Why we can't look to SS for more powerful soakers and what the MXL has to do with it.

Ever since the CPS-2000 came out, we water warriors have been looking for that same power, that same manliness in a blaster. I remember reflecting after we had a battle in which I was using the 2000, "Dude, that is one manly cannon," while it was innocently resting on a tarp. Face it, after you use the 2000, everything else just seems kinda weak.
Well, when everyone saw the MXL, it was a big "wow!!" no blaster had ever been created like it before, it was so massive. Now, here is the thing with the MXL. For ever since the 98' line came out, soaker fans have been craving for and complaining about finally having blasters that measured up to the old 98s. Great soakers. The MXL seemed to be the answer....huge, double barreled, guided pump, multiple settings, it seemed like the perfect blaster. Even as I talk about it, it sounds mean and tough. Well, we all got a shock when we realized it was horrible. It seriously only fired about 30 ft compared to some reports of the CPS-2000 going 60 ft. Here was a blaster that was almost twice as big as the CPS-2000 and had about half the power!!! Now, what does this have to do with soaker design and what we can look forward to? Read on...

Some fail to see the importance of the MXL. Well, let me tell you. The MXL was supposed to be our gun. Super Soaker's design for the 'big kids' It was because anyone other than older kids and adults simply couldn't even hold the thing up when it was filled. It' easy to see this blaster wasn't made for a 6 yr. old. Ok, so from this, we can deduce that Super Soaker had US in mind when it designed the MXL. We were a part of the design. And what happens? Super Soaker STILL gives it weak power.

What does this mean? Well, fellow GNG article readers, it means that Super Soaker doesn't care, thats what it means. All our cries for at-least decent power go unheard. Even with an older, more mature group of people, the blasters power remains unchanged. Where does this leave us? Well, it doesn't leave us with much options. We can either go with trying to find NOS soakers at small toy stores or other places, or modify the blasters we have now. Sadly, I don't think that the blasters in the 2002 line are that mod-friendly. It seems like our options are just being cut out one at a time. The absolute last option is to build your own, but I cannot just recommend that because that is a huge thing in itself.

Take a look at the soakers being made today, and you will see the power usually stays the same....from the 2001 line of the MX, MXL, Splashzooka, 2700, to the CPS-2100 and the CPS-4100...there is a big difference between the soakers for the last two years and the old 98's. The 98 line was the first main CPS line with good power. It may be the last. If SS is doing well with the blasters they put out, they have no reason to change what they are doing. Plus, with lower powered blasters, they may not be getting so many letters about soaker 'accidents'. While we can try to remain hopeful, I don't see powerful soakers making a comeback any time soon.