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Point Blank DS ds Game Reviews
Point Blank DS
Critic Score
Metascore: 66 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
8.5 out of 10
based on 25 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 2 votes
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Rate this game

With over 40 stages from all three games in the series being included, fans of the popular shooting series will have their hand-eye coordination tested, by using the DS stylus as their weapon of choice to shoot down everything from clay pigeons to aliens in the fun mini games of Point Blank DS. The portable return of the retro series will also boast five different modes including: Arcade: Play through four different levels of difficulty in a variety of mini shooting games. VS: Challenge your friends using the wireless feature to find out who’s the quickest draw (requires only one game card). Brain Massage: Play through various stages while the game analyzes your abilities and gives you feedback. Freeplay: Select any stage at any time to challenge your best score. [Namco Bandai]

PUBLISHER: Namco Bandai Games
DEVELOPER: Namco Bandai Games
GENRE(S): Shooter
PLAYERS: 2
ESRB RATING: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older)
RELEASE DATE: June 13, 2006

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

80
Modojo
Namco seems to have a screwed-up distribution cycle with this game, so it might be a bit hard to find. And that's too bad, because Point Blank DS is one of the better third-party offerings out there, loaded with variety and insanity going hand in hand.
Read Full Review
80
AceGamez
Point Blank DS's only minor drawback is that its play modes are all essentially the same thing hidden behind different premises that really aren't any different and because of this the gameplay doesn't hold up for extended play sessions.
Read Full Review
75
Deeko
Point Blank DS is a lot of fun while it lasts. The stylus does a fantastic job in terms of being a light gun, though you need to be spot on with your precision in order to eliminate targets, a fact that can get annoying on occasion.
Read Full Review
75
GamePro
But the real fun lies in the mini-games. It's just a tad unfortunate, though, that the game really doesn't have much depth besides that. Granted, it's fun to play with another person and it's cool to play through the unique Brain Massage mode. But, if you're looking for a DS game that's going to provide hours of entertainment, you'll have better luck elsewhere.
Read Full Review
73
Worth Playing
I feared that the sensation of firing a weapon would be completely lost on the handheld, but Point Blank DS does as good of a job as possible with only a stylus in hand.
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73
NGamer UK
It's just...fun. It won't last you forever, but it's rare that a game tries this hard to make the most of such a simple idea. We'll have some more, please. [Aug 2006, p.61]
72
Cheat Code Central
At $29.99, Point Blank is honestly a little steep simply because the game does lose its charm after the first couple of hours.
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71
Console Gameworld
One player will have fun with this for a week and then realize they need to find some friends.
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70
EuroGamer
Short-lived, it seems a very wasted opportunity to not take advantage of the full capabilities of the DS and cram in far more levels, and have them as teasing unlockables to reward successful play.
Read Full Review
70
Games Radar
If nothing else, this game proves that light gun games can be done right on the DS.
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70
GameSpot
On some level, Point Blank DS really is an interesting experiment on Namco's behalf, but frankly, Point Blank was more interesting when it was a light-gun game.
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70
GamerFeed
And aside from wanting to achieve better scores, there's little reason to return to Point Blank DS, though to be fair, it's best experienced in short, controlled bursts.
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70
IGN
Point Blank DS is a little on the shallow side, but the designers do a decent enough job spreading out the fun into a handheld package. The touch-screen replacement for light gun control works surprisingly well - I'm not hanging my light gun back in the storage closet just yet, but at the very least Namco Bandai shows that there's a place for these arcade gun shooters on the DS, and perhaps if this is successful at retail we may see other touch-screen spin-offs like the Time Crisis series.
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70
Games Master UK
It's still the Point Blank we know and love but without that pink light-gun it's not the same. [Dec 2006, p.84]
70
Official Nintendo Magazine UK
A great game, perfectly converted to the touch screen. We just doubt there's enough here to keep people playing for more than a few hours. [Dec 2006, p.86]
70
Pocket Gamer UK
Enjoyably distracting when played alone and hugely entertaining in company, Point Blank DS is ideal for five minutes of fun.
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67
Electronic Gaming Monthly
While something is lost in the translation [from the arcade], the irreverent goofiness and addictive gameplay remain pleasantly intact. [Aug 2006, p.91]
66
My Gamer
This game is entertaining, but only in short bursts.
Read Full Review
60
Nintendo Power
Point Blank is supposed to be a virtual shooting gallery, and without a gun in your hand, you're missing that tacticle feeling that's so crucial to the experience. [Aug 2006, p.85]
50
Edge Magazine
As a sideline between sessions with meatier games it's generally right on target. [Sept 2006, p.88]
50
games(TM)
The core of the title has been removed, and, thanks to this, thoughts of extended appeal and any sort of depth soon become void and Point Blank shows itself for the glorified mini-game that it actually is. [Sept 2006, p.121]
50
Gamestyle
There’s something lacking at the heart of Point Blank DS, and at no point does it fell like a cohesive collection.
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50
NTSC-uk
Plenty of fun in short bursts, but with nothing to bring you back after the first few days and nothing to keep you playing for more than a few minutes at a time, it's all but impossible to recommend Point Blank DS, at full price at least, over the rest of the DS's ever-impressive catalogue of games.
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45
Game Informer
Even if you had fun with Point Blank, you'll forget it existed minutes later. [Aug 2006, p.92]
35
GameCritics
Without replayability, unlockables or any other motivation to continue playing, Point Blank DS shows how advances in game design since the mid-90s could have saved even superficial titles.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 8.5 (out of 10) based on 2 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

[Anonymous] gave it a9:
This is a great game, very well done on the ds. Don't bother about GI review, hire it and play for yourself.

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