[Review] Nerf Lazer Tag Blaster: Phoenix LTX Tagger (2-Pack) With Troubleshoot Instructions

The Nerf Phoenix LTX Tagger is a laser tagger that promotes multiplayer laser combat games. Nerf is a brand of toys and games that started in 1969.

Reyn Guyer, an American inventor, pitched his first idea of a “Nerf Ball” to the Parker Brothers toy company.

This was a ball made of foam and designed to be played indoors. As the product grew in popularity, more Nerf-branded products were added to the line-up.

Nerf released its first toy gun, the “Nerf Blast-a-Ball” in 1989, and two years later, Hasbro acquired the Nerf brand. Nerf Blasters generally fired foam balls, foam darts, and discs as bullets.

However, the Lazer Tag line-up of infrared blasters was developed independently by another company, Worlds of Wonders, in 1986. Worlds of Wonders was later acquired by Tiger Electronics.

Hasbro acquired Tiger Electronics’ laser tag product range in 2006 and renamed the main product “Nerf Phoenix LTX Tagger” to reflect its new ownership.

Who is This Product For?

The Nerf Phoenix LTX Tagger is suitable for families with children and teens. It is played without a vest, as sensors are located on the tagger (gun) itself.

This set comes with just two taggers, so if you wish to play in bigger teams, you will have to purchase additional sets.

Hasbro’s plan with this product was to create a thrilling action game that everyone in the family could enjoy.

It aims to mimic a real-life laser combat game. Having said that, rest assured that the tagger’s laser pointer is rated Class 1, and is safe for consumer use.

Customers commented that the Nerf Phoenix LTX Tagger has created a lot of fun in their families, such that even adults have joined in the game.

We think it is an ideal game to engage in healthy fun in the family, especially since many children these days are more used to mobile games.

Furthermore, community workers and school counselors may consider introducing this game as a form of team-building among students and to promote a healthy lifestyle.

However, the product’s pricing is a little on the steep side, so those with big families may find it very challenging to purchase many units for everyone.

The tagger’s gameplay is fairly intuitive, and those who have played shooting games at arcades and amusement centers should have little problem adapting to it.

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What’s Included in the Set

Each set comes with two laser taggers which could be used in a multiplayer game. Every tagger requires six AA batteries to run, so this set would need 12 for the two taggers.

The batteries are not included when you purchase the set.

Overview

This laser tag set allows you to play multiplayer games in two modes – a Team A vs Team B mode, and a free for all combat. To select your team, you will have to choose between “Solo”, “Team 1” and “Team 2”. Once you pull the trigger, a ten-second countdown is activated, then the game begins.

The Nerf Lazer Tag Phoenix LTX has a small red dome on top to receive signals. This gives it a good range of well over 100 feet outdoors. When a tag is registered, the dome lights up and flashes red. When pulling the trigger, the gun mimics a recoil effect. The built-in speakers would even give off a loud gunshot sound.

One feature we liked was the option of choosing between 10 and 25 lives. This allows you to adjust the game length to last longer or shorter depending on your preference. Furthermore, you could also create a handicap for kids to have more lives when playing against adults.

Another important gameplay element is the shield effect. This makes you invincible for a few seconds each round. When in this mode, any bullets firing on you will give off a ricochet sound, and you will not get tagged. We also liked the reload function, whereby players would have to adjust the magazine, imitating a real-life pistol.

Indicators on the sides of this tagger clearly show the number of lives you have left and amount of ammunition remaining. There are five bars with the label “AMMO” stating the number of bullets left.

A downside of the Nerf Lazer Tag Phoenix LTX is that it requires six AA batteries, which adds to the weight. However, some users have reported long battery lives when using rechargeable batteries and playing with the taggers intensively.

We also wished that the tagger would come with add-ons to enhance gameplay. However, since Hasbro acquired the rights to the Nerf brand from Tiger Electronics, the add-ons have been discontinued.

Setting Up and Installation Process

The laser tag set comes ready to play. All you need to do is to open up the battery compartment, insert six AA batteries for each tagger, and then close it back again. For this set of two taggers, you will need 12 x AA batteries.

Another thing you could do to enhance game play, is to create obstacles using random objects or cardboard boxes.

Alternatives

One alternative to the Nerf Lazer Phoenix LTX is Dynasty Toys’ Laser Tag Set. Dynasty Toys’ version offers a slightly different game experience, with four team settings and four gun modes to choose from.

DYNASTY TOYS Family Laser Tag Set - 4 Laser Tag Blasters - Transparent Special Edition Blasters

• Indoor or outdoor activities, takes 4 AA batteries

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Furthermore, the Dynasty Toys’ Laser Tag Set is available in a set of four, offering a more budget-friendly alternative for those who have big families.

Those who prefer their laser tag guns to be light would also like Dynasty Toys’ blasters, as they only require four AA batteries to operate, hence weighing less than Nerf’s Lazer Phoenix LTX.

Conclusion

We were highly impressed by the Nerf Lazer Phoenix LTX’s gameplay and thoughtful design. We liked the recoil effects and reload function on the tagger, and the indicators for remaining life and ammunition by the sides of the gun.

This tagger uses a Class 1 infrared laser and is safe for children to play with. We also found the tagger to be quite responsive and accurate when playing outdoors, even when shooting from a range of about 100 feet.

One area we wished Hasbro had improved was add-ons to enhance the tagger’s gameplay. The Nerf Lazer Phoenix LTX’s price may also be on the steep side, especially when purchasing many units.

Nevertheless, this is an excellent option for all-round family fun, and we think it is worth trying out.

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How to fix a Nerf gun that won’t shoot?

The first thing to identify is what type of Nerf gun you possess. That’s right, Nerf is an old brand name and they’ve produced all kinds of toy guns in the last three decades. Do your Nerf guns shoot foam darts, foam balls or a laser beam?

Nerf N-Strike Firestrike

For this example, a Nerf N-Strike Firestrike is used, since it has both a laser beam as well as foam darts to fire. Laser Nerf blaster guns probably constitute the newer products in the brand’s line-up.

One common problem is that the laser does not emit any light. If you press the trigger and the gun does not produce light, try replacing the batteries.

Unscrew the battery cover, put in a new set of batteries, and reinstall the battery cover. Press the trigger again, and if it still does not work, you will know for sure the problem is not with dead batteries.

If your Nerf tagger does not fire lasers after replacing the batteries, the wire connections could be loose, the LED may have failed, or dirt may have accumulated under the trigger. Try removing the trigger and cleaning under it with soap, water and a cleaning cloth.

Next, clean the trigger itself or replace it. If your Nerf tagger works fine after this, it merely needed a good cleaning! If not, you may have to replace its LED light or wiring.

If your trigger is jammed, clean the dirt under the trigger, then clean the trigger itself. If it is broken or cracked, you will need to replace the trigger.

Another problem is when the blaster does not cock properly. This applies mainly to foam dart and foam ball blasters. In this case, the plunger or O-ring may have been damaged.

Use a screwdriver to remove the screws securing the battery cover. Remove the batteries, then use the screwdriver to remove all other screws on the blaster casing. Slowly pull apart the blaster starting from the battery port, until the blaster has completely separated. Tilt the barrel assembly slightly upwards, then carefully slide the plunger out from the air chamber. Now that you have removed the plunger and O-ring, you can put a new set in!

Finally, if the foam dart or foam ball bullets fire slowly, the gun’s barrel could be dirty. Use a wet cotton swab or q-tip (cotton bud) to clean the inside of the gun barrel.

If your new Nerf gun has a defect, you should check the warranty information. In many cases, you could get a replacement free of charge if it’s still within the warranty period.

However, if your Nerf gun has passed its warranty period, go through the steps above to see if you could fix it at home.

If you do not have the replacement parts, you may need to check with a local hardware store to see if they could do the repairs for a fee. If you wish to do the repairs yourself, you could also purchase the replacement parts online at https://www.ifixit.com/Store.

The Nerf Phoenix LTX Tagger is suitable for families with children and teens. It is played without a vest, as sensors are located on the tagger (gun) itself. This set comes with just two taggers, so if you wish to play in bigger teams, you will have to purchase additional sets.