Halo MA40 Blaster Review
September 3, 2020Nerf has been on a roll, in terms of securing IP crossovers. Overwatch Rival blasters, Fortnite blasters, and now Halo. Just as important, however, is nailing the landing once the product lines start appearing. In that regard, the MA40 largely does the job, being both a nice prop for Halo fans and a good platform for blaster fans. Quibbles over magazine compatibility aside, it’s worth grabbing, even at the $50 MSRP.
Adventure Force Battle Blazer Review
August 29, 2020Buzz Bee Toys is an interesting company when it comes to blaster design. While they have put out more and more designs that are clearly effective in battle, they still have a tendency to release blasters that are mainly play-oriented, be it through shells, chains, or other methods. In the case of the Battle Blazer, we have a fun blaster that does perform well compared to main brands. Is this chain-fed pistol practical? You be the judge.
Adventure Force Sportsman Review
August 26, 2020Author’s note: I got this blaster as a free review sample from Dart Zone. Thanks, guys!
One of Dart Zone’s most interesting innovations in foam blasting is the dart hopper. Seen first on the Commandfire and Destructor, it allows large capacities without the use of magazines or bulky cylinders. It’s also undergone some refinement over the past two years. Now, it’s feeding a manual, pump-action blaster, the Sportsman. In spite of the funky appearance, it makes for an effective blaster, especially if you scavenge darts. It’s not quite as high on the “to buy” list as other Adventure Force blasters, but it’s still worth the $20 at Walmart.com!
Adventure Force Villainator Review
August 24, 2020Author’s note: I wrote this review after buying one, but then got a free sample from Dart Zone. Thanks for the extra data points for comparison!
Dart Zone keeps hitting high notes this year. Between blasters like the DZP 1.1, Nexus Pro, and the Spectrum, you’d expect something to eventually be a miss. So far, though, that’s not the case.
The Villainator is yet another blaster getting top marks, not only performing well for $20, but far outshining the direct competition from Hasbro on the exact same shelf. Whether it’s starting a basic blaster war or playing a long game of Humans v Zombies, it’s a blaster you absolutely should buy.
Knockout Meaker MK18 Review
August 19, 2020Introducing:
A video for those who don’t like reading:
So a few months ago now, I built myself an FDL-3 when they opened shop again, and I wanted a complementary sidearm. Thinking I would want something that didn’t require batteries, was pistol sized, and could shoot different quantities and calibers of ammunition, I elected to build a Meaker MK18. Specifically a Knockout Meaker MK18 which utilizes the incredible power of the recent rival offering.
What you get:
For $6 you can purchase the files from Meaker Arms’s Etsy shop, and you can also acquire some extra files to build your preferred variant of the MK18 via Thingiverse. I opted for a barrel that could shoot spring thunder shells, so I also acquired some from GDOPs Thingiverse page as well. However, there are other barrel options including sledgfire shells, prototype trilogy shell barrel, and meakout specific barrels. Godspeed as you navigate Thingiverse.
Assembly:
A friend printed the parts for me so I won’t speak to ease of printing, but from my understanding, if you know your printer, the process is smooth and painless. Meaker seems to have designed these parts well. His instructions do require a basic understanding of the end blaster in mind, but are easy to follow otherwise. The two halves of the shell and the rails attach with screws that you can scavenge from the top (red or…blue…) section of your knockout. I used 3mm of the back of a mega dart on one of the pieces (pictured) to get a better seal on the spring thunder shells.
Results and conclusion:
So far I have successfully fired half length, full length, mega, and rival ammo from this pistol and all have shot well. I have yet to test a demolisher (“elite mega missile”) rocket, but I have faith that those will work given the right barrel material. Shell swapping is swift and simple. If you ever wanted to feel like a tf2 pyro with a flair gun, this is the blaster for you.
In conclusion, I highly recommend this to anyone looking to modify a knockout into a more shotgun style pistol that is highly adaptable and able to be customized to your preference.
Game Report: C.O.N.C. War!
I apologize for the lack of pictures; I was mainly focused on the chance to play (as well as try out my Gameface Prime Blaster). But it was a fun war nearly two weeks ago, and a lovely break from the stresses of moving into a new home. I started playing late, and only had a few games of Team Deathmatch; I also was among the attackers in the Defend the Fort rounds.
Here’s some footage from early in the war, taken by one of the attendees!
Admittedly, I was disappointed at the lack of masks among the attendees. Please take proper precautions, even when you’re out doing fun things!
Gameface Prime Blaster Review
August 17, 2020Author’s note: I got this blaster as a free sample for review. Big thanks to Velocity Outdoor!
The Ceda blaster platform has had an…interesting life cycle. The original was a neat concept, but nothing to truly write home about. The Ceda S represented a solid step towards being a platform for high-performance blasting, and its inclusion on Evike (and regular sales) helped push the platform farther.
Now, Velocity Outdoor (which encompasses Crosman, Gameface, and several other brands) is licensing the Ceda S in the form of the Gameface Prime. Combined with a wide distribution network and actual retail store presence, it looks like we now have the definitive version. The Gameface Prime is what the Ceda S should have been all along, and it’s a good jump-in product for a company looking to enter the competitive foam flinging space.
