Nerf Junior Wild Sharkfire Review

This blaster hit shelves slightly later than the Lionfury, but the appeal is the same: make a blaster in a fun animal shape, and gear it towards little kids. On those merits, it succeeds. The rest of us may not care for a blaster that (as of yet) I haven’t seen break 50fps. But it’s cute and easy to use and only $15. So it might be lots of fun for little Jimmy or Susan.

Let’s dive into the water!

We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat

The Sharkfire comes in the new-style Hasbro packaging that’s as much for display purposes and tactile interaction on the shelf as it is for less waste. It’s certainly eye-pleasing, and being able to see the blaster in person will probably make it easier for kids to beg their parents for the cool toy.

Looks aside, the blaster is a manually primed blaster, with a three dart Smart AR assembly at the front. Imagine the barrels as the shark’s tongue, if you will. Naturally, the shark’s tail is the handle for priming the blaster. There is no slamfire, so holding down the trigger won’t help you any.

As is the norm for Nerf Junior, things are sized for small hands. The trigger fits two fingers, and the priming handle is large in comparison to the spring load. Even so, the handle itself is large enough for average adult hands to at least use it. It might not be the most comfortable handle ever for adults, but the kids who’ve tried it haven’t complained. So as long as it’s bearable for parents, it’ll work.

Performance and Internals

There’s not much more to write on this one. I have yet to see a shot go above 50fps, and I average 47fps between the three barrels. Interestingly, given the setup, there’s a lot more variance between the barrels than I expected – the expected pattern of later shots being slower didn’t happen. Perhaps once you deal with neutered plunger systems, regular rules don’t always apply? In any case, the darts are going at small child speeds – and that’s perfectly acceptable. I know the grading system for range here does (when rounded) 1 point for every 10 FPS in performance, maxing out once you reach 100fps. But regardless of the standard range metric, it’s meant for small kids. So take that 5 point score with a grain of salt.

The inside of the blaster is what we’d largely expect. There’s a little hope here if you want the shark to bite harder; since the priming handle is relatively independent of the plunger itself, you can take apart the whole thing to make adding a spring easier. Mileage may vary.

Last Thoughts

I never thought I’d say this, but I’m happy there’s a true shark blaster. I want to use this thing in so many places, regardless of whether it’s appropriate for the game type.

In any case, the Sharkfire is a fun addition to the Nerf line, appealing to the younger crowd with a fun shape and easy operation. $15 gets you a lot of playtime with this toy.