Point Blank (video game)

Infobox VG
title = Point Blank


developer = Namco
publisher = Namco
distributor =
designer =
engine =
version =
released = 1994 (arcade)
vgrelease|NA|April 30, 1998 (PS)
vgrelease|NA|June 13, 2006 (DS)
genre = Action
modes = Single player, 2 player Co-op
ratings =
platforms = Arcade, Nintendo DS, PlayStation
media = CD-ROM (PS)
requirements =
input = Light gun (PS), Touch screen (DS)

Point Blank (original Japanese title: "Gun Bullet") is an arcade game first made by Namco in 1994. Players use an attached light gun to hit targets onscreen. Missions require speed, quick judgement or pinpoint accuracy. A home version is available for the PlayStation. A version for the Nintendo DS was announced during the 2006 Game Developers Conference in San Jose, CA. The console's stylus and touch screen is used in place of the light gun. The finished game was released in North America on June 13, 2006, two days after the North American release of the Nintendo DS Lite.

The game consists of non-violent, all ages, shooting contests like shooting targets (and avoid to shoot bomb), shooting cardboard targets (avoid shooting cardboard civilians), shooting the target of player color (avoid shooting opposing color), protecting the iconic Dr.Don and Dr. Dan, and many miscellaneous challenges such as the Galaxian stage where lightgun is used in place of spaceships to shoot aliens.

Rules of the game

The player chooses the desired difficulty level: Beginner, Advanced, Expert or Very Hard/Insane. This will determine how many stages must be finished to complete the game in order to finish, as well as their overall difficulty.

The players are shown four missions in each grouping, and may attempt them in any order. Players have only three lives for the entire game. Players can lose lives by

* Failing to complete a mission in the time limit
* Shooting a bomb (a black ball with skull and fuse)
* Shooting an opposing player's target or anything that is marked "DON'T SHOOT!" in the mission briefing.
* Letting Dr. Dan or Dr. Don die in any mission where you must protect them. (For example, blowing up fireballs being spewed from a volcano)
* Incorrectly answering questions by shooting wrong answers

Points

Points are awarded after each stage. The points are not worth anything except a spot on the high score list at the end of the game. Points are scored for accuracy, fast shooting and hitting large numbers of targets.

Bonus stage

After completing eight of the stages, a bonus round will occur. Each player has a few seconds to take one shot at one of four treasure chests. When time is up, the chests come to center stage and are opened. One has 10,000 points, one has an extra life, one has both, and one has nothing. A missed shot is worth nothing in the bonus.

After the bonus stage, eight more stages are played.

Final stage

After completing all sixteen stages, the players have one last test. A castle is shown with 21 targets to shoot in 3 seconds. Each shot is worth points, and there is no threshold to pass the test. After that, the game ends.

The cabinet has two light guns attached to the base, a pink and blue gun near the screen. Two sequels were also made, with 70 different missions for each.

Reception

"Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine" called characters Dr. Dan and Dr. Don an underrated "dynamic duo". [OPM staff (September 2004). "Overrated/Underrated" ( [http://www.extremecroquet.com/Ziff/Flashwork/UnderOver/overrated.swf SWF transcript] ). "Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine"]

References

External links

*moby game|id=/point-blank |name= "Point Blank"