I played both this and Ghoul Panic with such glee as a kid even though I didn't have a light gun! I love the creativity in these. This and Bishi Bashi Special really make for some hectic two-player goodness.
I love this series! You can play it for hours and not tire, and just find new stages all the time. Its great by yourswlf but better with a partner... This series really is the best lightgun game by far!
Those are games are so fun, I played it on the arcade at a pizza place I worked at. I thought it was a cool touch too how the gun kind of cocked back after you shot in the game
I myself knew Point Blank when I was reading PlayStation Magazines that I had when I was little, before eventually playing the demo of Point Blank 2 via Euro Demo 10/99 and also its, I guess you can say, Halloween-themed off-shoot called Ghoul Panic from the Bloody Roar developers, on Euro Demo 08/00. In around 2003/04 was when I had the full versions of these games, as well as the first and 3rd Point Blank, yet I didn't have a Guncon (or G-Con45 as it was known in where I live) or any lightgun with Guncon functionality to properly play these games until I bought some Third-Party lightguns in around the mid-2000s, including a Walther PPK-modeled one and eventually a black Desert Eagle-modeled one that I still have.
@@VideoGameEsoterica Interestingly, there exists a version of Point Blank 3 which is not playable in MAME and is undumped. It's called Aim for Cash and Stage Random has a video on it which you can check out.
We spent years playing the arcade version of PB1. Definitely my favourite series, even tho i really liked first Time Crisis. Both of these had the good Namco gun, which is in my books the most accurate lightgun in existance. PB had option for 2 player games and inserting 2 coins into the machine gave 3 credits, which meant the 2 player games had the extra credit as a prize. This created quite competitive environment for "gitting gud." I remember when PB2 came, first time i tested it i chose Normal difficulty and it felt like waste of money cus it was so easy at that point. Didn't get to play PB2 as much as PB1. Some levels on Insane were close to impossible but there was plenty of people who were able to 1cc it and thats what we ended up playing usually on 2 player games. Then arcades disappeared and i lost the skill. :(
@@VideoGameEsoterica Yeah i saw. ;) If you get into it and keep playing these, could u upload one good game and show your setup? IMO PB2 would be the perfect game to measure the viability of any lightgun setup, because wide variety of levels and most of the people who have played lightgun games know it. And yeah i know how hard it is until you shake the rust. I cant even 1cc Expert anymore every time, my excuse is the shite feel of VR controllers.
PlayStation 1 was my favorite console but I never tried point blank at the time I thought it was too niche into the novelty of the light gun. It does look fun I’ll try it out!
@@VideoGameEsoterica What does that mean? Is it possible to 1cc the game on Normal/Expert/Insane? According to the rumor Sinden is pestered with input lag.
The Sinden is great until you need to be perfectly accurate IMO. Levels in Point Blank that are the 1 bullet accuracy challenges only work as intended on original hardware IMO
The GUN4IR system is much more accurate and has less latency. It's the definitive way to play lightgun games on modern tvs but its much more expensive especially if you get a pre built one
Yes it didnt have the solenoid recoil sadly but that makes sense for a home use market. The voltage required to actuate it is either 24V or 31V depending on the solenoid. Not getting those voltages off a PS1 controller plug
If you're looking for a namco or namco clone lightgun, there's a software called GUN4IR combined with 4 LEDs that allows you to play lightgun games accurately on modern tvs. For the ps1 you could get the Super Jolt Gun or the Real Arcade gun (one is originally for ps1 and the other Saturn I believe) that doesn't have the 24v of the namco one but it does have a lighter kick of 12v or 14v depending on the model
@@VideoGameEsoterica I think he hates Working Designs because of their localization works, so he think Point Blank is a worse game than it is by association.
"Parties and guns DO mix!!" - Point Blank 3 -
That gets darker with each passing year.
lol...funny yet sad
loved this back in the day bro and I recently grabbed a trinitron and are getting this next
One of the number 1 reasons I keep so many PVMs around is I always need to be able to play Point Blank
I played both this and Ghoul Panic with such glee as a kid even though I didn't have a light gun! I love the creativity in these. This and Bishi Bashi Special really make for some hectic two-player goodness.
Ghoul Panic is awesome too. I need to do a video on that one day
I love this series! You can play it for hours and not tire, and just find new stages all the time. Its great by yourswlf but better with a partner... This series really is the best lightgun game by far!
Yes it has infinite replayability
One of the greats for sure and so addictive.
Hyper addictive game
Those are games are so fun, I played it on the arcade at a pizza place I worked at. I thought it was a cool touch too how the gun kind of cocked back after you shot in the game
Yes the solenoid included on the controls in the arcade cab was a ton of fun feedback wise
It's like Wario Ware but with guns
That’s a very solid comparison
Definitely
Surprised Nintendo never did a Wario Ware like this
@@VideoGameEsoterica Double surprised P.B. never came to wii.
Seemed like an ideal platform and user base.
Honestly that’s not a bad idea at all
I myself knew Point Blank when I was reading PlayStation Magazines that I had when I was little, before eventually playing the demo of Point Blank 2 via Euro Demo 10/99 and also its, I guess you can say, Halloween-themed off-shoot called Ghoul Panic from the Bloody Roar developers, on Euro Demo 08/00. In around 2003/04 was when I had the full versions of these games, as well as the first and 3rd Point Blank, yet I didn't have a Guncon (or G-Con45 as it was known in where I live) or any lightgun with Guncon functionality to properly play these games until I bought some Third-Party lightguns in around the mid-2000s, including a Walther PPK-modeled one and eventually a black Desert Eagle-modeled one that I still have.
The third party options were always fun and interesting. Nothing quite lived up to the GunCon as far as accuracy was concerned but some got close!
@@VideoGameEsoterica Interestingly, there exists a version of Point Blank 3 which is not playable in MAME and is undumped. It's called Aim for Cash and Stage Random has a video on it which you can check out.
I’ve seen that. What an odd pivot. I mean if you get good you could 100% hustle that machine
@@VideoGameEsoterica One fun fact: Both Dr. Don and Dr. Dan appear in Alpine Racer 2 as one combined hidden character.
A fun game to play, especially with the Sinden
It’s a classic for sure
I seen this game at Blockbuster growing up VGE. I never played it but remember looking at it with interest. 8^)
Anthony...
How did you walk by it and not rent it? Lol
We spent years playing the arcade version of PB1. Definitely my favourite series, even tho i really liked first Time Crisis. Both of these had the good Namco gun, which is in my books the most accurate lightgun in existance. PB had option for 2 player games and inserting 2 coins into the machine gave 3 credits, which meant the 2 player games had the extra credit as a prize. This created quite competitive environment for "gitting gud." I remember when PB2 came, first time i tested it i chose Normal difficulty and it felt like waste of money cus it was so easy at that point. Didn't get to play PB2 as much as PB1. Some levels on Insane were close to impossible but there was plenty of people who were able to 1cc it and thats what we ended up playing usually on 2 player games. Then arcades disappeared and i lost the skill. :(
I used to be so good at point blank back in the day. Def am a bit rusty these days
@@VideoGameEsoterica Yeah i saw. ;)
If you get into it and keep playing these, could u upload one good game and show your setup? IMO PB2 would be the perfect game to measure the viability of any lightgun setup, because wide variety of levels and most of the people who have played lightgun games know it. And yeah i know how hard it is until you shake the rust. I cant even 1cc Expert anymore every time, my excuse is the shite feel of VR controllers.
Maybe one day I’ll take a look in video form. It’s on my list of potential ideas
I remember this game had legendary status back in the day. Sadly, I never got to play it since I never had a light gun for my PS1.
Gotta play it now then. Hall of fame good
Do you know if Point Blank can be played using the analog stick or only works with the D-pad?
That’s a good question and honestly I’ve never tried
I can be used with either
“It”
I have point blank 2 the real arcade board in a lethal enforcers cabinet. Bougt it waaaay back in 2005!
Nice. Should redo the cabinet art to match!
It`s time to upgrade to - Point Blank X -
I’ve been trying to find a board for the rerelease
PlayStation 1 was my favorite console but I never tried point blank at the time I thought it was too niche into the novelty of the light gun. It does look fun I’ll try it out!
Def play it. Super fun and charming
I hope you got to pick it up. With a Guncon it's retrogaming heaven ...
Amazing review! Curious to know, if you had to choose, which is your favourite out of the trilogy?
Second. Bigger than the first and it just has the best collection of levels IMO
@@VideoGameEsoterica awesome! Appreciate the reply 🙂 Have you ever played Point Blank X in the arcade? I've never managed to find a place that has it
No I’ve never seen it in the wild sadly but I hope to one day
@@VideoGameEsoterica Same 🙂 love your channel, subbed 👍
Appreciate it!
Loved this game growing up. Can someone share how I can still play this in 2024?
This comment on this vid today. I’m wondering why haha
1. Do you have Sinden Light Guns?
2. Have you tried using them in your emulated light gun games?
I have a Sinden. They work decently well
@@VideoGameEsoterica What does that mean? Is it possible to 1cc the game on Normal/Expert/Insane? According to the rumor Sinden is pestered with input lag.
The Sinden is great until you need to be perfectly accurate IMO. Levels in Point Blank that are the 1 bullet accuracy challenges only work as intended on original hardware IMO
The GUN4IR system is much more accurate and has less latency. It's the definitive way to play lightgun games on modern tvs but its much more expensive especially if you get a pre built one
I had NO idea about this series
Wow really? Well now you def have to play it
Are they any other arcade light gun games NOT from Namco but have a similar theme to the Point Blank series? 🙄
Thanks to all replies in advance!!
Off the top of my head…no 🤷🏻♂️ I can’t think of any in the same style
Zero Point 1 and Zero Point 2 are right up your alley if you're looking to extend your Point Blank experience
Those I haven’t tried yet
@@bc5748 Thank you! 💪
awesome game
It truly is a ton of fun
Playing on the PS1 never hit the heights of the arcade due to the lack of "clacky" mechanised arcade light guns.
Yes it didnt have the solenoid recoil sadly but that makes sense for a home use market. The voltage required to actuate it is either 24V or 31V depending on the solenoid. Not getting those voltages off a PS1 controller plug
If you're looking for a namco or namco clone lightgun, there's a software called GUN4IR combined with 4 LEDs that allows you to play lightgun games accurately on modern tvs.
For the ps1 you could get the Super Jolt Gun or the Real Arcade gun (one is originally for ps1 and the other Saturn I believe) that doesn't have the 24v of the namco one but it does have a lighter kick of 12v or 14v depending on the model
I need to build a GUN4IR soon
Why do you guys think Point Blank is better than Time Crisis?
The charm and personality. Time Crisis is amazing don't get me wrong...but Point Blank is just pure fun
@@VideoGameEsoterica Yeah, but… It’s bad enough even Working Designs thought Point Blank was better.
Sorry not sure what you mean?
@@VideoGameEsoterica I think he hates Working Designs because of their localization works, so he think Point Blank is a worse game than it is by association.
@@VideoGameEsoterica Its weird though , since Working Designs had nothing to do with Point Blank.