NERF N-Strike Elite Sonic Ice Centurion Blaster Review

By: Jeremy Alden

NERF guns are a brilliant way to have a lot of fun. With its incredible range, the N-Strike Elite Sonic Ice Centurion Blaster takes that to the next level.

Here we look at its pros and cons to see if it’s the perfect NERF gun for you.

Let’s get started!

NERF N-Strike Elite Sonic Ice Centurion Blaster Review

Specifications

Dimensions: 3.5 x 29.49 x 14.02 inches

Weight: 1.65 pounds

Recommended age: 8 years and up

Batteries required: None

Range: 100 feet

Firing type: Pump action

What’s included: Dart clip, Bipod rest and 6 darts

Quick Overview

The feature that hits you immediately on this blaster is the range. It has ‘centurion’ in the name as it’s able to shoot its darts up to 100 feet (around 30 meters), which is incredible.

It adds more excitement to your shooting games with that extra distance.

While the range may be the standout feature here, there are plenty of other impressive aspects of this blaster.

It’s a large gun and one that has a high level of build quality with minimal jamming. It has a simple pump-action and will allow you to fire your darts quickly and accurately.

Overall, it’s a very impressive NERF gun and one that you’ll have endless hours of fun using. Stick around as we look at it in a little more detail.

Key Features

• Fires up to 100 feet
• Darts that whistle
• Six darts per clip
• Bipod stand included
• Ages 8 and up
• 40 inches long
• Heavy-duty plastic

Buying Guide

Usability

The first thing to mention about the usability here is that the gun it quite big. It weighs 1.65lb which isn’t too heavy but once the barrel is attached, the gun will be around 40 inches long. You can use it without the barrel but it’s not going to have the same accuracy.

Due to this size, it’s not going to be suitable for smaller children but older kids and adults will love it. To help with that length and weight, the NERF gun also comes with a bipod which allows you to rest it and improve your accuracy. 

The gun fires by being cocked with its pump-action. The knob is very easy to pull with a minimal amount of effort and allows you to repeatedly fire your weapon with ease. Jamming is hardly ever an issue with this gun and you won’t get stuck in the middle of a battle.

This NERF gun ranks very highly in terms of usability and there will be minimal frustrations to using it. The feel of the gun is great, the action is solid and while it may be a little big for some kids, it is comfortable and easy to use. 

Range and Accuracy

The specified range on this NERF gun is 100 feet but can it actually shoot that far?

Well, the true distance is going to depend on a few different factors such as wind and angle, but the range wasn't a disappointment.

Those darts are going to fly powerfully through the air. The accuracy is fairly good but like all NERF bullets, it can be affected by air conditions.

For the most part, the darts are going to fly true and straight.

They can however sometimes fade or draw in the air, which can be a little frustrating. If you want the highest level of accuracy then you can get the Mega AccuStrike darts which are able to fly quite a lot better.

Another way to improve accuracy is by using the bipod stand. This allows you to focus on your target as you rest it against a solid surface.

Is the Centurion Nerf gun good?

The Centurion is a decent blaster, but it isn't the best, and here's why: The functioning of the Centurion blaster isn't as good as other blasters. It shoots far and is quite accurate, but its bulky, a little heavy and low-capacity magazine keep it from entering the category as a top Nerf blaster

Darts

The darts that come with this gun are whistler darts which are very fun to use. As soon as they are fired they will make a high-pitched whistle that makes them sound like a missile.

They are great to use and have a decent level of accuracy. The only negative here is that the whistling sound does give away your position which isn't great for trying to be stealthy.

The gun will only come with six darts and that is how many is held in the clip. Ideally, you'd want the clip to be a bit bigger but it's easy enough to refill. Given the range of this gun, it’s going to be the best idea to get a few extra darts.

When looking at extra darts you can choose to get more whistler darts or opt for the regular Mega series option. As we previously mentioned, another option is to get the AccuStrike darts as these will help the darts to fly straighter.

If you already have the thinner Elite range of darts and wondering if you can use them then the answer is going to be yes. As they don’t fit as tightly in the barrel, the Elite darts aren’t going to have quite the same level of performance.

- You May Like: The 5 Best Aftermarket Nerf Darts That Are Worth Buying

Design

There is no doubt that the NERF N-Strike Elite Sonic Ice Centurion Blaster looks great. It has a stylish combination of colors with a great look and feel. The length of the gun allows it to look great and a lot of fun to play with.

Some great additional features help this NERF gun to stand out. The most obvious of them is the bipod which allows you to rest and shoot the gun. It looks great but you can fold it up while you’re on the move or even remove it, as it’s detachable.

The dart clip it well placed and adds to the design of the blaster. We also found the trigger easy to use, the shoulder rest comfortable and the blaster allows for easy placement of your hands.

Added to that, the knob used for the pump action is large and easy to use but without getting in the way.

Build Quality

The build quality of this gun is impressive. The plastic used for the gun is heavy-duty and isn’t going to fail easily. These types of toys need to cope with rough play and that’s exactly what they can do, being able to cope with bangs and scrapes.

The trigger remains smooth and easy to use after repeated use and the same can be said of the pump-action knob. Another impressive feature of the build quality here is the lack of jamming, which can be an issue with some other NERF guns.

FAQs

Is this NERF gun safe?

The amazing feature of NERF guns is that they give you plenty of excitement while remaining safe to play with. With the design of these bullets, the most that you’re going to feel is a sting and the risk of injury is minimal.

- You may like: Are Nerf Guns Safe - My 10 Tips

Does it need batteries?

NERF guns can be primed to fire in several ways. As this is a pump-action gun, you won’t need any batteries to operate it as it works via a spring.

Is this suitable for all ages?

Every parent is going to exercise their own judgment on what is suitable for their children but this is a fairly large gun that can fire with a high velocity. Due to these factors, this gun is recommended for those 8 and over.

What darts can this fire?

The best bullets for this gun are the MEGA series type, with the ones that come with this gun being whistler rounds which are thicker than the standard 'Elite' bullets. You can use Elite bullets with this gun but they won't have quite the same range.

Can you add a scope to this gun?

Yes, you can. More so, all N-Strike Elite attachments are interchangeable with this gun to give you a wide range of options.

Does it need assembling?

Yes, but it takes two seconds. The barrel doesn’t come attached but this can simply be clipped on and then you can start using this gun straight away.

NERF N-Strike Elite Sonic Ice Centurion Blaster Review: Conclusion

There are many brilliant features that help to make this a great gun. Added to that, there are very few downsides. Some may find it to be too large for their needs whereas others will love it. The same can be said for the whistler darts.

Some will love them, others may find them annoying. The only true downside is that it can only hold six darts but you can live with that.

In conclusion, this is an excellent gun and a huge amount of fun. That range makes it unique and you’ll love being able to hit targets from a long-distance.

The design is excellent and the overall build quality helps to make this excellent value for money and highly recommended