Tag: toy

Review Time! Launch N Attack Annihilator

Alright!  Thanks to Eyespy Toys, I was able to get my hands on a Launch N Attack Annihilator and a Target Launcher.

Nerf Barricade, Prime Time Toys Quick Shot 6, Launch N Attack Disc, Launch N Attack Annihilator, Launch N Attack Disc Launcher

Cost:  $14.99 – $19.99 depending on vendor.
Ammo Capacity: 10 shots (closer to a Dart Tag Blaster in output)
Range:  Blaster shoots about 20-30′, the discs go up to 40′ upward (supposedly)

The disc launcher attaches to the blaster on the side, and you pull the rip cord which spins the disc that lifts it into the air.

Design:
It definitely looks styled after a Nerf Barricade, minus the trigger guard, or a nub to attach a stock.  It has the extra rail on the side to accomodate the attack disc, but some of the more important design differences are a bit closer…

Low amount of extra space in chamber to accommodate other darts.  This is literally sized for their ammo alone.
Dart length comparison between an original Nerf Streamline, a Nerf Elite Streamline, and a Launch N Attack Dart

The Launch N Attack rotating chamber only has enough clearance to barely cycle its own brand of darts through the blaster.  You can’t use other brands of ammo with it unless you force and manually rotate the blaster through each shot.  Not the most efficient if you’re in a pitched game where each shot counts and every movement means the difference between tagging or being tagged.  In the heat of things, finding this out could be wildly frustrating.  You can see the Launch N Attack Darts are just a touch shorter than Nerf ammo, hence the lack of compatibility.  One other quick note is the Launch N Attack Darts are a harder plastic/rubber on the tip, not as much give as the Nerf ammo tips, so you know if you decide to shoot your friend unawares.

Now, while I miss the trigger guard and the ability to use all types of ammo the Launch N Attack blasters do what they’re supposed to do blaster-wise, hitting 30′ or so and pretty consistently.  I say consistent in that it hits that range, but it does leave something to be desired in the accuracy department.  And that is a common trait among streamlined style blasters and flywheel ones at that.  The weather’s been a little bit crappy since I got these, so I haven’t had a chance to test the disc launcher outside yet to check the 40′ claim, but I do have something to compare it to:

Nerf N-Strike Disk Shot vs Launch N Attack Rapid Attack

Disc that comes with the annihilator, Rapid Attack Disc, and Nerf Disk Shot disk.

Utimately, how do I feel about the blaster?  With the market going the way it’s going,  to see a normal 20-30 range out of a blaster knowing there’s farther shooting stuff out there for just a few bucks more is a tough sell, in my opinion.  Never mind the lack of interchangeable ammo usage which makes using this in a game of tag a tough choice.  From a playability standpoint, the addition of the target disc is a good incentive to use it for target practice/reaction testing for yourself, or if you’re bored want a mobile target to shoot at.  I will definitely continue to keep an eye on this company though, as I like where they started, but definitely hope to see a more current take on their blasters considering what’s out there now.

Preview Review: Zing Toys Z-Tek Crossbow

Just some advance pics of a review I’ll be working on soon enough.  Latest air drop from the fine folks at Zing Toys, makers of the ZCurve Bow And Arrow, Hunter Crossbow, and others sent along a sample of their latest offering in the Air Storm line, the Z-Tek Crossbow.  Don’t have time to do a full range test, but it’s a definite improvement over the ZX Hunter Crossbow (which was pretty solid itself). 

For now, some pics.  You folks like pics, right?

Z-Tek Crossbow!  Flip-out bow arms, but the body is EXTENDABLE for a longer stretch!

Before opening

Z-Tek Crossbow
Released!  And comes with a target, too.  Note:  NOT extended as in the above photo.


Product Review: Bumpa’s Blowguns (Bumpa 2000)

EDIT:  Here’s the demo video, trying to shoot 50′ flat with a variety of darts.

So, I was at the Chicago Toy and Game Fair (ChiTag)a couple of weeks ago working, and at some point during the show, I was struck by a Dart Tag dart.  Now last year, the only shooting toys I had seen were Vapor blasters, so I was a little confused.  Normally, ChiTag does not have a lot of shooting toys, instead having lots of board games, remote control cars, and things you can ride or drive.  I was a little confused.

Looking around the show floor, I found a vendor called “Bumpa’s Blowguns’ and solved the mystery.  They were selling, well, blowguns!  Let the pictures commence!  I also have a demo video, but while I wait for it to process, here you go :
 

The blowgun
Size compared to a Nerf Ballzooka and another brand of blowgun I had years ago.

Size comparison vs. a Nerf Nitron and the other blowgun

Simple enough design.  It’s a piece of PVC, painted, with an end cap at the muzzle, a mouth piece, and two foam hand grips.  Retails for 29.95$+tax for blow gun 5 (velcro) darts, glasses and vest. Comes in pink, and black.  (Check their website!)  $30 might seem a little steep, but each blowgun is assembled by hand, and the mouthpiece does have a little extra work to it-

The “Dart Stop”

 What you see in the pic is a little arm to keep darts from being sucked backward by a user, and to keep a dart from falling out of the barrel in general.  The mouth piece is pretty comfy, and the grips are solid.  It’s the details like that that show some definite thinking went into this blowgun, for sure.  And from what I heard, this was conceptualized by a grandfather looking for something cool to play with his grandkids.  And why not?

That being said, if you like blowguns this is not only made in the U.S.A, but it’s a new business that takes an old concept like the blowgun and adds just a little extra touch or two to it.  Even if blowguns aren’t your style, you’re getting a solid product with this.  There are other products out there for the same $$$ sure, but this you know someone directly took time to assemble and make sure every bit fits together.

Range-wise, you’re going to get typical blowgun ranges.  Depending on your lung capacity, body mechanics and angle of aim, you could get upwards of 150′ easily.  But to get good Rate of Fire on this takes practice, and you’d have to make sure to keep extra darts handy.  Reaching for your pocket can mean the difference between extended play and getting tagged out.  As for any dart issues, Nerf Dart Tag darts flew the best out of it, but it would fire pretty much any other dart, except for the yellow buzz bee darts.  Possibly because the wider collar on those darts interferes with the dart stop.

But yeah, how can you argue with a company that self-produces their own videos, too?

In any event, yay for small business and the spirit of entrepreneurship!

Review: JT Splatmaster – z100 & z200! (and a group shootout to boot!)

Splatmaster Playgroup – late 20-early 30 year olds, varying levels of experience with gas-powered paintball

Ah, paintball.  Flinging spheres of paint at 200-300 fps out of CO2 charged markers in games of combat, whether objective or elimination based, it’s a hobby that has had quite the following.  In Illinois, we have a truly unique field, CPX Sports that has a HUGE selection of fields.  And not just inflatables, but some include a full-on town (Bedlam), a burnt out city (Armageddon) and an ancient temple (Jungle of Doom).  What does all this have to do with JT Splatmaster, from JT Paintball?

JT Splatmaster wanted a review, and CPX was willing to let me bring a group over to play and give some feedback on both the JT Splatmaster markers and the field itself.  And on that note, let’s take a look at the markers.  Also available are a bevy of accessories, and you can read more about those HERE

First, the  JT SPLATMASTER Z100 PISTOL($29.99):

With barrel plug inserted; and pullback assistance handle attached.
A look at the magazine (7 shots)

Included:

  • Z100 marker x 1
  • Pullback assist handle x 1
  • Barrel plug x 1
  • Instruction manual x 1 
  • Magazine for the marker x 1 (additional magazines sold separately)

WHAT ABOUT IT?
Right off the bat, I knew this thing wasn’t a toy.  Sure, you had “paintball” things like the old lever-action Supasplats and others like those, but they did not feel NEARLY as solid as the Splatmaster markers.  The outside is a really durable and tough, thick plastic.  At least, I think it’s plastic.  Either way, this thing will take a beating.  There’s a button for a magazine release and  a safety switch (a proper one-touch switch; not the continuous hold like on the BlasterPro line), which adds to the feel, aesthetics, and usage of the marker.

The magazine holds 7shots, and primes by pulling back the side on the top, if you can use a Maverick, you can use this.  It’s definitely longer than a maverick and heavier, but it’s also much easier to holster.  Magazines are going to be sold separately.  I found the pullback assist handle not that easy to attach and it came off when I pulled it, so I just left it off.  Still a lot of fun to shoot though, I just wish I had more mags on-hand.

Next, the JT SPLATMASTER Z200 SHOTGUN ($39.99):

 Included:

  • Z200 marker x 1
  • Barrel plug x 1
  • Cleaning rod x 1
  • Instruction manual x 1

This was the marker we used for the duration of the day.  15 shots, pump-action, and breech loaded (even had a floppy trap door over the breach, nice touch!  It also has a safety switch but no other buttons.  You can see it has tactical rails, as I attached a camera to it.  It’ll accept picatinny mounts, so if you have’em, use’em!  Word has it that additional accessories are in the works, so keep your eye out for them.  Additional accessories such as ammo packs, targets, and safety equipment are all located here.  One recommendation from Hustle paintball is to use the 50 count grenade container to hold spare ammo, and there is a nozzle on that and the 200 paintball container to assist in loading through the breech of the Z200 swiftly.  This too is built incredibly solid, and I just wish it had a stock.  Maybe in a later marker.

GENERAL THOUGHTS:
 These have been chrono’d at 120-130 fps, drastically less than their gas-powered siblings.  Even at that rate though, it is wise to treat these as you would any other paintball marker, including using a full mask and goggles when playing in a player vs player game.  For target practice, you can get away with just using the goggles.  Safety first, and it’s usually a good policy to have eye protection on when playing with any toys that shoot.
That being said, these things were a lot of fun!  The group had limited experience playing paintball, some a handful of times and others not at all.  The general consensus was everyone enjoyed the decrease in pain (I told everyone to layer up as they would playing normal paintball) and the much more limited ammo available.  Instead of a full hopper, you had only the 15 rounds to make it in a round (none of us had extra ammo holders available, although some risked keeping spare ammo in their pockets.  I know, I know >_<)  People could run and charge at each other without getting tagged 5 or 10 times from a hail of paint.  Would we do it again?  Sure!  Will this kill paintball?  No!  It'll get more people interested at least, and this is a bang-up way to introduce them to the sport.  Whether 9 or 29, this is a good thing for people looking to play something a little different without feeling beaten up.  These things definitely stung enough to let you know you got hit, but no worse than getting a bad insect bite.  I've been punched harder than these things put out.

It was definitely nice to try some new strategies rather than just lay out paint, and JT is definitely onto something here.  Hopefully, we’ll see even more new markers next year.  Between the solid build, the fps, and the accuracy (these things definitely hit 50′ in a better cluster than I thought, but 100′ is still a max range, and it’s hard to hit anything then.

Interestingly, no ammo with the markers.  Considering how fussy paint balls can be, I shouldn’t be surprised.  It is much easier to regulate temperature and shipping conditions when you separate the products.  Also, the goggles and masks are sold as separate units, to reinforce that younger players should work their way up to playing Player vs. Player games.  Parents, this would be one way to incentivize proper blaster/marker safety.  They can’t PvP without earning their way up to the mask.  Also, some paintball fields might have these for rent:  rentals are different colored from the markers at retailers to prevent theft.  Rentals pistols are red, while the shotguns are blue.  Vice versa for consumer markers.  This does not mean consumer markers are different, just a different shell but they all perform the same.

On that note, here’s a video of various footage I snagged during that day:

Considering the ranges and power these things do have, it’s definitely better to keep the play to the backyard.  You don’t have to worry about accidentally hitting someone unexpectedly which again, safety first.  Definitely nice not having to pick up ammo after myself for once, but it definitely pays to play in a proper field, with ammo that washes away/disintegrates.  Worth giving a try!

Ah well.  Questions?   Comments?  Feel free to post below or write: foamfromabove_AT_G_MaIL-DOT-COM

REVIEW INBOUND! NERF N-STRIKE ELITE HAILFIRE (IN PHOTOS)

I first saw the Nerf N-Strike Elite Hailfire earlier this summer, at the big ol’ Nerf launch party and I finally got my sample! (Thanks Nerf!)

Pics! (after the jump) –

https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf

And, we’re back!  As you can see, I’ve put up some photos of the Nerf N-Strike Elite Hailfire.  At max capacity it can load up to 144 darts at once, using 8 18 round straight mags.  I’ve also included some shots of different combos of mags and accessories, just for fun.  So, how did I like it?

My play style on the field is pretty haphazard, so something like this so ridiculous plays into it very well.  Whether you’re using 4 35 round drums or the 18 round mags, you’re looking at a new futuristic side table :).  Basically, this thing is a “heavy weapon” and it should be used as such.  You stalk with it, you walk with it, if we learned anything from the Nerf N-Strike Vulcan you aren’t supposed to run with it, especially at full capacity.  When using smaller mags, sure it handles better but you’re not supposed to be very mobile using something this big.  A strap helps, but run and gun this thing is not at 144 darts.  You’re not going prone with it, as the thing demands you stand there tall and proud, to lay down the foam.

Now, my thinking about taking this out to a Nerf war with stock blasters – I’m not going to really be using much else.  I barely use 144 darts when using a Stampede during a round of CTF or Freeze Tag; I’m going to check my fire to cut down on reloading between rounds, and I might even just use one mag per round.  To me, that’s at least 8 games I’m going play without having to swap all my mags.  Victory favors preparation; if I’m going to use the Hailfire, I’m going to have a mess of preloaded mags in my gear, and on top of that I’m going to make sure I use one or two per game.  It’ll cut down on reloading between rounds, much less relying on reloading on the fly.  I’ve done this with a Stampede, Alpha Trooper, and a Rayven.  It’s a system I can make work for the Hailfire too.  And yes, once I’m out, I’m out.  Unless it’s during a lunch break, you won’t catch me reloading all 8 mags all over again.

As for the blaster, it’s fun!  Who doesn’t want to unload all that foam?  When using the handle, it’s a tactile experience of being a big bad walking turret.  I liken it to using a smart gun from “Aliens,” minus the swivel arm.  The trigger pull is solid, the flywheels rev loud and proud (seriously, with something like this are honestly telling me you want to play it silent?) and the transparent door is a nice touch (Hey Rogue!)

Using the Hailfire is easy enough- the handle on the top rotates the ammo rack, which accomodates N-Strike mags/drums, however you combo them is up to you.  You pull the accelerator trigger on the handle, and the main trigger moves the pusher arm that feeds darts into the flywheels.  The ranges I was getting were somewhere in the 50s-70s, whether flat or angled, video to follow.  I didn’t run into trouble with streamlines like I did with the Nerf Barricade, so bonus points for that.

Otherwise, it’s about $40 for this bad boy, and with that you get 4 6-round mags, the Hailfire, and 24 darts.  Why so few?  At this point, my guess is that the assumption is you already own a few 18 round mags after owning the Stampede, and wanted to keep the initial cost of the Hailfire down, while 18 round mags and a Hailfire upgrade kit separately.  Personally, I bought a large number of longshots once upon a time, and it ended with me having a surplus of small 6 round mags.

Either way, it might seem like a big cost but I sometimes just want to unleash a cloud of foam at people.  On days I don’t want to use my Nerf Vortex Pyragon, the Nerf N-Strike Elite Hailfire gives me a dart shooting option.  It’s reliable, it’s intimidating looking (as far as Nerf blasters can look intimidating) and I had a good amount of fun trying it out.  And that’s the important thing, isn’t it? The fun?  You can dress up your reasons for having something “War-worthy” or “Useful” but hang it all, this thing is decadent, it’s overkill, and some days you feel like a nut.  Have one of those days.

OH SO YOU WANT VIDEOS, HUH?  NERF N-STRIKE ELITE HAILFIRE VIDEOS???

annnnd maybe you remember this one?

REVIEW: Nerf Vortex Pyragon

 Nerf Vortex Pyragon against the Lumitron and a Clear Raider

Ah, the Nerf Vortex Pyragon.  The Nerf Raider CS-35 ended up being one of my favorite blasters, I would decimate entire teams with the right timing to apply the slam-fire.  Would the Pyragon match it in utility, and even outdo it in range and reliability?

After the break-


TRICKS:

REVIEW:

A couple of outdoor games with this, and it is definitely worthy of standing next to the Raider, if not outright overshadowing it.  Even the Rampage pales in comparison to what the Nerf Vortex Pyragon brings to the table.  It was impressive enough to see in action at the Nerf Elite Hailfire release party earlier this summer, but of course there’s no substitute for having the blaster in-hand 🙂

So let’s get down to it!  The Nerf Vortex Pyragon comes with the Pyragon, a 40-disc capacity drum, manual, 40-discs, and your hopes and dreams.  No scopes, no stocks, no blast shields.  It’s $39.99 at most retailers.  Thanks to Nerf, I got a sample.  Would I get another one from the store?  Most likely 🙂

FUNCTION:
It’s comfy.  In particular with the lightningstorm stock, as pictured here:

And the foregrip fits nicely for adult hands.  Ergonomic is the Pyragon’s middle name, from what I can tell.

The Nerf Vortex Pyragon can be considered the Rampage/Raider/Alpha Trooper of the Vortex line, due to the slamfire capabilities.  Advantage to Vortex on this one though, because the slamfire on the Pyragon is smoother, more robust, and more reliable than the slamfire on the N-Strike blasters.  Just a cloud of discs all flying at you in a matter of seconds.  It’s firepower, it’s elegant, it’s reliable.  A winning combination.

The drum is piece of work as well.  There’s the stem which serves as the main chamber, but then 4 auxiliary chambers inside the drum.  And when one empties, it automatically rotates to the next chamber until empty.  That’s why you’ll run out really fast, but maybe not before you tag an entire team with just one drum. 

A lot of people liked the Praxis, but the Pyragon has it and the Lumitron beat in spades.  What it trades in a little bit of width is more than made up for in reliability and slamfire. Not to mention the drum serves as its own turret mount 🙂

Quick word of warning… use caution if you put the Pyragon drum into a Lumitron or Praxis.  I found the priming arm triggered the mag release mechanism and inadvertently dropped my drum a couple of times to the ground because of this.  I didn’t have an issue using the drum with a Nitron, but the Nitron does admittedly fire slower than the Pyragon.

Also, I tried attaching a sling to the Pyragon, but it looked a point of attachment was not available on the Nerf Vortex Pyragon.  With that much awesome, I’m thinking the design team figured no one would want to carry anything else if they had a Pyragon, hehe.

Range-wise, the Nerf Vortex Pyragon hits pretty much what you’d expect from the Vortex line.  I’ll let the video do the talking here.

Anywhere from 50-70’+ depending on angle.  I had a slight breeze, which could attribute to the slice my discs were experience.  That being said, I was very pleased taking it out onto the field a couple of times and taking care of business.  It is still small enough to be mobile even with the large disc drum.  I crawled and roadie-ran through a few jungle gyms with it during games and didn’t feel the pinch for mobility at all.  The thumb hole in the foregrip feels more secure when holding the blaster, especially when using slamfire.  And as proven, it’ll fit grown hands –

Thanks Rogue!

In any event, the Nerf Vortex Pyragon is a solid buy.  Between the drum and the improvements over the mechanisms introduced with the Praxis it’s a good upgrade/addition to your playstyle if you favor a heavier hitting kind of mentality with a shock and awe approach to unloading a swarm of discs, or just having a lot of ammo on-hand for surgical strikes.  The drum is designed with a lot of nice touches (etched numbers, a snazzy logo) and it’s just satisfying to keep hearing that click when you decide to unload the entire thing.  Cleanup is not as much fun, but when is it ever?

Run out and get one, seriously.  You’ll feel better about yourself. 🙂