Point Blank

Hit the target, but don't shoot the right one or you lose. Point Blank by Namco pulled off something unexpected: it took the serious technology of the light gun and turned it into a crazy, colorful party full of minigames that has you clutching your sides with laughter.

Unlike the grim shooting galleries full of gangsters and zombies, Point Blank bet on sheer playfulness. Instead of enemies, a flood of short, inventive tasks awaited you: shoot up all the targets but avoid the little figures, hit only a certain color, protect the target, or simply shoot as fast as possible. Each minigame lasted only a few seconds, but their inventiveness and rising difficulty created an incredibly addictive rhythm. Two comical scientists, Dr. Don and Dr. Dan, became the mascots of the whole title.

The focus on two-player play was brilliant. Point Blank literally came alive when you sat down at the gun with a friend and competed for a better score or cooperated to complete a task. The arcade instantly turned into a stage of laughter and friendly rivalry, which made this game one of the best titles for shared fun.

Point Blank's success carried it to the home PlayStation, where it was played with the GunCon light gun and where it won a loyal fan base. The series continued with several installments and to this day stands as a benchmark for how to make a light-gun shooter accessible to absolutely everyone, regardless of age or experience.

Point Blank is proof that arcades are not only about intense action, but also about carefree joy. It is a title that makes you laugh, challenges you to a duel and one at which time flies incredibly fast. Few games manage to be so instantly entertaining.

Why play: For a crazy carousel of minigames and two-player laughter that makes a light-gun arcade the ideal party experience.