A Shot in the Dark

“Well, I have been talking about going to play laser tag with my friends for three years. Which explains why by the time I finally got around to calling Quasar (or something sci-fi-ish like that), the place I’d heard about, it had either burned to the ground or closed. So my buddy found us a new place called Ultra Zone in the San Fernando Valley.
When my friends and I got into a game, we busted into a briefing already in session. The instructor showed us how basically you have to keep both hands on the laser: one holding the handle, the other covering a sensor on the front. If you remove your hand from the sensor not only do you hear this bizarre alarm sound, but you also can’t shoot the laser—which sucks if you get cornered by some six-year-old. The ultra-future-looking photon vest is covered with targets on the shoulders, chest, and back. If somebody hits your target, you can’t fire your laser for like twenty seconds (which is actually a pretty long time) and the shooter’s points rack up by this counter on their vest. You score big points for disarming the base areas of other teams (a round empty space with a sensor in a coffee can on the ceiling). A strobe light goes off and an alarm sounds when you disarm the base.
I was on the yellow team with three five-year-olds and a dad. But the team to beat was the red team—they had like five six-year-olds, young enough to still run around effectively but still possessing the experience of age. Next, we were all herded out into the hall to get suited up and set our vests and guns (which had already begun flickering in all sorts of places). We were led out into the maze-like, tunnel-filled battle zone. This was the ultimate black light zone. The only things glowing were the fluorescent graffiti and the strobe lights.
When you play laser tag, it feels like you’re in a movie, specifically Batman IV (you know, the one with Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy). The reason I say this is because in that movie you see Mr. Freeze’s men skating all over the place, bouncing off of walls and sets. Laser tag reminded me of a giant set, and I felt like I was one of Mr. Freeze’s vile henchmen. The game also reminded me of freeze tag. In laser tag you are frantically running around in the dark compelled to hit every moving object that you see with your laser. Meanwhile everybody is doing the same thing to you. And then fifteen minutes later the game is over and you are sweating (let’s just say it makes a great work out for an avid couch potato like me). If you have a heart condition I don’t suggest that you run to your nearest laser tag arena to play. Also don’t carry anything heavy or anything that is relatively easy to break (like jewelry or some kinds of key chains).
I think that laser tag is something you have to experience at least once. I mean, it’s not the kind of thing you would do daily, or weekly. It’s like going bowling or going to play miniature golf. I think the only drawback is that it costs $7 for only a 15 minute game. Then again, it is LASER TAG—how cool is that?
I don’t really have any tips on how to score more points (I’m just a beginner myself), but I do think that constantly shooting at everything in sight is how to get the points. I’d just like to mention that I got the third highest score in my very first game. I’m actually pretty proud of that so don’t knock it.”

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