Since its invention, laser tag has entertained as many children as laser hopscotch, laser jacks, and laser red rover have vaporized combined. Today's Groupon scores you a game of intense, beam-streaming competition in a 13,000-square-foot arena. For $4, you get one game of laser tag (an $8.63 value) at Stratum Lasertag in Mesa, Phoenix New Times' 2008 pick for Best Place to Disintegrate Your Friends, though the best way to disintegrate them remains via high-pressure lava hose. You can buy multiple Groupons in one go, so feel free to stock up and enjoy a day of futurefied warfare.

Stratum's expansive, Best of Greater Phoenix laser arena houses 90 towers, a series of bridges, and copious ramps—allowing the trigger-happiest trigger-fingers to weaponize their knowledge of geometry as they target the receptive laser vests of unsuspecting vest-wearers from unexpected angles. The same EME Entertainment designers who created Universal Studios Japan in Japan designed Stratum's intensive 15-level laser-tag venue. With a decibel-defying and entirely immersive sound system, radiant light show, and black-hole time-travel simulator, Stratum offers a laser-tagging Iliad where stealth, teamwork, and pinpoint accuracy can transform a mere laser foot-soldier into an intergalactic Achilles.

Following your intensive round of strategic ducking, hiding, and cosmic commando raids, Stratum further galvanizes a day of entertaining escape with Dance Dance Revolution Extreme, Area 51, racing games, skee-ball, and all the classic token-grabbers a child of any age can enjoy at Arcade Alley. The cuddly lasers of Stratum Lasertag emit the perfect levels of nostalgic radiation to send any gamer's organic heart back to a more-innocent time of blacktop antics when tag was still played with hurled bottles and catapulted boulders.

This Groupon is not valid with any other group promotions, coupons, or specials. Also, laser-tag lasers do not contain any trace amounts of radiation whatsoever.

Reviews

The Phoenix New Times awarded Stratum Lasertag Best Place to Disintegrate Your Friends 2008, and Metromix Phoenix recommends it as one of 10 Places to Act Like a Kid:

• It's time for some payback, big-time. Invite your pals to Stratum, where you can settle the score and take out your frustrations (without getting jail time) inside the facility's 13,000-square-foot laser tag arena. Get equipped with a futuristic laser pistol and high-tech sensor vest (which keeps track of how many times you've been hit) before heading into a darkened and obstacle-laden arena lit by black lights. Then, get ready for the kill. Smoke your freeloading friends, sniper-style, from atop a 20-foot tower or sneak up behind them for a clandestine kill. Games last about 20 minutes each, which is plenty of time to seek your revenge. – Phoenix New Times
• Billed as the world's largest laser tag arena, Stratum offers the perfect place to bond with your buddies while simultaneously carrying out their virtual demise...They also offer an arcade with prizes and snacks, but the real fun here is seeing how many times you can sneak up on your best friend and make that little sensor on their chest light up. – Metromix Phoenix

Three Insider Pages reviewers rate the laser galaxy an average of four stars, while three Yelpers give it a 3.5 average:

• The place is huge and is the best laser tag I have played in Arizona. The staff is always fun and very helpful too! – Tommy P., Insider Pages
• …I'm probably a little older than their target market, but darn, this place is fun! And my teenagers really get a kick out of embarrasing [sic] me here. – Natalie W., Yelp