The Super Soaker Monster
(2001) represents the first mid-sized blaster which truly balances CPS power
and multiple nozzles while having both regular and SC-capability. Unlike its
larger, older brethren, the Monster (2001) is shorter and lighter, making it
a blaster that is very enjoyable and easy to use on the water war field. Its
reservoir holds a respectable amount of water (2.2L) for a blaster its size
(basically equal to the Super Soaker CPS 1200 capacity). Its firing chamber appears to be
able to unleash a little more water than the Super Soaker Monster X can!
Nozzles:
The Monster (2001) has four (4) nozzle selections
from which one can choose: 2.5x, 4x, 8.5x and Fan Blast. The 2.5x nozzle allows
the user to conserve water as well as increase firing time. This setting is
good to use when the main reservoir is running low. The 4x nozzle produces a
nice mid-sized stream capable of soaking one's foes quite quickly while not
draining the Monster's resources all at once. For a blaster this size, the 4x
nozzle is a good setting for general use when on patrols or when dealing with
minor enemy engagements. The 8.5x nozzle is meant for heavy assaults. The output
of the Monster is increased significantly over the 4x nozzle, but firing time
is dramatically reduced. The Fan Blast setting of the Monster (2001) is a welcome
addition to the Monster (2001)'s capabilities. The Fan Blast offers the Super Soaker Monster's user
the ability to cover a wide area simply by pulling the trigger. Granted, the
range of the blast is greatly reduced, but this is the price one pays for greater
area coverage. One minor down point to the nozzle settings is that the mount
they are on does not feel as sturdy as in other blasters such as the Super Soaker CPS 3000 or Super Soaker Monster X. As such, one feels a slight need to double check that a nozzle
is properly locked into place. The nozzles, themselves, do appear to hold a
little bit of water after firing. Switching between nozzles can often result
in this water trickling out the front.
Firing Chamber:
Thanks to the CPS firing chamber,
all settings are functional and useful, including the fan spray for dealing
with larger group encounters or if one does not feel like aiming as carefully.
The transparancy of the barrel makes knowing how much water is pressurized very
easy to determine. Quick-fill capability of the Monster (2001) gives any user a good
refilling advantage should there be an active Q.F.D. in the vicinity.
Other Features:
The shoulder strap and top-mounted
handle make this blaster very easy to handle on the field and in the filling
station. The body of the Monster (2001) feels fairly sturdy. However, certain
areas of the blaster do feel a little weaker such as the glide area for the
pump shaft.
For the minimalist soaker, the Super Soaker Monster (2001) is the iSoaker.com 2001 Blaster of Choice. The
four nozzle choices, decent size, SC-capability and CPS power, this blaster
can cope with virtually any situation during a water battle. Just remember that
it only holds a limited amount of water.
Pros
A CPS-based, SC-capable, mid-sized water blaster which balances size
with power. Four nozzle settings to choose from will meet virtually any soaking
need. Pressure chamber indicator, transparent body styling, shoulder strap,
and top-mounted handle make up the rest of the kudos.
Cons
It take many pumps (over 30) to load the firing chamber, but only a few of blinks
to empty it. Its styling and multiple nozzles will make most run or get a bunch
to gang up one the user. Selecting a nozzle does not feel as certain compared
to other multi-nozzle blasters. The nozzles also tend to trap a fair amount
of water after firing, resulting in dribble when switching between nozzles during
a battle.
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Reviews
Review
By Sandman | Posted: 20010524
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 blaster, 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 blaster 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 blaster 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 blaster 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.
90
