​Nerf Laser Ops Pro Overview

​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.

To kick things the wise decision was made to make the line usable with and without smart devices. Most 8-year-olds (the recommended minimum age) may not be iOS and Android owners which can rule them out of many of the current crop of systems. The Laser Ops Pro is able to go from cold to battle-ready in under 30 seconds (assuming you have already installed the required batteries). Admittedly this is a basic run and gun game type but it is a great experience thanks to the lack of additional gear required.

​There is, however, another option and that comes in the form of smart device Bluetooth connectivity. This comes in two flavours the first is using one device with all players connecting. This keeps score and acts as a timer adding an extra layer of competition to the game. The second and more interesting prospect is the full multiplayer experience where every player connects to a central player. This allows for more of an online First Person Shooter experience. Unfortunately, there is a small drawback inherent within this mode and that's the limited battery life of a phone using Bluetooth. Other than that we have had no connection issues and have played until our first set of batteries ran dry (roughly ten hours of gameplay).

Our main blaster has been the Alphapoint (pictured below) , 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 right) 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.

​The main drawbacks are small, they are noisy this is mostly so others players can be alerted when you are defeated. However, I would have appreciated a volume control for in-house play. The other issue is cost, the Alphapoint dual pack is around forty-five pounds which I excellent value for all you get but as stated above for full immersion Smart devices are required. This though leads back into Laser Ops Pro main advantage you do not need to use a phone to have fun and that helps escalate the system above many others on the market.

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 area Blast to play with.