Piercing Blow
Piercing Blow is a 3D, lobby-based tactical shooter that takes clear inspiration from Counter-Strike style round-based firefights. Matches pit two factions against each other, the Free Rebels (Terrorists) and CT-Force (Counter Terrorists), with an emphasis on fast reactions and precise aim. The title originally appeared in the West as Project Blackout, while it has long been known as Point Blank across much of Asia.
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Publisher: Zepetto Playerbase: Shut Down Type: Shooter Release Date: December 10, 2010 (NA/EU) Shut Down Date: September 21, 2018 Pros: +Solid stat tracking and performance records. +Plenty of modes and a wide map pool. +Strong layouts that support tactical play. +Quest rewards that encourage regular matches. Cons: -Cash shop balance issues. -Weapons are not permanent. |
Piercing Blow Shut Down on September 21, 2018
Piercing Blow Overview
Piercing Blow is another Korean-made online FPS built around compact sessions, quick matchmaking, and a familiar buy-and-loadout loop that fans of titles like Combat Arms and Blackshot will recognize. You jump into rounds from a lobby, earn points for your performance, then spend those points in the in-game shop on weapons and gear to shape your preferred playstyle.
One of the more approachable systems here is the quest structure. Instead of relying only on grinding currency, the game pushes players toward steady, repeat play through objectives that pay out meaningful rewards. That added cadence makes it easier to keep your arsenal competitive, at least on paper. Region naming can be confusing, the same core game is widely known as Point Blank in Asia, and it shifted from Project Blackout to Piercing Blow for non-Asian regions in 2014.
Piercing Blow Key Features:
- Tactical FPS Gameplay – lethality is high, and a clean headshot can end an encounter instantly.
- Customization with Skills – unlockable skills can be slotted (up to three) to improve stats, giving players another way to tune their build beyond weapon choice.
- Four Starting Characters – begin with a small roster, with more special characters available later as cosmetic alternatives.
- Unique Game Modes – escape mode flips expectations by making one side dinosaurs and the other humans, with humans trying to get out while dinosaurs attempt to prevent the escape.
- Rank System – a familiar ladder that starts you as a recruit and can eventually lead up to Command General.
Piercing Blow Screenshots
Piercing Blow Featured Video
Piercing Blow Review
Piercing Blow aims for the classic tactical shooter feel, short rounds, clear team roles, and maps designed around angles and timing rather than open-field chaos. In practice, it plays like many lobby shooters of its era: you load into a match quickly, fights are decisive, and momentum swings hard when one team starts coordinating utility and lanes. The best moments come when both sides treat it like a tactical FPS, holding crossfires, trading intelligently, and respecting how quickly a round can collapse after a single pick.
The progression loop is straightforward and familiar. You play matches, earn points, and spend those points on equipment. That store-driven structure can be satisfying because it gives you constant short-term goals, but it also creates pressure around loadout efficiency. The quest system helps a lot by providing consistent objectives and rewards, which keeps new or returning players from feeling completely stuck using low-end gear for too long. It is a smart approach for a game built around repeat sessions.
Where Piercing Blow is more distinctive is its willingness to include offbeat modes alongside the standard competitive staples. The dinosaur-versus-human escape mode is the obvious example, it is a big tonal shift that turns the game into something closer to an asymmetric chase. These modes help break up the routine and give the map list more variety in how it is used.
On the other hand, the game’s business model was always a major sticking point. An imbalanced cash shop undercuts the purity of the tactical experience because players can reasonably question whether outcomes are driven by decision-making or spending. The lack of permanent weapons also pushes the economy toward constant upkeep, which can feel like a tax on simply wanting to play your preferred kit. Those issues are especially noticeable in a genre where players expect competitive integrity and consistent access to core tools.
Overall, Piercing Blow is easy to understand and quick to enjoy, and it has enough modes and map design strengths to keep matches from blurring together. Its biggest limitations come from monetization and item permanence, which historically made it harder to recommend as a fair long-term competitive home.
Piercing Blow Links
Piercing Blow Official Site
Piercing Blow Steam
Piercing Blow Facebook Page
Piercing Blow (Point Blank) Wikipedia Page
Piercing Blow / Project Blackout Wiki [Database / Guides]
Piercing Blow System Requirements
Minimum Requirements:
Operating System: Windows XP / Vista / 7 / 8 / 10
CPU: Pentium 4 2.4 GHz / Athlon 2500+
Video Card: Nvidia GeForce 5700 GT or Radeon 9600+
RAM: 512 MB
Hard Disk Space: 5 GB
Recommended Requirements:
Operating System: Windows XP / Vista / 7 / 8 / 10
CPU: Pentium 4 3 GHz / Athlon 3000+
Video Card: Nvidia GeForce 6600 / Radeon X600
RAM: 1 GB
Hard Disk Space: 5 GB
Piercing Blow Music & Soundtrack
While Piercing Blow is not remembered primarily for its soundtrack, the audio design does important work in a tactical shooter. Weapon reports are sharp and readable, and the overall mix is geared toward helping players react to footsteps, reload cues, and nearby firefights. In a game where a single clean shot can decide a round, clear sound feedback matters as much as visuals.
Piercing Blow Additional Information
Developer: Zepetto Co.
Publisher: Zepetto U.S.A. Inc.
Game Engine: Unreal
Open Beta Date: April 29, 2015
Foreign Release:
South Korea: October 2008 (NCSoft was the original Publisher.)
Thailand: 2009 (NCTrue original publisher, then Garena)
Indonesia: June, 2009 (PT. Kreon)
Brazil: August, 2010 (OnGame)
China: December, 2010 (Shanda)
Philippines: May 5, 2011
United Arab Emirates: November 9, 2011
Malaysia/Singapore: January, 2014
Steam Release Date: November 10, 2015
Shut Down Date: September 21, 2018
Many regional services for Piercing Blow / Project Blackout have closed over time. Historically, the version operated directly by Zepetto was considered the safest option for ongoing support.
Development History / Background:
Piercing Blow was created by South Korea’s Zepetto, and it is best known in its home region under the name Point Blank. Outside of Asia, it first appeared as Project Blackout before later adopting the Piercing Blow branding in other territories. Zepetto has also supported a competitive scene through the Point Blank International Championship when possible, with the most recently referenced event taking place in Russia in 2014. In North America, the game was once published by SG Interactive, and after that service ended, Zepetto took over operations beginning in February 2014. Although the Western audience was more limited than in its home market, the title maintained long-running success in Korea. Piercing Blow also launched on Steam on November 10, 2015.