Nerf N-Strike

Nerf N-Strike is a Nerf rail shooter video game developed by EA Salt Lake and published by Electronic Arts for the Nintendo Wii, released on October 28, 2008.

A sequel, Nerf N-Strike Elite, was released in 2009. The Nerf N-Strike Double Blast Bundle, containing both games, was released in 2010.

Versions of the game come packaged with a Switch Shot EX-3, a blaster that can be converted for use with a Wiimote, as well as three Whistler Darts.

Gameplay
Nerf N-Strike features different game modes, revolving around the use of Nerf blasters, including puzzle-like challenges and on-rails missions, either shooting at various targets or at enemies.

The game features a single-player story mode, Mission Mode, revolving around the main character, Shane, proving himself to be talented enough to become one of the "N-Strike Elite". The different challenges and missions can also be played separately for a high score in Free Play mode, with both single-player and multiplayer formats.

Plot
The story begins with Shane setting the high score for an arcade game called Revolt of the Machines. As Shane leaves the arcade, B.O.B., a recruiting robot for the secretive "N-Strike Elite", scans Shane's fingerprints left on the game's blaster. Later, he appears at Shane's house telling him that he has the potential to become an "Elite Striker" - possibly the highest rank that could be given to a Nerfer. If he accepts B.O.B.'s request, he can even obtain and keep several top secret blasters; Shane accepts and follows him to the N-Strike training facility.

Once in the facility, Shane is pitted against a huge army of dart-shooting combat robots to outdo the scores set by the N-Strike Elite, the N-Strike's best team of Nerfers. Shane later ultimately ends up defeating the Elite Nerfers - Komodo, Jackal, Raven, and Tango. In the fifth challenge in Raven's chamber, B.O.B. takes on a more sinister tone. After winning his challenge with Tango, Shane is awarded the rank of "Elite Striker".

B.O.B. thanks Shane following this final challenge. When asked why he was thanked, B.O.B.'s eye changes color from blue to red, and he reveals his diabolical plan involving copying Shane's skills and uploading them into his own robots. The training robot turns against the N-Strike Elite, with the intent to destroy them and the entire human race. Using both techniques and knowledge from his training, Shane blasts his way past B.O.B.'s robotic goons. He makes his way past them to a large, circular platform on a piston, where he fights B.O.B, eventually knocking him to the ground and executing him off with a dart to the eye.

Afterward, Shane and the N-Strike Elite walk out of the facility back out into the streets of New York City. They congratulate Shane on defeating B.O.B., to which Shane replies to by saying that they're "not bad for a bunch of kids."

Back in the facility, an unknown scientist appears and begins work on repairing B.O.B. for a mysterious "Phase Two", leaving a cliffhanger ending for the game's eventual sequel.

Characters

 * B.O.B.
 * Jackal
 * Komodo
 * Raven
 * Shane
 * Tango

Blasters
Nerf N-Strike features not only real world Nerf blasters, but also fictional ones. Variants of these blasters can also be unlocked through the use of unlock codes.

Real blasters

 * Firefly REV-8 (Firefly Elite)
 * LongShot CS-6 (LongShot Street)
 * Maverick REV-6 (Crystal Pistol / Maverick Midnight)
 * Recon CS-6 (Habanero)
 * Titan AS-V
 * Vulcan EBF-25 (Vulcan Magma)

Fictional blasters

 * BullSharc GL-8
 * Crusher SAD-G
 * Goliathan UB-1 (Goliathan Nitro)
 * Hydra SG-7
 * Raider CS-6
 * RedShift CS-12 (Mercurio)
 * SemperFire RF-200 (SemperFire Ultra)
 * Spartan NCS-12
 * Stampede REV-12
 * Vengeance REV-8 (BlackHeart Vengeance)

Game types
The story mode of Nerf N-Strike is composed of a series of "chambers", each ruled over by a member of the N-Strike Elite. There are five challenges in each chamber, with the last of each being a head-to-head competition with the chamber's owner.

Blockade
The objective of Blockade challenges is to blast the Goal Block, which is hidden underneath a pile of other blocks. There are four rounds with a considerably shorter time limit.


 * Blockade (Jackal's Chamber, Challenge 3)
 * Blockade Elite (Tango's Chamber, Challenge 3; unlocks the Hydra SG-7)

Commandeer
The objective of Commandeer challenges is to destroy "magnospheres" before time runs out. Spheres change color when hit, and must be hit four times to be destroyed. A special color sprayer object can be fired at in order to change colors of multiple spheres at once.

The Commandeer Elite challenge adds in an "eraser sphere", which, if hit, will remove a sphere's ability to change color.


 * Commandeer (Komodo's Chamber, Challenge 3; unlocks the Spartan NCS-12)
 * Commandeer Elite (Raven's Chamber, Challenge 4)

LookAlive
The objective of Sniper challenges is to fight through a maze of robots without hitting B.O.B. Accidentally firing at him will cause him to retaliate, which will drain health quickly.


 * LookAlive (Jackal's Chamber, Challenge 2; unlocks the RedShift CS-12)
 * LookAlive Elite (Tango's Chamber, Challenge 2)

Magnospheres
The objective of Magnospheres challenges is to blast various magnospheres into a series of goals to score points. Blue spheres are worth a hundred points, silver spheres are worth five hundred points, and golden spheres are worth a thousand points.


 * Magnospheres (Jackal's Chamber, Challenge 5)
 * Magnospheres Elite (Tango's Chamber, Challenge 4)

Onslaught
The objective of Onslaught challenges is to survive wave after wave of renegade robots. When the player reaches the end of the challenge, a Goal Block will spawn, which must be shot to finish.

The Onslaught Eclipse variants take place in a dark room, making the robots difficult to see. The player fires glow-in-the-dark darts in these challenges.


 * Onslaught (Komodo's Chamber, Challenge 2; unlocks the Crusher SAD-G)
 * Onslaught Elite (Raven's Chamber, Challenge 3; unlocks the BullSharc GL-8)
 * Onslaught Eclipse (Jackal's Chamber, Challenge 1)
 * Onslaught Eclipse Elite (Tango's Chamber, Challenge 5; unlocks the SemperFire RF-200)

Pummel
The objective of Pummel challenges is to clear the platform of all blocks except the Goal Blocks. It is mandatory that at least one Goal Block is left on the platform to clear the level. Some blocks cannot be destroyed and instead act as walls. There are four rounds with a set time limit.


 * Pummel (Komodo's Chamber, Challenge 1; unlocks the Raider CS-6)
 * Pummel Elite (Raven's Chamber, Challenge 1; unlocks the Goliathan UB-1)

Recognition
The objective of the Recognition challenges is to eliminate all robots of a certain color in the room before time runs out, until Shane loses after the text says "NOT ENOUGH TARGETS".


 * Recognition (Jackal's Chamber, Challenge 4; unlocks the Recon CS-6)
 * Recognition Elite (Raven's Chamber, Challenge 2; unlocks the Stampede REV-12)

Revolt

 * Revolt of the Machines
 * Revolt of the Machines is the first level in the game, and is meant to represent the arcade game Shane plays. It is an on-rails level involving firing renegade robots and using multiple blasters along the way. Shane begins the level with a Maverick REV-6; the RedShift CS-12 and Vulcan EBF-25 are picked up later.


 * Revolt Elite
 * Revolt Elite is the final level of the game, mirroring Revolt of the Machines. It begins similarly to the other Revolt challenge, starting with a Maverick and later picking up a RedShift and Vulcan, but continues where Revolt of the Machines left off. A Titan AS-V, Raider CS-6, Longshot CS-6, Vengeance REV-8, and Stampede REV-12 can be acquired and used throughout the level. The level ends with a fight with B.O.B.

Robot Reaction/Void
The objective of the Robot Reaction and Robot Void challenges is to eliminate all robots in the room before time runs out.


 * Robot Reaction (Komodo's Chamber, Challenge 5; unlocks the Vengeance REV-8)
 * Robot Void (Tango's Chamber, Challenge 1; unlocks the Firefly REV-8)

StandOff
The objective of StandOff challenges is to fire at specific, designate robots. Accidentally shooting the incorrect robots will cause them to retaliate.


 * StandOff (Komodo's Chamber, Challenge 4)
 * StandOff Elite (Raven's Chamber, Challenge 5)

Chambers

 * 1) Komodo's Chamber
 * 2) Jackal's Chamber
 * 3) Raven's Chamber
 * 4) Tango's Chamber

Soundtrack
Nerf N-Strike ' s soundtrack features licensed music from APM Music.


 * Bruton - Meat Hook (Robot Reaction, Recognition)
 * Epic Score - Altar of Doom
 * Epic Score - Quest
 * Epic Score - Empire (Onslaught)
 * Epic Score - The Time Has Come (StandOff)
 * Epic Score - Mission
 * Epic Score - Mysterious City
 * KPM Music - Deadly Force (Blockade, Pummel)
 * KPM Music - Ominous Intent (Commandeer, Magnospheres, Revolt of the Machines)
 * KPM Music - A Dangerous Obsession (LookAlive)
 * KPM Music - Into the Underworld
 * KPM Music - High Noon
 * Quantum Tracks - Night Mission
 * Quantum Tracks - Hunter Hunted
 * West One Music - Predator

Reception
Nerf N-Strike received mixed reviews from critics. IGN gave it a 7.1 out of 10, praising the inclusion of the Switch Shot and the game acting as a family-friendly alternative to arcade rail shooters like Area 51. It holds an average of 66/100 on aggregate website Metacritic.

Trivia

 * According to a commercial for the game on the old EA website, N-Strike Elite's headquarters is located under Manhattan Island.
 * A Nintendo DS version of Nerf N-Strike was set to release alongside the Wii game, but was ultimately cancelled. Little is known on this version of the game.
 * Oddly enough, the included Switch Shot EX-3 is not a usable blaster within the game.