Remember when Nerf blasters were simple, toy-like affairs? Times have changed, and now we have heavy, belt-fed, battery-chugging monstrosities that appeal to cubicle warriors as much as to children. Our house has a long history of Nerf wars using each new generation of guns, so when I heard that Nerf was releasing an entirely new line of blasters with discs instead of darts, I was both excited and a little hesitant. Would it really be fun to shoot my children and pets with tiny frisbee-style projectiles?

The answer is yes. The new discs travel greater distances than the darts, the mechanism for firing is easier on young hands, and the first wave of guns are fun to use.

Above, you can see the four guns we're going to review, and we will render a verdict on each one individually. A few notes: the green discs these guns shoot aren't hard exactly, but the guns do spit them out at a good clip. At close range, you can expect a slight sting; be careful with children. (I learned this by lining my kids up and shooting them at different ranges to see whether or not the discs hurt. Everyone learned valuable lessons during my testing.)

Also, standard Nerf darts cut through the air and begin to lose altitude quickly. These discs actually catch the air and can fly significantly longer, though if you don't hold the blasters level you may see the discs bank after a few dozen feet. Here's a quick range test I shot in my back yard.

The bottom line: if you're getting into it with an opponent who's packing the standard darts, you have quite a reach advantage.

This $39.99 blaster holds up to 20 discs, features a light-up scope, and requires six "C" batteries. It may not feel heavy at first, but once you load all those batteries, you're going to gain some heft.

The battery-powered Nerf guns are hard to aim with any precision. There are actually two triggers. You have to hold down the bottom button to spin up the firing mechanism, and if you hold down the traditional trigger with that bottom button held down, you fire the discs. The firing rate isn't fast, although it is fun to use any Nerf gun that features automatic fire. You also don't have to work the mechanism or cock the gun before each shot, which might make this gun ideal for smaller children, except for the size and weight issues.

The scope is fun, and it lights up green and moves in three speeds. It does wobble more than I'm comfortable with when attached to the gun; during a hard battle, you run the risk of the scope falling off.

The 20-disc clip is great, and it can be used in any of the other Vortex guns that take a clip. Fully automatic fire makes this fun to try, but if you're actually hoping to put discs on target, this isn't the best gun. Especially with the high price tag, this is more of a gimmick than a gun you'll want to take into battle.

Verdict: Skip

Okay, this $25 blaster is way more my speed. The clip holds 10 discs, and the shotgun-like pump action means you can pump out a good number of discs in a very short time. This gun has good range, fires discs with enough force to sting in a very slight way, and is fun to use. When I went child hunting, this is the gun I took.

Clearing jams is simple thanks to the sliding door on top of the blaster. This is one of my favorite guns in the Vortex line, and when you add the 20 disc magazine from the Nitron, it's even better. The removable stock could be a little more sturdy, but the gun works fine with or without it.

Verdict: Buy