Tag: F2A

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!

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!

AFFILIATE LINKS BELOW:
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Nerf Gamestop Exclusive: Star Wars Battlefront Boba Fett Blaster and Mask Set

Nerf Reveals Exclusive  $89 Battlefront Star Wars set at Gamestop
Vas The Stampede

NERF RIVAL STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT APOLLO XV-700 Blaster and Face Mask set
(Ages 14 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $89.99/Available: Spring 2017)
Gear up like a Mandalorian warrior with the NERF RIVAL STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT APOLLO XV-700 blaster and face mask set! This special edition blaster and mask set features distinct Mandalorian decoration and comes with a fabric Mandalorian insignia patch. Experience intense, head-to-head competition with the precision and power of the NERF RIVAL APOLLO XV-700 blaster, sending foam rounds soaring into the air at a velocity of 100 fps, and featuring easy re-load magazine. Mask boasts a breathable design and elastic band for adjustable fit. Mask is not a protective device. Set includes reusable display box, blaster, face mask, and 7 NERF RIVAL foam rounds. Available exclusively at Gamestop.
There you have it. (Images here were initially provided by Nerf, I didn’t get to write this piece until a little after receiving the email).
Licensed reskins aren’t new for Nerf; some might remember the Nerf Optimus Prime and Bumblebee blasters from San Diego Comic Con awhile ago. This time, Battlefront II gets the honors; Boba Fett is the color scheme and the Nerf Rival Apollo is the blaster of note.
It’s same to assume that there isn’t a notable change in the performance of the blaster, it’s a Nerf Rival Apollo that is still readily available at Amazon. The mask is a repaint of the red and blue masks already available as well (associate links below).
At first glance, I would be remiss to not say that this looks cool, no doubt about it. The color scheme of the Mandalorian bounty hunter comes up nicely on the images at least, and I knew enough people that used Star Wars voice changing helmets years ago during Nerf wars that these are a more functional change of pace. The fabric patch, reusable box, it’s all neat.

But that seems to be about it, neat. The $89 price tag is a real sticking point for me, considering you can still buy a Nerf Apollo and Mask separately for considerably less. And yes, you have extras included, yes, creating a tooling mold for a new product takes time, developing a whole new blaster for a collectible that may not sell is a risk, but this seemed the path of least resistance in some ways to just slap a new paint job on an old blaster. Reskins aren’t new practice either, but for $89 I need something new besides a paint job to cough up my money for something like this. Some different priming method? A new shell? This set seems mostly for Star Wars fans and Battlefront fans who will see the cool factor in the form more than the utility – not the community that uses blasters on the regular and see this as Just Another Apollo. Given the prices of other new blasters coming out this year, I’m going to put my money towards those instead (like the Nerf Regulator and Nemesis). Will it make a great gift though, for someone you know into Nerf? If they like Star Wars too, probably!


Key fact: I LOVED the Jango Fett blaster set… even though it was a single shot pistol there was enough different about the way it looked (and primed, to a degree) along with an agreeable price (at the time, it’s a collector’s item in its own right nowadays). All those factors, and I bought it. I would have liked a different shell, maybe a different priming mechanism… even a higher price for something that functioned like a Zeus but looked like Boba Fett’s blaster? SOMETHING a little more compelling, this doesn’t say it to me, unfortunately.

So this reveal has left me lukewarm. I like the colors, but knowing what’s on the horizon I couldn’t make this purchase myself. If you want to rep your favorite Bounty Hunter though with a projectile blaster and mask, and display it proudly with your other collectibles of note, you definitely have something here though, and something to look a little more the part if you need something (or some scoundrel) frozen in carbonite. I appreciate the inclusion from Nerf for this reveal, and like that they took the chance to make something for gamers and Battlefront fans, so let’s try again, please? And if you get this set, I hope you enjoy it! It’s just not for my collection, at least this time.

Affiliate links to follow (Amazon program):
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Nerf Apollo (Blue)

Nerf Apollo (Red)

Unboxing! Nerf Spring 2017 Care Package is in!

Look at all this stuff!

Thanks to Nerf for the samples as always, I’ll be doing reviews on more of this and additional looks over the next few weeks! While I’m at it, also make sure to check out my Instagram I post additional content with samples and arrivals like this!

Here’s some info on what arrived:

Thanks for reading!

ICYMI: New Buzz Bee 2017 Blasters from Toy Fair New York

Buzz Bee Brings the Blasters for 2017, Fall 2017*
Vas The Stampede
*- in stores by July possible according to the press release. Availability subject to location.

Buzz Bee definitely brought a lot of promise to Toy Fair 2017. They introduced three dart types (precision, long distance, and suction), increased the power of their blasters (openly claiming 100′ ranges on some blasters) and BROUGHT SOME NEW FEATURES.

Exhibit A: The Rail Blaster – the only video currently (as of March 30, 2017) of it firing

  • Price: $16
  • Available: Fall 2017*
  • Rear-loading
  • 6 shots
  • No slam fire


Rail Blaster on the left, Tactical Storm on the right.



Exhibit B: The Thermal Hunter –

And the sensor – (From RandomShadow09)

At Toy Fair, an adapter for the Thermal Sensor to fit onto Nerf blasters was in development as well, to be packed in the Thermal Hunter.

I was not able to get a price at this time, but I am following up and will update this post once I get some more information.
Additionally, some new tweaks on old patterns:
The Blizzard – 40 shots and slam-fire only, like the Buzz Bee Sidewinder –
No price on this one yet either, I may have missed it.

And the Tactical Storm (pictured above with the Rail Blaster):

  • Price: $17
  • Available: Fall 2017*
  • Interchangeable stock (supposedly with the Thermal Hunter stock).
  • Removable barrel for modular play

In closing, Buzz Bee continues to keep their low prices for the most part while upping their features. Some folks seem particularly excited about the Rail Blaster, others want to get their hands on the Thermal Hunter, and some just want a less pricey alternative to Nerf blasters. Given the products from last year, and the licensing for The Walking Dead, Buzz Bee continues to impress me with what they’re putting out in build quality and themes. As a good number of the blasters were prototypes I can’t say much about the build or the performance of these blasters, I’ll reserve that for the final retail models I will hopefully get later on. BUT…. some of the ideas that Buzz Bee had at Toy Fair were impressive indeed. Keep an eye on this blog and YouTube… as soon as I know, you’ll know 🙂
And some additional photos! Full Gallery of the Buzz Bee booth is here:

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New York Toy Fair – Marshmallow Shooters and Paper Shooters (aka Spitball Blasterz)

Marshmallow Shooters and Paper Shooters partner up at New York Toy Fair
Vas The Stampede

Photo Gallery – Marshmallow Shooters

Photo gallery – Spitball Blasterz


Marshmallow Shooters and Paper Shooters partner up at New York Toy Fair
Vas The Stampede

Had a chat with the folks at Marshmallow Shooters and Paper Shooters (soon to be Spitball Blasterz) to see what they were up to, and surprisingly, they joined forces! Marshmallow Shooters has some new management, new manufacturing, which means new products. Paper Shooters, after a couple of hiccups, struck a deal to work products with Marshmallow Shooters. This also means that Paper Shooters is going to start exploring making all-plastic, shell-free shooters (hence the rebranding to Spitball Blasterz).

The new Marshmallow Shooters pump a bit more efficiently while shooting a bit farther. The “Extreme” Marshmallow Shooters also have a front-loading muzzle now, as opposed to the breech-loading on earlier models. Reusable ammo was also available, though no sign of the “orbballistics” shooters from a couple of years ago. The new agreements should alleviate some of the cost of the Marshmallow Shooters (which, are pricey in some circles) and affords Spitball Blasterz a helping hand in the manufacturing department. Also promising, new manufacturing means Marshmallow Shooters may diversify to other products. What products, that remains to be seen.

Paper Shooters (henceforth referred to as Spitball Blasterz) is moving forward as well, to all plastic bodies. The original kits had a plastic skeleton which was then covered by a treated cardboard. The new shooter models I saw are all plastic, rear loading, and don’t require casings for the paper wad ammo. The paper construction/paper mould kits are still going to be available in the line though, so construction/gunsmithing fans will still have something to work with here. The prototype all-plastic rifle I tried out felt pretty comfortable, and shot well enough, but like all things at Toy Fair I await with cautious optimism.

Good to see more options for play out there though! Marshmallow Shooters undoubtedly has an audience (given their longevity) and Paper Shooters offers something just a little different from the out of the box experience. Where their products find a home in the community will be interesting to see, I’m just glad to see that there is still more invention out there when it comes to Toys That Shoot.

New Nerf Blasters for 2017 – the story continues! The Road To Toy Fair.

Nerf Blaster releases for 2017 – The Story So Far
Vas The Stampede



The road to Toy Fair continues! Nerf let loose a slew of information on new releases, from Geek.Com and Popular Mechanics say hello to the newest upcoming additions to the Nerf Arsenal. Don’t forget to check some of the previous release info Here and Here (some items were scheduled for 2017, but are readily available. It happens, certain areas are subject to availability.

NERF MODULUS REGULATOR Blaster
(Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $59.99/Available: Fall 2017)
Bring the power of three firing modes with one epic blaster! The NERF MODULUS REGULATOR blaster features single-fire, burst-fire, and fully motorized blasting power. The REGULATOR blaster is customizable and compatible with accessories within the MODULUS system, sold separately, so fans can build their blasters and have the ultimate blasting experience. Includes two 12-dart clips and 24 MODULUS darts. Requires 4 C batteries, not included. Available at most major retailers nationwide and HasbroToyshop.com.



NERF MEGA TWINSHOCK Blaster
(Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $39.99/Available: Fall 2017)
Experience double-barrel MEGA blasting power with the NERF MEGA TWINSHOCK blaster! The pump-action blaster shoots two MEGA darts at a time, sending darts flying up to 90 feet! Want to shoot one dart at a time? The TWINSHOCK blaster has a single-fire option. Includes 10 MEGA whistler darts. Available at most major retailers nationwide and HasbroToyshop.com.


NERF N-STRIKE ELITE ACCUSTRIKE RAPTORSTRIKE Blaster
(Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $49.99/Available: Fall 2017)
Hone your skills and hit your mark with the NERF N-STRIKE ELITE ACCUSTRIKE RAPTORSTRIKE blaster. This clip-fed blaster with pop-up sight, adjustable stock and bipod helps players line up their shot and to aim with precision and confidence. Includes two six-dart clips and 18 ACCUSTRIKE series NERF darts. Available at most major toy retailers and at HasbroToyShop.com.

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.




NERF ALIEN MENACE VOIDCASTER Blaster
(Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $19.99/Available: Fall 2017)
Fight off aliens with the new ALIEN MENACE VOIDCASTER blaster! The blaster’s unique styling and pump action power gives NERF fans an edge against the intergalactic foe. The VOIDCASTER blaster fires four darts in a row without reloading and has storage for an extra four darts for easy reloading. Includes 8 ALIEN MENACE Elite darts. Available at most major retailers nationwide and HasbroToyShop.com.




Still no press release that’s been sent to me on the Nemesis – but it’ll be $100 in the U.S. when available. As soon as I get one, it’ll get posted!

I have some opinions to post on these blasters too, they’re coming up later this week.

Dart Zone LegendFire Range Test/Demo video/overview

Testing the Dart Zone LegendFire blaster – ranges and reloading

Quick Stats:
 MSRP: $14.99
Range: 80′
Available: Now (I just saw these at Target)
 Includes:
2 x swappable ammo cartridges
1 x LegendFire
18 x darts

 More to come on what I think about this blaster after I get some game time in with it in Wisconsin this weekend. See you then!

Prime Time Toys Covert Ops Magnum Superdrum Blaster firing demo

Dart Zone Samples are in, and thanks to Mica T. on the Facebook page, the Magnum gets the first test shot video.

Please share/like/subscribe! I’d appreciate it 🙂

Sample provided, thanks Prime Time Toys/Dart Zone!

I’ll be better suited to provide a full review next week, going to be field testing this (and more) blasters from Dart Zone with the MANO Wisconsin Nerf Group this coming weekend.

For now:

STATS:

MSRP: $19.99
Available: Now (Target Exclusive)
Range claims: 80′
Includes: 40 darts, blaster, manual

Note: Drum is a one-time installation, does not come out again after assembly.

If I had to say anything right off the bat, the swivel arm rest is kinda weird, and the blaster did spin a few shots out, but for the price this is a tough blaster to beat on dart output and range.

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Build Demo! KForce K-10V Time Lapse Speed

Building a KForce K-10V blaster (How long did it Take?)
Vas The Stampede

Spoiler: 

24 minutes

In a new installment, you see how long it took me to build one of the new K’Nex KForce Kits from K’Nex (that means, product provided, but my opinions are my own).

The “Build and Blast” KForce line has a lot of really good ideas in it, from the actual building and construction of the blasters (which any modder out there can appreciate) to the near-limitless possibilities what someone can build with a kit and a whole lot more K’nex pieces (something I would like to test for myself in the future).

I might be tempted to do a slower video in the future, mainly because while time-lapse is cool you don’t get a feel for some of the mishaps I had during building (I think the manuals could be a bit clearer on instructions, but that’s a discussion for another post, such as when I do a firing video). I wonder if someone who is familiar with K’Nex can do these builds faster, or if even someone who more regularly builds construction kits might have a leg up on me and shave time off what I did.

In any event, the line is still being supported and innovated on, and that’s all one can really ask in a super competitive arena like blasters. Companies are going for range, capacity, aesthetics, and K’Nex continues to fuel imaginative building while trying to produce a blaster that fires on par with most others, even if rate of fire may suffer slightly.

So let’s try this; if you have the same kit, or any kit that I post here, video yourself building it too and tag me in it! Whatever time I have, see if you can beat it or challenge me to build a KForce blaster faster than you (and get away with it)!

I still have a few more upcoming projects to do, so make sure to come back and keep checking for updates! Blaster reviews, photos, and the NvZ video are all on the way. Thanks again!