Author’s Note: This got sent to me as a free sample, and will soon be going off for free to a good home. Thanks, Prime Time Toys!
The Dart Zone Pro Mk.1 was released in limited numbers, with only 1000 of the orange units being sold. Given the fact that all of them sold, however, it was reasonable to expect more Dart Zone Pro products in the future. Suddenly, at Toy Fair 2020, Prime Time Toys announced that the Mk1.1, an updated (but not limited edition) version, would be available at Target starting that weekend. Issues with Target’s inventory system have, admittedly, made purchasing one a chore; every time it comes back up for sale, the units on hand sell out, and the system isn’t handling it very well.
Even so, it’s a great blaster, with a few small changes from the original, and it’s worth a look if you want a high performance blaster you can simply pick up and use without modification. (Also, note the $10 coupon for a dart refill with proof of purchase)
Team Red
I’m still of the opinion that this is one of the best blasters in terms of feel and comfort.
Performance
Rate of fire is the same as before…as is the compatibility issue with some magazines (the mags with wide “bumps” on the back, like 18-round straights, can press against the shell and cause alignment issues).
My Recommendation
Target inventory issues notwithstanding, the Dart Zone Pro Mk1.1 is worth a look if you didn’t grab a blaster in the original run. It’s a solid blaster, it hits harder than advertised, and (with the included darts) hits where you point it at. It’s very much a blaster designed for picking up and playing at high fps games without the need for much maintenance or modification – other platforms can get higher performance for less, but at the cost of time and upgrading.
If you just want a high fps blaster that works, the Dart Zone Pro Mk1.1 is a perfect fit.
Final Note
It would be remiss of me to not mention that I’ll also be reviewing a Jet Blasters Ceda S in the near future. It’s very much positioned as a competitor, considering the lower price and superstock performance. I’ll also be comparing the two blasters after some usage – whether it be at a war, or with a few friends. Stay tuned!