Monster Submitted Reviews

:: iSoaker.com Review

Review By Sandman (Posted on 2001/05/24 | Edited by iSoaker.com)

The Monster 2001 edition is the first decent attempt to make Monster Series weaponry practical. But then again, how practical is a huge water blaster? With the release of the Monster X and Monster XL in 2000, Larami found itself with two of the largest blasters ever produced. Both of these were somewhat cumbersome on the battlefield, not to mention that the firing rate (2.5 sec on 5x nozzle) of the Monster X and the firing distance (9m on dual 5x nozzles) of the Monster XL are both sub-par. The average CPS weapon can shoot farther and for a longer time

Enter the Monster 2001 edition. Smallest of the Monsters, yet with a longer range than the Monster XL and a slight increase in the amount of water fired per full firing chamber compared to the Monster X. The Monster represents the ideal weapon of choice for those looking for a decent firing speed, rate, distance, etc. The blaster weighs in at just under 4 pounds, which is just fine and dandy for those of us used to carrying around a Monster XL. Some may say that the reservoir is the weakest part of the gun, but in reality, the Monster only gives up 1.3L of water to the Monster XL and 0.9L of water to the Monster X. The Monster first hit my local ToysRUs store with a $24.99 USD price tag, making it cost HALF that of a Monster XLs. And as a final bonus point, iSoaker.com maintains that it requires "over 30" pumps to load the firing chamber, but 20 pumps will load it for me, making this blaster easier to reload. This nice feature allows those lousy people who like to "hit and run" on reloaders to receive a bucket of water courtesy of the Monster's quick reload time. Trust me, it works.

No gun is perfect however. The Monster does have a smaller water capacity than its older brethren, meaning that those who take full advantage of its longer range and fuller firing chamber will need to make a trip to the hose before the Monster X and XL users do. The body of the gun is rugged and well constructed, but the body-mounted pump is double-screwed through an upper and lower portion of plastic. This means that a 1cm section of thin plastic runs along the interior where the pump slides when reloading the weapon. The section of plastic is only supported at the ends (the trigger end and nozzle end) of the pump slide, making it likely to crack or bend. So if you like an additional support for your left hand while your right hand has trigger duty, you may not be satisfied with the Monster's construction. Another major disappointment on the gun is the nozzles. It seems Larami only got the nozzles right on the Monster XL, because the Monster X's nozzles seem stiff when interchanging. The Monster's nozzles are the opposite. They seem to "glide" into place, making it very easy to miss a nozzle setting. Without the feeling of a nozzle "locked" in place, many users will have to trust their eyes to set the nozzles, which is a no-no in the heat of battle. Finally, the hand grip seems designed for an 8-year old. It is shorter than the Monster X and XL hand grip, and also curves too sharply, making the hand feel somewhat uncomfortable on the grip.

Despite these downfalls, the Monster 2001 edition looks to be the true "workhorse" of the Monster line, combining all desirable aspects of a water blaster while at the same time keeping the price down and the water squirting. If you plan only to buy one blaster for your water fight, buy the Monster and keep it on the 4x nozzle, and you will be the most worry-free and dependable warrior on the battlefield.

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