Cannon Spike
Alternate Titles - Gunspike (ガンスパイク, Gansupaiku), Japan
Developer - Psikyo
Publisher - Capcom
Directors - Shinsuke Nakamura
Producer - Tatsuya Minami
Programmers - Kenichi Fujita, Kunihiko Nogomi, Michiaki Negoro, Katsuya Shikanouchi, Kokichi Ogi
Composers - Masaki Izutani, Toshiya Kobayashi, Kaori Kumakura, Kensuke Sato
Genre - Multi-directional shooter; up to two players
Release Dates - November 14, 2000 (North America); December 21, 2000 (Japan); May 3, 2002 (Europe)
Additional Releases - SEGA NAOMI arcade cabinet (2000)
Current Average Price - $400
Cannon Spike is a multi-directional arcade shooter in the style of the arcade classic Smash TV (1990). For those newer to gaming, Cannon Spike may feel similar to Super Stardust HD (though that “twin-stick shooter” is far more sophisticated, mostly due to the Playstation 3’s dual analog sticks compared with the Dreamcast’s single stick).
Gameplay is focused around frantic action. The player controls his or her chosen character from an angled top-down perspective, progressing through 3D environments while shooting enemies in all directions. Each stage culminates in a boss battle.
The player can move in all directions, lock onto enemies, shoot from a distance or close in for a more powerful melee attack. In addition, there are three special attacks; ranged special, melee special, and super special (which requires a token picked up within the stage or from a fallen ally in two-player mode).
Cannon Spike features Capcom characters from multiple franchises. Playable characters include Cammy and Charlie (Street Fighter series), Arthur (Ghosts ‘n Goblins), Shiba Shuntaro (Three Wonders), Baby Bonnie Hood (Darkstalkers), and Megaman. There’s also one original character created for Cannon Spike, Simone, and Street Fighter’s Vega appears as an enemy character.
Contemporary reviews rated Cannon Spike as an averagely fun and generally pleasant way to kill some time. Famitsu scored the game 30/40, and Game Informer scored it 7/10. Today, it’s a fun and challenging diversion full of explosions, interesting environments and enemies, a decent soundtrack, and a bit of Capcom fan service.
Cannon Spike was produced in very limited quantities in the United States, making it hard-to-find even on its release day (it took me calling my local Gamestop for weeks to finally get mine). Today it’s a very rare game and quite expensive. In Japan, it was the second-most successful arcade game of the year 2000. It is notable in Europe for being the last game released for the Dreamcast.