The slingshot is the kind of classic toy that a kid can spend hours playing with—and now imagine it with a laser! That’s one of the special features of the new Zooma Splat X Smack-Shot, by Imperial Toy, which projects a glowing red target at whatever it’s aiming at. This laser light is connected to one of the two prongs for loading the slingshot, so it conveniently activates whenever kids slip in ammunition. In theory, the projectile will hit the target under ideal conditions, e.g., the user is holding the ammunition level to the slingshot, is pulling back far enough on the projectile for distance, etc. Personally, I like that the laser pointer doesn’t make any slingshot newbie into an automatic crack marksman, and that they still have to master the basics of the toy. On the other hand, it does open up the possibility of nighttime play, which is always welcome, especially during the summer months.
The Zooma Splat X Smack-Shot comes with two different kinds of projectiles, and each has stretchable bits that alleviate the need for the slingshot to have a rubber band of its own. One type of ammo is sticky and adheres to walls and other flat surfaces, while the other is spherical and has fins and holes through its body, allowing for greater speed. The projectiles come in bright green and orange colors, making them easy to spot after launching. Although the range and velocity of the spherical ones is impressive, I can say from personal experience that getting smacked by one is not particularly terrible or traumatic.
Finally, the slingshot has grooves in its handle, making it comfortable for playing with over and over again. The intended age for the Zooma Splat X Smack-Shot is 8 and up, which makes sense, since any slingshot requires a certain amount of physical dexterity that a very young child might not have yet. But for those are ready for it, Imperial Toy has added enough tweaks to make this classic plaything feel fresh. It’s definitely worth a shot!
This product and more from Imperial Toy will be on display at The Big Toy Book’s Sweet Suite 14 event in New York City on July 17. Part of Blogger Bash, a two-day conference connecting bloggers and brands nationwide, Sweet Suite will feature the hottest toys and games for the upcoming holiday season. Visit thebigtoybook.com for more info, and follow the conversation on Twitter!
