At the beginning of the month Hasbro officially announced the summer launch of a whole new blaster line. The ALPHASTRIKE series is clearly aimed at first time NERFerS and others who might be tempted by cheaper competitor brand blasters like Dart Zone or Xshot. I thought I might blog about it a little...
Here is what Hasbro had to say about it in there product description
"Start blasting with ALPHASTRIKE blasters from NERF, the number one blaster brand! If you’re new to the NERF brand, ALPHASTRIKE blasters are an awesome way to get into adrenaline-pumping NERF battles and experience the power and performance of the NERF brand. They’re easy to use so first-time battlers can begin blasting fast. And if you’re already a NERF fan, these blasters make great additions to your NERF collection!"
Although officially scheduled to be released on August 1st, ALPHASTRIKE blasters are already starting to appear on store shelves. Let's start by taking a look at the STINGER SD-1. The STINGER fires 1 dart at a time. Load a dart into the barrel, pull the handle to prime, and press the trigger to fire. Exactly the same as the JOLT.
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| NERF ALPHASTRIKE STINGER SD-1 |
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| STINGER SD-1 TARGETING SET |
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| 8 STINGER SD-1 Super Set available exclusively at Target. |
Next up we have the NERF ALPHASTRIKE FANG QS-4. The FANG has 4 barrels and operates with a smart AR system, just like the ZOMBIESTRIKE QUADROT. The FANG QS-4 comes with 10 Official NERF Elite darts and is a Walmart exclusive. It will retail for about $4.99
The FANG QS-4 will also be available in the FANG QS-4 TARGETING SET, available at most major toy retailers for approx. $7.99, and the NERF ALPHASTRIKE FANG QS-4 DUAL TARGETING SET available exclusively at Walmart for approx. $9.99. Also in the NERF ALPHASTRIKE FANG QS-4 LOAD OUT SET Available exclusively at Ross for about 20 bucks.
Now we take a look at the NERF ALPHASTRIKE TIGER DB-2.
This is a double-barrel, pump action blaster. Load a dart into each barrel, pump the handle to prime, and press the trigger to fire 1 dart. Prime the blaster and pull the trigger again to fire the second dart. You get the blaster and 12 Elite darts for about $12.99 nationwide, or a DUAL TARGETING SET that includes 2 TIGER DB-2 blasters, 16 Official NERF Elite darts and 4 half-targets that can be attached to create 2 whole targets. this set will be available exclusively at Meijer for approx. $24.99. The TIGER DB-2 will also be available in the Walmart exclusive NERF ALPHASTRIKE MISSION OPS SET. which also includes 2 STINGER SD-1 blasters, 1 COBRA RC-6 blaster, 2 half-targets, and 25 Official NERF Elite darts... all this for about $20.
The FANG QS-4 will also be available in the FANG QS-4 TARGETING SET, available at most major toy retailers for approx. $7.99, and the NERF ALPHASTRIKE FANG QS-4 DUAL TARGETING SET available exclusively at Walmart for approx. $9.99. Also in the NERF ALPHASTRIKE FANG QS-4 LOAD OUT SET Available exclusively at Ross for about 20 bucks.
Now we take a look at the NERF ALPHASTRIKE TIGER DB-2.
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| TIGER DB-2 |
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| NERF ALPHASTRIKE MISSION OPS SET |
I think this is a good time to address some design features of the ALPHASTRIKE series. The blasters feature a color scheme similar to that of the old yellow and orange N-Strike series color scheme, my personal favorite. The ALPHASTRIKE line does not feature any sort of attachment points, such as tactical rails, stock attachment points, or barrel extensions. The decor on the ALPHASTRIKE blasters is minimal. Only the NERF logo on the right side (the side you see when its in the box) of the blaster is colored. There are also no screws holding these blasters together, just plastic tabs that don't all come apart so easily. The only metal part of the blasters are the springs. The skeletal-esque handles, minimized designs, and lack of any metal screws or pins, allow lower manufacturing costs.
Although manufacturing costs for the ALPHASTRIKE line are lower than other NERF brand blasters, performance has not been compromised. The ALPHASTRIKE blasters are reported to meet Elite standards.
Hasbro is making sure that everybody knows that these are genuine NERF blasters, and at a competitive price. You'll see the #1 BLASTER BRAND logo featured prominently on the packaging.
Granny and Gramps are less likely to buy you a cheaper off brand blaster. That's not to say that brands like Dart Zone, Xshot. Buzz Bee, and others don't make cool blasters... they're just not NERF.
There is one more blaster in the series slated for release in the United States. The ALPHASTRIKE COBRA RC-6.
his 6 shot revolver is only available in a set. Either the NERF ALPHASTRIKE COBRA RC-6 TARGETING SET, available exclusively at Target for approx. $9.99,
or the NERF ALPHASTRIKE COBRA RC-6 DUAL TARGETING SET for about 20 bucks at most major toy retailers nationwide.
The COBRA also comes with that awesome 31-piece NERF ALPHASTRIKE MISSION OPS SET.
Two other ALPHASTRIKE blasters have been leaked... the LYNX SD-1, which is said to feature a break-open barrel...
Although manufacturing costs for the ALPHASTRIKE line are lower than other NERF brand blasters, performance has not been compromised. The ALPHASTRIKE blasters are reported to meet Elite standards.
Hasbro is making sure that everybody knows that these are genuine NERF blasters, and at a competitive price. You'll see the #1 BLASTER BRAND logo featured prominently on the packaging.
Granny and Gramps are less likely to buy you a cheaper off brand blaster. That's not to say that brands like Dart Zone, Xshot. Buzz Bee, and others don't make cool blasters... they're just not NERF.
There is one more blaster in the series slated for release in the United States. The ALPHASTRIKE COBRA RC-6.
his 6 shot revolver is only available in a set. Either the NERF ALPHASTRIKE COBRA RC-6 TARGETING SET, available exclusively at Target for approx. $9.99,
or the NERF ALPHASTRIKE COBRA RC-6 DUAL TARGETING SET for about 20 bucks at most major toy retailers nationwide.
The COBRA also comes with that awesome 31-piece NERF ALPHASTRIKE MISSION OPS SET.
Two other ALPHASTRIKE blasters have been leaked... the LYNX SD-1, which is said to feature a break-open barrel...
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| ALPHASTRIKE LYNX SD-1 |
...and the WOLF LR-1, spotted on several websites and already entered into Walmart's inventory system but not priced and not available.
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| ALPHASTRIKE WOLF LR-1 |
I'm sure the ALPHASTRIKE series will be prominent in stores by the holiday season. This is a brilliant maneuver by Hasbro to take back some of the blaster market that they once almost exclusively had. I find it a little odd if not annoying that the ALPHASTRIKE series is divided up in sets that are exclusive to individual retailers... although I'm thinking you can, or eventually will be able to, pick up what ever you want at either Wallymart or TARGET, not to mention online (surely Amazon is going to sell them!).
I'm not so sure if I'm a big fan... Sure the price range is good, but at this stage in my collection it's a little late for a "bargain" series... I already have some blasters with that "skeletal" design and I, like most, am not crazy about that... and frankly I'm not seeing any designs I don't already have.
That's just my personal first take on the new ALPHASTRIKE series. I might change my mind after I actually see them. I do think that it's great for anybody who might be starting out in NERF and the price line is certainly more affordable. I could see buying one or two of the larger sets as a party pack so guests could keep them...
Whether the ALPHASTRIKE series is a success or not, is yet to be determined... with the holiday season fast approaching we will see soon enough. Will there be more blasters to come by Christmas?
Let me know what you think about the new ALPHASTRIKE series in the comments below, and...
NERF on NERFerS!!!
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