You're too young: we had Mattel crank-fired cap machine guns and Daisy pop rifles (and a neighbor's souvenir Japanese rifle) to play war with and we build Speedee-Bilt and Jigtime flying models and rocket-powered models using Jetex reloadable rocket motors. The chemistry sets had real chemicals and we made really interesting (and dangerous) stuff with them and if you had connections, we could get Hammerheads and Cherry Bombs to really shake things up.
Today's toys are sanitized, gender-neutral, and boring.
and a neighbor’s souvenir Japanese rifle)
What’s it an Arisaka? My Dad brought one home, those were heavy suckers!