Hasbro Ghostbusters Zap & Blast Proton Blaster

One of Hasbro's latest Ghostbusters offerings is the Ghostbusters Zap & Blast Proton Blaster. Read on to find out more about it...

The official description for this product is:

GHOSTBUSTERS ZAP & BLAST PROTON BLASTER
(Ages 5 and Up / Approx. Retail Price: $29.99 / Available: Now)
Many different ghosts haunt the world and with this Ghostbusters Zap & Blast Proton Blaster, kids can be ready for any unruly apparition! Gear up as an official member of the Ghostbusters with this proton blaster, featuring LED light effects and 20+ sound effects, inspired by the Ghostbusters entertainment. Blast any class apparition in normal mode or use the "Specter Wavelength" button in Ghost Getter mode, pull back on the barrel to charge-and-reveal a color-changing proton stream.

The back of the box tells us that the blaster has over 20 sounds, and a color-changing stream, along with "call", "charge", and "blast" features. There is also a Ghostbusters Tech Lab ID Card to cut out, which is neat. As the box helpfully tells us, the item measures 20-inches long from handle to tip.


Hasbro previously released a similar kids roleplay toy called the Proton Blaster M.O.D.. This new Zap & Blast Proton Blaster is not a simple re-paint of that. While there are definitely some similarities, so some re-use of the mold was done, this one is a HUGE improvement. For starters, it looks more like the real thing and not a blue gimmick toy.


The blaster features the Ghostbusters trademarked caution-striping on the handle, as well as yellow and silver accents on the various knobs, switches, and doo-dads, such as the Clippard valve. One side also features the No Ghost logo.


A lot of the "buttons" seen on the blaster are just "for show". They don't do anything, other than make the blaster look more realistic.


That's not to say that there aren't buttons that serve a purpose. To use the "call" feature, you press the big round button on the top of the wand's box. This will activate some lights and sounds, such as a beeping noise, followed by some ghostly growls.


To "charge" the blaster, you pull forward the grey part at the front end of the wand. By doing so, you will activate a blue and orange light show in the barrel, as well as hear some familiar sounds.


If you hold down the silver button on the top of the handle (black arrow in the photo below), it will trigger the sounds of zapping some nasty specter.


Finally, to "blast", pull the grey piece back and press the grey trigger on the underside of the handle grip (red arrow in the photo above). You will eventually hear the ghost cry out in pain, while the translucent "stream" at the front end of the wand will illuminate.

The Zap & Blast Proton Blaster even has a few "Easter eggs" to discover by pressing the top "call" button a few times. When the button is lit yellow, it will be the standard proton stream. When the button is green, and you then press the trigger, you'll hear Slimer, and the front translucent stream will light up green, as well. As if that wasn't enough, there is also an "overheat" sequence.

I can honestly say that THIS is the proton wand we all wish we had when we were kids. The only thing missing is a decent-looking black Proton Pack toy to attach it to.

The Ghostbusters Zap & Blast Proton Blaster carries a MSRP of $29.99 and is available from a wide variety of retailers. The links provided here are for Amazon, from which Spook Central will earn a small commission.

Images scanned and/or photographed by me or provided by Hasbro. This item has been provided by Hasbro for review on this site. For addition information, check out the Ghostbusters News review.