Nerf N-Strike Elite AccuStrike Series FalconFire Blaster Review (age 8+).

The Nerf N-Strike Elite AccuStrike Series FalconFire Blaster isn't only about the long title and the blaster, this is as much a review of the new AccuStrike darts with a rifled tip to make them the most accurate Nerf dart yet.

There two new AccuStrike blasters. We've been sent the FalconFire Blaster which comes complete with 6 of the new Elite AccuStrike Darts.

Unlike regular Nerf Elite Darts, these have a flat tip and a twisted moulding. This should help them stay straighter in flight and Nerf's tests agree. They smart just a little more maybe when they hit your skin, but they still don't actually hurt, as that soft tip still has a lot of give.

The N-Strike Falconfire Blaster itself is a nice standard manual action blaster. Not as forceful as some, but still plenty of power and the top-loading single shot is really quick to reload (and doesn't require a lot of hand strength), although there is only storage underneath for 2 extra darts, so accuracy is going to be essential.

We're always happy to get a Nerf Blaster to review and this is no exception. I was keen to try the new darts, so I'd already made myself a target box and spent plenty of test time playing before the children even got home from school.

The hole in the paper is just made by drawing around a bottle in felt tip and pushing it out - the box is a shoe box. Only 2 direct strikes so far and they both clipped the edge of the hole, so no clean shots yet, but accuracy is good.

I would never actually suggest you colour in the end of your darts with felt tip just before you fire, but if you did, you'd be able to see exactly how close you were to target and even score for a contest with your 8 year old son mates...

The FalconFire is a nice, solid blaster. It lacks a bit of power, so accurate range is not long, but at living room length it is pretty good. Using the AccuStrike Darts in a range of our Elite weapons the increase in accuracy isn't drastic, but does seem to be real.

The Nerf N-Strike Elite AccuStrike Series FalconFire Blaster is available now rrp £17.99 from all good toy shops instore and online, including Toys R Us. 24 AccuStrike Darts rrp £8.99. 

Find out more about the whole range of Nerf darts and blasters on the Nerf website.

For a little more manual power and a 5 dart cartridge, try the Zombie Strike Outbreaker Crossbow. If battery-power, a 25 dart cartridge and rapid fire is your thing, we've also reviewed the Nerf N-Strike Hyperfire Elite Blaster.

We were sent our Nerf Blaster to review as part of the Hasbro Toy Tribe.