ADVENTURE FORCE VILLAINATOR

I just had to get one...

At just 20 bucks, this 40 dart springer is getting rave reviews from just about everybody. So when I saw a couple on my last trip to Wallymart, I picked one up to see for my self...

The  VILLAINATOR is a pump-action, spring powered, 40 dart auto-advancing drum fed power-house. Sold at Wal-Mart, this Dart Zone blaster is manufactured by Prime Time Toys.
Included in the package are the core blaster with a detachable shoulder stock, a 40 dart drum, and 40 Adventure Force waffle tip darts.

VILLAINATOR in box

The 40 dart drum needs to be snapped into place before the blaster is ready to use. Once in place, the drum isn't designed to be removed, but it can be done. The darts sit in 2 concentric rings of 20, keeping the drum relatively small in diameter (about 6 1/8 in - 15.5cm) .

VILLAINATOR drum 

The VILLAINATOR has got to be one of the best blasters that Prime Time Toys has come out with yet. The overall design of the blaster is reminiscent of a Thompson submachine aka Tommy gun.  The size is just right to be comfortable for both kids and adults. Likewise, the grips are comfortable for just  about any user.  I think this design is just as good , if not better than NERF's.

Priming handles close-up

Size wise, the  VILLAINATOR might be best compared with something like a NERF RAMPAGE with a stock.

Top-VILLAINATOR / Bottom-NERF RAMPAGE

The detachable shoulder stock is just long enough for most adults, while being a good size for kids. Unfortunately the stock is not compatible with NERF blasters and stocks however, the modular stock is compatible/interchangeable with some other Adventure Force blasters , such as the SPECTRUM.

Detachable shoulder stock 

The VILLAINATOR is compatible with NERF Elite, and other similar style darts. However, the Dart Zone waffle tip darts that come with the VILLAINATOR are simply better. 

Dart Zone dart and NERF Elite dart 

The Dart Zone darts seem to fly just a bit father than NERF darts, and they absolutely fly much straighter, greatly improving accuracy. 

Other features of the VILLAINATOR include a folding front sight, which is a nice touch, and a tactical rail on the top of the blaster.

Front sight 

 Although NERF accessories fit on the tactical rail, there is nothing to secure them in place, and the fit is very loose. 

Getting NERF accessories to fit is easy enough, with the most basic of mods, like a little bit of tape. Depending on what you use, doesn't look bad...

Operating the VILLAINATOR is simple. Pull the front handle back and push it forward to prime the blaster. Pull the trigger to fire a dart. Repeat .

Hold the trigger down while repeatedly operating the priming handle to rapidly fire darts...  that's right, the VILLAINATOR has "Slam-fire"! It's not difficult to fire 3 or 4 darts a second. The VILLAINATOR propels  it's ammo (and others) at an impressive average of 85 to 90 FPS. This is better than any off-the-shelf Elite blaster. Range is equally impressive, angled shots hitting targets nearly 90 feet (27m) away. Level shots are accurate up to about 55 to 60 feet, using the waffle-head darts.

The VILLAINATOR is well constructed, and both the priming action and the trigger pull are smooth.

Trigger close-up

 The high capacity, front loading drum is easy to reload or top-off on the fly, and there is something to be said about not having to deal with clips (magazines).

VILLAINATOR

I really have to give the VILLAINATOR my highest praises. It's a solid performer that out shoots just about any standard NERF Elite blaster. At just 20 bucks, it far outshines the current, more expensive NERF competitor. The NERF Elite 2.0 SHOCKWAVE is 25 bucks, has a 15 dart drum, does not feature Slam-Fire, and perhaps not as well constructed...

NERF Elite 2.0 SHOCKWAVE

So check out the VILLAINATOR... pick one up if you get the chance, because this one is a great addition to any blaster arsenal, or a great choice for a first blaster!

                                                                            NERF on NERFerS!!!