Ever since I was a child I've been fascinated by Laser Tag. I remember getting an old Laser Tag set that came with a reflective vest when I was little. JAKKS Pacific brought back those memories with the Laser Challenge P.R.O. Basic Pistols. Upon receiving the box I immediately tore out the laser guns. The technology has changed quite a bit in the last 19-20 years.

The Laser Challenge P.R.O. Basic Pistols comes with two short barrel handguns, each with its own adjustable targeting scope and what I like to call the targeting armband. The pistols are surprisingly light weight and attach to the targeting armband (which is strapped to your upper bicep). The scope has several adjustable laser sights which are pretty cool. Each pistol needs to run on three AA batteries and seem to last for a good while.

The pistols were tested based on range, accuracy and, of course, how much fun we had. They have to be reloaded after 20 shots and feature semi and auto fire. To reload you simply press a button on the side of the gun. We had to read the manual a couple times to understand how to sync the weapons together. You can play one on one or two team games. Supporting teams is a big advantage since kids are going to want to play with all their friends. What's the fun in playing a one on one game anyhow?

Once you have the weapons synced you're all set to shoot each other. The guns have an awesome feature of beeping when someone is pointing their weapon at you; it comes in handy if you are playing with lots of cover. We gradually increased the distance between each other and could still score at an incredible 50-60 yards! Absolutely amazing for a $30 toy. However, being accurate takes some practice. The weapons only register a scored hit if you shoot your opponent on the bicep where you are wearing the targeting armband. This made things a little awkward since commonsense suggests you aim at the body or gun. Aiming at the armband registered a hit almost every time.

The Challenge does have some drawbacks. The guns do not seem to work to well in the direct sunlight, a real bummer, but artificial light did not disturb the lasers at all. The armband has a tendency to slip down, especially when running, but this can be remedied with proper tightening. The biggest problem is that it is difficult to hear if you score a hit. When a player is shot and when only one shot remains before the kill distinct noises come from the armband. Once a player is shot too many times, their gun deactivates and must be reset to reactivate it again. You will not know you scored a hit unless you are close to your opponent. It would be nice if the next products make a short beep or vibration, letting you know you hit your target.

The Laser Challenge P.R.O. Basic Pistols is one of the greatest toys to come out this year. They are much safer than a paintball gun, and more fun than water guns; kids and young adults alike will receive hours of enjoyment. The ability to play teams, shoot from far distances, and a relatively inexpensive price will make this item a hot Christmas gift. Overall, we were very impressed with the Laser Challenge P.R.O.; I'm considering getting another set of pistols so four can play. The $30 price tag easily outweighs the negatives, especially since there are not many laser tag products on the market today. This is the toy that will get your kids up and active.