When Bungie, makers of Destiny 2—amongst different nice video games—and Nerf, makers of … nicely, comfortable projectiles everyone knows and love, acquired collectively to announce they have been bringing the Gjallarhorn, considered one of Destiny’s most iconic weapons, out of the game and into your hands, I was thrilled. What I didn’t count on was for them to ship me one, and for me to fall in love with the factor.
First, let’s again up. I play a lot of Destiny 2. I have one thing north of three,200 hours within the sport, and sturdy opinions concerning the story, the gameplay, and the characters I love. And whereas I’m not at all on the tier of the Destiny YouTubers I admire, I prefer to suppose I can maintain my very own and take recommendation from the parents who’ve skilled the raids and dungeons earlier than I have. But one factor concerning the sport I’ve at all times beloved is the Gjallarhorn.
Photograph: Bungie
An unique (e.g., rarest-tier) rocket launcher that dominated the unique Destiny again in 2014, Gjallarhorn made waves when it reappeared in Destiny 2 with the Bungie 30th Anniversary Pack again on the finish of 2021. At the identical time, the Bungie crew introduced they’d partnered with Nerf to deliver the Gjallarhorn to life within the type of a $185 toy rocket launcher. In-game, my Gjallarhorn stays in my stock, which is saying a lot, since rocket launchers aren’t precisely top-tier weapons in Destiny 2. But learn the Destinypedia page for the factor: The in-game lore is unbelievable and options our good pal Randy, a guardian who ought to actually get his personal Destiny-themed comedy collection. It’s solid from the armor of fallen guardians who fought in one of many franchise’s most important battles! You have to like it.
So when Bungie provided to ship me the Nerf model, I accepted, anticipating it to be a enjoyable little toy that will take up a little bit of house on a shelf. What I wasn’t prepared for was the 5-foot-tall, superbly adorned field that the factor got here in, and I undoubtedly wasn’t ready for the 4-foot-tall rocket launcher itself, at 1:1 scale, and weighing round 15 kilos.
Everything concerning the Nerf Gjallarhorn mimics the in-game model. It feels sturdy and heavy and was easy to place collectively. (Truly, it was 4 items that snapped collectively in minutes, together with the crimson, glowing, light-up sight you could activate and off after you pop two AA batteries into it.) But right here’s the issue. A 1:1 scale rocket launcher, on my shoulders, in my New York City condominium, is a recipe for breaking one thing.
That didn’t cease me from making an attempt it out although: The Nerf Gjallarhorn comes with 4 “rocket” rounds that may be loaded with three Nerf darts every. Three of the rounds are orange and use bigger, fatter darts, and one spherical is grey and makes use of thinner, quicker darts. All of them work identical to the in-game model of the rocket launcher. The loading chamber pops open, and you insert the “rocket,” loaded with darts, into the chamber. Then you push the rocket into place, shut the chamber door, and rack the entire prime of the rocket launcher again towards your shoulder to prepared it to fireside. Pop the entire thing in your shoulder, purpose, and pull the set off. A selection of three Nerf darts fires out of the enterprise finish and into no matter individual, furnishings, or different object is of their path.
