 for the Spitfire x 2, 4 for the wi-fi hub)

The largest investment you’re going to have in the system, both in cash and batteries. BUT, the wi-fi hub has a range of 250 feet in any direction (500 both ways!), and a whole new Augmented Reality system to play. The game involves air strikes, land mines, actual respawn points and bases via the app, which leaves a whole slew of new avenues to raise your laser tag game. You get a lot of bang for your buck in experience, not to say about the robust build of the toy blasters themselves. Batteries are not included with any Recoil game kit and this requires 12, so rechargeable batteries could be a good idea.

The Game Hub is a neat piece of technology. You fire it up and use your mobile device to connect to the wi-fi signal generated by the hub (no internet, obviously. It’s just enough to allow the mobile phones to run the app and interact.) A hub can support up to 16 people to play at one time and generates the game, maps, etc. to get set up and play. One tip Skyrocket offers is that you hit airplane mode on your device first, THEN activate wi-fi (and connect to the obvious Recoil network), followed by bluetooth and location services. That will make connecting to just the hub and blaster units easier as it eliminates any rival device signals. 16 people only! Stacking Game Hubs does not equal a larger field (but man, that would be cool.)

The Recoil App is free to download (and you don’t need the blasters to play, you can just connect to the hub and game with your phone if you are the odd person out from the starter kit) and you can still play in the game. Setting out mines is an option as is supplying teammates with ammo. Skyrocket really made sure to make the game highly inclusive if you just get the starter pack.

The app uses GPS signals (at least for outdoor play; at the time of this article an inside version of the skirmish game had not been released yet but was in the works) that show up mapped during gameplay on the app. From there players can locate each other, bases, see the results of damage from airstrikes, grenades, see the time left in a round, scoreboard, and life bars. The game also comes with scannable AR tags that you can use during gameplay for powerups. This will all be displayed in an upcoming gameplay video 😉 The following are some screencaps from the app itself. It’s really interesting to see just how much you actually have to offer once you get a game going.

Max game settings – they weren’t playing that long

Perks!

Find your respawn.

To my knowledge you can’t expand a game past 16 people and I am not sure how well this would operate from an elevated position (say in a park with some staircases or on a jungle gym) but I am still very taken with the promises this toy line is making, and just from the little testing I’ve done outside of a full game there is a lot of good stuff here to take away after that initial buy. There’s just so much you can do that relies on the “honor system” anywhere else. Another note, it looks like you can only connect one bluetooth blaster to your phone at a time, so no complicated loadouts. With the easy reloading though, that makes sense to not have to carry a primary and sidearm, I think.

Another feature is the environmental sound of the game; as gunfire sounds off around you in-game, you hear it directionally through your head phones based on your position vs the position of other players. It’s recommended you wear headphones when playing in order to achieve the full surround sound effect. Also, the push to talk buttons make sure that when you tag/get tagged, you can communicate your enthusiasm or lack thereof to your victims/enemies. Also, makes sure you know who to get revenge on later.

Then comes your pistol –

Recoil RK-45 Spitfire

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RECOIL RK-45 Spitfire

· Compact, versatile and effective in all battle types

· Fully automatic with quick ammo reload

· Push-to-talk button for real-time player chat

· Dynamic force feedback

· High-powered IR transmitters

· Manual reload mechanism

· Camera mount

· BLE enabled for smart phone connection

· Body-mounted sensor for full coverage

· Includes: Direct Bluetooth connect and downloadable mobile game app

· Height: 7.75” Length: 11” Width: 1.7”

Ages 12+, SRP $49.99

What’s really cool about the Recoil blaster units is not the bluetooth connectivity to your mobile device, or interfacing with the game, but the tactile feedback from the tagger units! I didn’t realize this when I first learned about the Recoil game, but the blasters flash red and make firing noises like some old school toys I had that did the same thing. That right there can be a lot of fun, but given the price you do need a little more, which Recoil definitely promises and delivers. 😉

The Spitfire requires 4 AA batteries, has a push to talk button on the back of the blaster, and three hit sensors on three different sections of the front of the blaster. A fourth sensor is plugged into the bottom handle and placed in your back pocked or the back of your shirt collar in order to set you up to be shot from behind. Less scrupulous individuals need not apply that won’t use the 4th sensor. Still though, it’s a very solid toy, good plastic and has some heft. The futuristic styling is cool and reminiscent to me of some video games. The phone mount is on the side, so it doesn’t obstruct my natural tendency to aim down the sight of a blaster. As far as intro weapons go, this is a winner on aesthetics and feel.

A little bit louder now with a rifle (higher ranges than the Spitfire supposedly, requires further testing)!

Recoil SR-12 Rogue

Battery compartment

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RECOIL SR-12 Rogue

· High fire-rate, magazine capacity and damage output

· Fully automatic with quick ammo reload

· Push-to-talk button for real-time player chat

· Dynamic Force Feedback

· Improved rate of fire and range

· High-powered IR transmitters

· Manual reload mechanism

· Camera mount

· BLE enabled for smart phone connection

· Body-mounted sensor for full coverage

· Includes: Direct Bluetooth connect and downloadable mobile game app

· Height: 9” Length: 26.875” Width: 3”

· Ages 12+, SRP $79.99

For a few dollars more, you get a higher ammo capacity and range in the Recoil SR-12 Rogue, moreso than you get out of the Spitfire. No mods to do here either, what you see is what you get. It requires 6 AA batteries as opposed to the 4 the Spitfire demands, but you get the added boosts as well. The Rogue feels solidly built as well, and features a phone mount spot on both sides of the blaster (depending on your dominant hand). More of the same with three hit sensors and a wearable fourth, good weight distribution, and sleek look. The tactical rails make me wonder if any future plans are in motion but that’s a post for another day. If I had any nitpicks (and this is a minor one) it’s that the push to talk button is only on one side of the blaster. But even with that, the button is easily reached with whatever hand is not on the trigger. Given the added firepower you get from the Rogue that’s definitely not a deal breaker.

And now, A GRENADE. Again, similar technology in past products from other companies but this syncs up with your weapon as well in order to give you credit for your kills!

Frag Grenade

I appreciate the detail at having a little clip to attach.

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RECOIL Frag Grenade

· An explosive addition to your arsenal

· High damage output

· Large blast radius

· Simple 1 button design

· Time-delay explosion

· Includes: (1) Frag Grenade

· Height: 3.7” Length: 2.6” Width: 2.6”

· Ages 12+, SRP $14.99

The Recoil Frag Grenade is pretty cool because it has a couple of ways it works- you can sync it up with your blaster to identify to anyone you used it if it took them out or give it a quick prime and throw for anonymous damage. The housing has some rubber on it to cushion it from impact, but definitely don’t throw it directly at someone, it’s still a hunk of plastic and electronics! This toy provides a radius of damage to opposing Recoil players, there’s no need to hit someone directly with it. Just need to lob it in the general area and let the timer do the rest. I don’t know how well the frag grenade takes impact against grass or hard surface from a high height or concrete but it definitely feels and looks like it can take a beating. It’s a very good mechanic that has been missing in a lot of blaster games, and this just might be one of the better ways to implement a splash damage mechanic, one I am really looking forward to exhaustively experiment.

And that’s the Recoil line for now! It’s a really exciting line, and I can’t wait to see what they might have planned for the future. There’s a lot to do between up to 16 people and with Recoil The World is Game for as long as people want to make their backyards, parks, parking lots, garages, and offices (in the future) into competition areas. Available now, The World is Now Game. Make sure to try this out and see what the future of laser tag holds!

Nerf Alien Menace Voidcaster Review and Demo

Nerf Alien Menace Voidcaster in stores! Nerf Semiauto Goodness.

Hey all! Working from my phone, so I can’t embed the video at the moment, but just uploaded a video on the Nerf Alien Menace Voidcaster. Check the link below to visit my YouTube channel (if you like, please give a like and subscribe!)

Price: $19.99
Includes: 8 elite streamline darts
Toys R Us exclusive
Available now

Ranges:
Approximately 40′-50′ flat, angled is a little more.

Thoughts:
In a short list of non-battery powered semiauto blasters, the Voidcaster does lack ammo capacity (less shots than either the Snapfire 8 or DartFire) but makes up for that in aesthetics. If that’s how you want to see it. The Nerf Alien Menace Voidcaster is semiauto, primes and fires the blaster in one trigger pull, and gets about 40-50 feet in range. The above firing test was done one handed, so you can see blaster jump a bit with every shot. A two handed method definitely stabilize it.

I definitely like the slim profile of the blaster, but for 4 shots getting quick with the trigger is a problem. And like the other semiauto blasters you have to squeeze the trigger very distinctly each time to ensure a full firing cycle. Otherwise the blaster may misfire (as seen in my video). At $19.99 too you are really paying for the look, which is a major appeal for this. The deco has a scaled pattern on some sections, while the colors go well together.

With this blaster, Nerf continues its world building for the Alien Menace line. No claimed ranges on the box per usual, since performance isn’t the focus on this or Doomlands. Hence, I don’t expect a lot from the more story driven blaster lines. Still though, for a little more than $20 you can own a semiatuo blaster lines. Not a terrible purchase, but definitely a middle ground. Thanks so much for reading, and stay tuned for more content!

Firing Demo! Dart Zone "BallistixOps" Powerball Blaster – the Nerf Rival…. rival?

Nerf Zombie Strike Dreadbolt – Review and Firing Demo!

Nerf Zombie Strike Dreadbolt is a Huge Crossbow against the Undead Horde

NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE DREADBOLT Blaster
(Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $49.99/Available: Fall 2017)
Outsmart and dominate the zombie hordes with the ZOMBIE STRIKE DREADBOLT blaster. The first-ever arrow-firing ZOMBIE STRIKE crossbow, the DREADBOLT blaster can take down zombies like never before. Use the detachable scope to line up the target, aim, and fire! Includes five arrows and detachable scope. Available at most major retailers nationwide and HasbroToyshop.com.

Well, there it is. the Nerf Zombie Strike Dreadbolt. First seen at New York Toy Fair, I was most shocked at how super sized the thing was. The ammo was the same as the Rebelle Arrow Revolution, Agent Bow, and Courage Crossbow, but the build of this Crossbow is arguably WAY bigger than any of those.

Aesthetics:

I like the way the Dreadbolt looks. The Zombie Strike junkdeco is still in effect, along with the green/orange motif. Nothing new or surprising there. The nuance of a wrench as the priming handle is a nice touch, and one of my favorite features of the blaster. Yes, nothing really new as it’s a crossbow reusing ammo from previous blasters, and the priming mech uses a a bowstring, but the fun is in the small details, like the priming arm wrench. It’s a smooth action with the priming handle too, and the stock is comfortable to hold. My frame is about 5’8″, and the stock is plenty comfortable for me to use. The blaster is a little front heavy though, and with the wrench positioned where it is makes finding a grip for your offhand a little odd sometimes (there’s a grip area after the wrench, but sometimes my hand kept finding its way further up the body naturally.) Overall, a nice job with a solid build. The arms make moving through tight spaces a bit more difficult, but hey, that’s a crossbow for you.

Usability:

The elephant in the room is that this is an “impractical” blaster for a Nerf war. And we’ll look at a couple of reasons why.

– The ammo. Most games I play in utilize darts and maybe a few players bring Mega or Rival rounds. If you’re using this or something like it, you best have a sidearm or be ready to chase your ammo down, lest your round with this blaster end quickly. The Rebelle version of the arrows are still available so a player could stock up ideally, but they might be the only player with that ammo type that day.

– The range. Flat, this blaster hit 40′, maybe. angled it would hit in the 50s and beyond but other blasters are doing that at lower angles with faster velocities. Style points would be the main incentive at using this against dart firing blasters.

– The cost. Given the price of this and other products coming out this year, consumers may feel compelled to have another selective year buying blasters. at $50 this is already a chunk from buying the Regulator or Nemesis, as cool as it looks. You could put your money into this blaster or something that will extend your play time during a game round.

Probably other reasons, but those seem to be the main ones for me.

With a little practice I was able to smoothly reload arrows, but the malleability of the shaft of the arrows also adds an extra level of sensitivity, you have to make sure you don’t push too hard, lest the arrow flex out of place or veer off target because it gets bent. Besides that, aiming (and I found that easier without the sight) moving with the crossbow, all of it was ok. Going through doorways and tight spaces could be a liability with the Dreadbolt, but those are minor issues at best considering the number of other blasters available for different situations.

HOWEVER –

This blaster was still one of my favorites from the show. The priming mech, massive build (relatively speaking) and Crossbow love were enough to make me give this blaster a prolonged look. In this toy there’s definitely a roleplay element that is being tapped into more with this blaster than performance in rate of fire or range, and that’s ok. Kids that want to imagine carving their way through an undead horde will get a kick out of this, as will players who may want those style points, or work on a more unique play style that doesn’t involve streamline sized darts or Rival ammo. I see the value in unstructured play and imagination, and that’s the crux of this blaster seeing yourself in that position of a crossbow wielding hero against the teeming undead masses. And in recent pop culture history, we know where that’s coming from 😉

That being said, for the sheer size of this blaster I know some people will find purpose for it and it’s not a bad buy for a blaster. I would remark that maybe wait for a sale or coupon to buy it, as $49.99 is a little steep for a 5 shot specialty ammo blaster, considering the future and currently available blasters. But even at that, it’s a proud addition to any collection, and a fun blaster in its own right. Whatever you pay, I found this blaster still offered a fun experience shooting arrows, and I hope you find it that way too.

Sample provided by Nerf, but all opinions remain my own!

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