Details
The Sidestrike is advertised as being a “quick-draw” blaster. It features a small tactical rail on the bottom of the blaster, as well as a sling point in the handle. There is an integrated two-dart storage located under the blaster’s muzzle, as well as two dart holders above and below the blaster on the holster. The Sidestrike can be put in the blaster holster both ways.
It advertises a range of up to seventy-five feet.
Official description
A fast draw is all that’s between you and rampaging zombies! Practice quick-drawing your Sidestrike blaster from its holster before your next mission. You can keep your 4 Zombie Strike Darts in the holster’s storage compartment, and attach your holster to your belt with the belt clip so you’re completely mobile. The holster also fits your Firestrike blaster (sold separately). Go for the fast strike and take out every last zombie with the Sidestrike blaster!
History
Evidence suggests that the Sidestrike was originally intended for the N-Strike Elite line before the decision was made to release it under the Zombie Strike line instead. The blaster lacks the typical sculpted wrappings around the handle most Zombie Strike blasters have; instead, it features a sculpted (but unpainted) N-Strike Elite logo. In addition, one of the many stock photos for the Sidestrike depicts an earlier prototype which, while already sporting the green Zombie Strike color scheme and a tampographed “Zombie Strike” logo, has the “N-Strike Elite” logo on the handle painted, features an additional tampographed “N-Strike Elite” logo on the holster (in addition to a different rendering of the Zombie Strike “Z” logo) and even reveals the original working name for the blaster, Scout Mk. II. Lastly, the European marketing packaging for the Sidestrike also features the N-Strike Elite logo (in addition to a slightly different overall packaging design that features more design elements shared with the Elite line).
The Sidestrike was unveiled for the first time alongside the remainder of the 2014 Zombie Strike line at the 2013 San Diego Comic Con.[1] This early iteration featured nearly the same exact design as the final production blaster with the exception of some minor paint alterations.
The blaster was spotted in stores in December 2013.[2]
On September 19, 2014, the blaster was discovered on Kmart’s website in the form of an N-Strike Elite two-pack.[3] This was the first time a re-release of a Zombie Strike blaster was released under the N-Strike Elite series; and even then, the blaster had been intended for the Elite line to begin with. However, this release omits the holster. Also, as a result of several permanent changes to the tooling made for its release under the Zombie Strike line, the blaster still features a sculpted (but unpainted) “Zombie Strike” logo on its side, as well as the name “Sidestrike” sculpted in a Zombie Strike-esque font (also unpainted).
Color schemes
The Sidestrike has been released in the following color schemes:
- Zombie Strike (green, brown, gray, and orange)
- N-Strike Elite (white, blue, black, and orange)
- N-Strike Elite variant (white, black, and orange)
Blaster sets
Two Sidestrikes can be found in the Sidestrike 2-Pack; this blaster set does not come packaged with the Sidestrike holster.
Reloading and firing
To reload the Sidestrike, load a dart into the muzzle. Pull the priming mechanism back to fully prime the blaster.
Pull the firing trigger to fire a dart.
Trivia
- The Sidestrike may be the spiritual successor to the Scout IX-3, as it has the same external loading system, and was known as the Scout Mk. II during its development.
