WowWee Light Strike Review

My ten, six, and five year old boys received a few of the Wowee Light Strike laser tag guns to try out, and they nearly burst with excitement before we could get them out of the box and set up. If there’s anything my boys love better than video games, it’s action play, and the Wowee Light Strike certainly delivered. While they take a bit of maneuvering to remove from the packaging and require the use of screwdriver to open the battery housing, they were more than worth the wait for my three toy testers.

WowWee Light Strike Weaponry

We received three laser tag guns: the Striker G.A.P.-024, the Striker S.P.-144, and the Striker D.C.P.-013. While the guns appeared a bit different to the eye, all three operated the same way. A sliding switch on the top of the gun turns it on and off, and four push buttons easily reached with the thumb control the settings of the gun. My boys were able to figure out how to configure the guns for their battle on their own as I was reading through the instruction booklet. Each of the guns came with a target for practice, and while this may be good for improving targeting skill, my boys were far more interested in getting outside and letting the battle begin. We also received two target vests, so I got two of the boys suited up in those and we headed outside.

The Battle

In a flurry of flashes, the laser warfare began. The boys ran around the yard, ducking behind trees, riding toys, the playhouse, and the swingset as they targeted in on one another. They ran, jumped, crawled, rolled, climbed, yelled, and laughed … lots of laughter. As a mom, I love to see them so actively engaged in play, especially when they can enjoy something together, so this was quite enjoyable to watch. They played until dark, a rarity for these guys who are often bored outdoors within a half hour and retreat back inside to their electronic toys. My ten year old even said that these guns were kind of like being in a live video game – kind of the best of both worlds.

Wowee, They Love ‘Em!

After the initial play period, I wondered if they’d return to play with the Light Strike guns with the same zest they had in their first battle. I soon found out that not only were the Light Strike guns an immediate hit, they had the all-important staying power. Each afternoon upon returning home from school, the boys asked to play with these, often forgoing their handheld video games and game consoles to head outside and continue their battles. The Wowee Light Strike guns have shot right up to the top of their “must-have” list, and is one of their best toys of 2011. I can foresee many more laser wars to come in the future.

Mom’s Final Light Strike Review

We all hear it, all the time . . . “Kids don’t play enough outdoors. They don’t get enough exercise. They’re stuck in front of a screen all the time.” The Wowee Light Strike Laser Tag system gets the kids off the couch, off the computer, and outside. By blending the lights and sounds often heard in video games with the fun and action of laser battle, the Wowee Light Strike gets kids excited about physical activity. While the target vests were a bit cumbersome for my younger ones, they played just as well without them as with them and spent their afternoons actively playing together with these toys. If you’re looking to peel your kids away from the screen, the Light Strike Laser Tag guns could be just the weapon you need.

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