​​The Slate of Nerf Projectiles is about to expand again.

​Laser Tag was a mainstay of the 90’s with Quasar being my personal system of choice. In recent times the world of Infrared tag has seen something of a resurgence and with Laser Ops Pro Nerf is looking to tighten its grip on the Blaster world.

​Our main blaster has been the Alphapoint (pictured above), based on a large pistol design it feels sturdy in the handy without being unwieldy for younger players. Thanks to a double pack option this is a fantastic starting option as you are able to jump into combat in no time at all. The larger Deltablast (pictured below)  is a 3 round burst rifle that has a digital display and haptic feedback giving a better experience but at a premium cost. Both options feel great value for money in what they offer and a lot of your choice will come down to personal taste and finances.

As a parent I like the idea of the Laser Ops Pro for a number of reasons, firstly is no dart collection. We love using nerf blasters in all their forms from Vortex Discs to Mega Darts the trouble is collecting the projectiles after a game can be a rather drawn out affair. With the Laser Ops option, you don't have this as a drawback. Secondly and more importantly is there more universal usage options, we took these to the park and ran around with glee with no fear of hitting a bystander and thanks to the dedicated daylight mode had a tonne of fun. With a regular projectile blaster, this is not as a much of an option though we still enjoy outdoor play in a more controlled environment. Thirdly is safety eye protection is mandatory whenever we play with blasters as although the likelihood of eye damage is low it is still a concern. This small issue is negated with this system making it a well-rounded choice.

​Overall we will still be using regular Nerf Blasters but now have a different play option in the form of Laser Ops Pro. They are a great value product with high design and construction but most of all they are a Blast to play with.

Review by Zach and Paul Fiander

​When it comes to drones there is a question mark over their suitability for use by youngsters. The nature of the four blades can make them difficult to control and a bit on the fragile side. This last point is often negated by a protective cage around the blades but the extra weight can and will decrease flight time. The problem then becomes how to learn to use a drone if you are worried about it breaking? 

​​Now for the fun stuff, the drone itself is ridiculously fun to play with in both forms, though thanks to the supplied ramps I would give the edge to its land based form. It is quick and nimble with the drawback of needing quite a bit of space to run effectively. It is made of plastic and although we have given it a vigorous play test it has yet to break, this of course is not a licence to crash it willy nilly but the fact it has held up makes me confident that it will hold up to normal play with the odd occasional bump. With this is mind it’s time to talk about the controller.

The supplied controller is reminiscent of that supplied with a games console. It has two joysticks with the left responsible for the throttle and the right stick the turning. One of the fun tricks with drones however is the ability to use the throttle to make turning sharper as you supply more energy to one set of rotors using the left stick. This works well in both modes and allows you turn quite neatly in car form.The controller itself is quite bulky as it houses the required 3 AA batteries for the device. The drone itself comes with an integrated rechargeable battery which lasts around 10 minutes after a one hour charge. This is a usual flight time for drones of this size as you have to power four motors from one battery. The synchronisation is very easy and explained along with the controls in the supplied manual.

​The Kronos does come in another iteration the Deadpool Edition, this was provisionally slated as a Gamestop exclusive so those outside the US had to look and drool or play some ridiculous prices on eBay to buy them. (Seriously I saw them for over £200 plus posting at around £50) now though they are up for preorder on Amazon and I already have my name down for a set.

The Kronos is the blaster the Rival range was lacking together with the Artemis I feel complete. Then for the Flywheelers out there the Kronos would be a great companion on your leg to the Nemesis. Overall though this is just a great weapon to add to your loadout for hours of Nerfing fun.

I'll cover Top Trumps in a separate piece but for now it is time to look a few of the Monopoly Sets they had available or coming soon. The former property trading game has evolved into a genre hopping phenomenon. I have mentioned my Disney version of the game but we also had a World Cup edition from 1998 and the Pokémon Kanto region version of the game. Among the sets jumping out at me like the Football editions featuring Man City and a Zelda edition was the above pictured Uncharted Edition. This had me intrigued, knowing the adventures of Nathan Drake like I do I could not help but be excited to hope for a board mixed with exotic locations and mysterious treasures. The property may be a little older to rasp for some younger players but I hope it will serve to help gravitate players of all ages back to the dining room table.

The attachments are both really intriguing and seem highly adaptive to any Nerf loadout. The Stock has a 2 shot Blaster hidden away in the back ready to fire and the the Barrel is a air primed 3 shot shot gun that can be removed from the Blaster and used a s a blaster in its own right. There are other hidden tricks with the Stock such as an integrated belt clip that allows it to function as a holster but I will need to get my hands on it to give you a full run down. One thing is for sure that the Modulus Range is thriving and it really does seem now that the 1000 blaster combination tagline for the series may need to be increased.

​The Toy Fair is one of the biggest events of the year for the wonderful world of toys. Held annually at London’s Olympia it brings together many of the biggest distributor in the country along with buyers and of course the press. This is all in the name of both informing and influencing the trends of the next year and beyond. The photo below shows a view of the show floor although there is more hidden at the back of the gallery.

​One of the major trends that seemed to leap walking the show floor was the abundance of outdoor toys available. This is certainly a feature that I love to see in any child’s toy cupboard. The mix of physical and mental stimulation is a key aspect of children’s development and I’m glad to see manufacturers are trying as hard as they can to make outdoor (and indoor) play as active as they can. This is reflected in my top picks below.

Of course there were a number of new ideas in both toys and lines on show however some staples of the industry were on show with new versions of previously loved products. These include things like Monopoly which I am very glad to see expanding into different partnerships and more importantly focusing on paper money and not as much on the idea of electronic transactions.

Although we will be adding more previews and reviews for now I just wanted to look at a few of my top picks from the show floor

A brand which is going from strength to strength with new games, films, card decks and of course toys coming at a seemingly unstoppable pace. Toy manufacturer TOMY are making sure Pokémon hunters of all types are getting help in their quest to Catch 'em all.

Although not a new product the Z-Ring is a great way to link the digital world in Pokémon Sun and Moon with the physical world. 

Along with moving the Pokémon brand in to a more realistic vent is the Throw 'N' Pop range (shown below). The ability to throw a Pokéball much like Ash and his cohorts and have your chosen Pokémon ready to battle is a big deal for want to be Pokémon trainers.

On top of these we have more plushes and moulded toys in the future and it really is a seemingly golden age for the Pocket Monsters.

I have always been a fan of bikes, from riding through puddles to breathlessly trying to scale hills the freedom and exhilaration they can imbue is second to none at a young age. Recently though a newer phenomenon in the shape of balance bikes have raised their heads and for a while i resisted the temptation to dive into what I thought was a substitute for the bike. Now though I can safely say I am converted in a large degree. I still see a pedal bike as the better option but the balance bike can be a useful stepping stone as well as a extremely fun experience in its own right.

For background my daughter who uses the bike in question is three, she has a scooter and a pedal bike both of which she enjoys. In December we purchased the Paw Patrol Foot to Floor Ride-On Motorbike from our local Toys R Us. Before this every time we entered the store this was the first toy she went for and her enthusiasm as well as her ability to zoom around on the toy made it a high certainty product for purchase. There are a few colour and character options but Paw Patrol is a winner in our house and the main bike she wanted.

The Bike itself has a nice sturdy frame. It feels like it can a spot of rough handling especially when it comes to be dumped on the floor after use. This is important as we want things to last and so far it has held up very well to some pretty vigorous testing both from our 3 year old a swell as our 7 year old son.

I think the key to bike though are its wheels They are a chunky affair and allow for a great deal of momentum to be built up without a great deal of lateral movement. This allows the child to gain confidence in their control of the bike, this is also enhanced by having two feet making contact with the ground on regular occasions. Of course this has to be measured with the fact the wheels are plastic and can lose grip on slick surfaces so safety helmets are a sensible idea when riding.

The handle bar control is light and the front wheel can be easily moved without much fuss and the lack of brakes make the whole experience easy to learn for the younger rider.

Overall we are happy with the purchase a sis our daughter, due to the size of the bike it will not last forever as our daughter gets taller but we will report on any future findings we have.

1. Eye Protection most be work at all times
2. Stop means stop. When the word is shouted everyone stops Immediately
3. Never look down the barrel of a Blaster 
4. No Point Blank Shooting
5. Don't be threatening
6. Play by the rules and have fun

Suitable from various ages from 6+ depending on strength of the blaster and manufacturers recommendation.

As a child I loved playing with toy guns. From a modular A-Team rifle to a stick, if I could point it at something and say pew pew then I would. I remember one of my primary school teachers telling my mum this wrong (actually my mum reminded me a few years ago about this fact) and in some ways I can see why people would feel this way, I however feel a little differently.

I have found Nerf and other forms of foam flinging devices to be a great way to interact wit my son in a physical way. Of course as with any activity rules and safety need to be implemented but the fun factor and lack of aggression are notable factors within our enjoyment.

For context I have a Son and Daughter, the only reason that I refer to my son in this piece is that at the time of writing my daughter is 3 years old and not able to join in our games due to physical restraints of being able to prime the blasters. Not only that but due to the velocity of the darts fired she falls below the recommended age of the manufacturers involved. She is however desperate to join in our games and as she ages we will welcome her in with open arms.

Below you will find Hyperlinks to posts concerning certain aspects of Nerf including safety aspects, blaster reviews and ways to play the game as well as other pieces.
We hope you enjoy these and come back whenever possible to maximise your enjoyment of Non-Expanding Recreational Foam.

Toys are wonderful ways for kids to experience the world, this can be in terms of the physical around them as well as the imaginary world they have the ability to create. Being able to watch your child create a living environment with their imagination and a collection of plastic is one of the best parts of being a parent or carer. Of course entertainment choices for children has grown and now encompasses a huge array of options including toys, games both board and video, tv, films and a host of other activities. 

Within these pages you will find some handy hints, reviews and information on great ways to entertain your kids.