Cannon Spike
{{Short description|2000 video game}}
{{Refimprove|date=February 2007}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Cannon Spike
|image = Cannon Spike.PNG
|alt = Cover of the Dreamcast version of Cannon Spike
|caption = European Dreamcast cover art
|developer = Psikyo
|publisher = Capcom
|director = Shinsuke Nakamura
|producer = Tatsuya Minami
|designer =
|programmer = Kenichi Fujita
Kunihiko Nogomi
Michiaki Negoro
Katsuya Shikanouchi
Kokichi Ogi
|artist =
|composer = Masaki Izutani
Toshiya Kobayashi
Kaori Kumakura
Kensuke Sato
|released = Arcade
2000
Dreamcast
{{vgrelease|NA|15 November 2000{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/01/cannon-spike-firing-gunbird-2-in-flight-in-2000|title=Cannon Spike Firing; Gunbird 2 in Flight in 2000|first=Brandon|last=Justice|date=31 October 2000|website=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|access-date=30 December 2021|archive-date=18 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118202928/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/01/cannon-spike-firing-gunbird-2-in-flight-in-2000|url-status=live}}|JP|21 December 2000|EU|26 April 2002{{Cite news |date=2002-04-11 |title=The Last Days of Dreamcast |language=en-gb |work=Eurogamer.net |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/article-45774 |access-date=2023-04-21 |archive-date=2023-04-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421155632/https://www.eurogamer.net/article-45774 |url-status=live }}}}
|genre = Multi-directional shooter
|modes = Up to 2 players simultaneously
|platforms = Arcade, Dreamcast
|arcade system = Sega NAOMI
}}
Cannon Spike, originally released in Japan as {{nihongo|Gunspike|ガンスパイク|Gansupaiku}}, is a multi-directional shooter arcade game released in 2000 by Psikyo and later in the same year for the Dreamcast by Capcom. It uses Capcom-designed characters and runs on Sega's Naomi Hardware. Cannon Spike is similar to games like Smash TV and Capcom's Commando, although with primary focus on boss fighting. Cannon Spike is noted as the last game released for Dreamcast in Europe, published by Bigben Interactive and exclusively sold at retail in Game outlets.
The international title, Cannon Spike, is the name of a trademark attack performed by Cammy, a character from the Street Fighter series of video games and one of the protagonists of this title.
Characters
The game features seven playable characters, each of which originates from or is inspired by other Capcom games. These include Cammy and Charlie from the Street Fighter series; Arthur from Ghosts 'n Goblins; the original characters Shiba Shintaro and Simone, based on Siva from Three Wonders and Linn Kurosawa from Alien vs. Predator respectively; and the secret characters Baby Bonnie Hood from Darkstalkers and Mega Man.{{cite web | last=Gantayat | first=Anoop | title=Cannon Spike | website=IGN | date=July 26, 2000 | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/07/26/cannon-spike-2 | access-date=June 30, 2024 | archive-date=June 30, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240630000901/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/07/26/cannon-spike-2 | url-status=live }} In addition, Vega from the Street Fighter series appears as an enemy character, named "Fallen Balrog" or "Revenger Balrog" in all regions.
Gameplay
In its arcade incarnation, the game is played using a joystick and three buttons; Mark (used to lock onto a targeted enemy), Shoot, and Attack (a close-range strike, usually more powerful or with greater knock-back compared to ordinary shooting). In addition to these basic commands, each character also has a ranged special attack (unleashed by pressing Shoot and Attack simultaneously), a close-range special (Mark and Attack simultaneously), and a super special (all three buttons simultaneously). The use of the super special requires a Special Token, occasionally dropped by a defeated enemy and always dropped by a defeated ally in 2-player mode.
Reception
{{Video game reviews
|MC = 73/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/cannon-spike/critic-reviews/?platform=dreamcast|title=Cannon Spike for Dreamcast Reviews|website=Metacritic|publisher=Red Ventures|access-date=15 August 2019|archive-date=22 January 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250122232413/https://www.metacritic.com/game/cannon-spike/critic-reviews/?platform=dreamcast|url-status=live}}
|Allgame = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=26509&tab=review|title=Cannon Spike (DC) - Review|first=Jon|last=Thompson|website=AllGame|publisher=All Media Network|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115175936/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=26509&tab=review|archive-date=15 November 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=15 August 2019}}
|Edge = 7/10{{cite magazine|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/e/e0/Edge_UK_093.pdf|title=Cannon Spike (DC)|author=Edge staff|magazine=Edge|publisher=Future Publishing|issue=93|date=January 2001|page=112|access-date=11 January 2022|archive-date=19 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019160059/https://retrocdn.net/images/e/e0/Edge_UK_093.pdf|url-status=live}}
|EGM = 6.17/10{{cite magazine|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/2/21/EGM_US_135.pdf|title=Cannon Spike|first1=Chris|last1=Johnston|first2=James "Milkman"|last2=Mielke|first3=Shawn|last3=Smith|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|publisher=Ziff Davis|issue=135|date=October 2000|page=174|access-date=11 January 2022|archive-date=23 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423144441/https://retrocdn.net/images/2/21/EGM_US_135.pdf|url-status=live}}{{efn|In an early review, two critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the Dreamcast version each a score of 6/10, and the other gave it 6.5/10.}}
|Fam = 30/40{{cite magazine|title=ドリームキャスト - ガンスパイク|language=ja|magazine=Famitsu|publisher=Enterbrain|volume=915|date=30 June 2006|page=52}}
|GI = 7/10{{cite magazine|title=Cannon Spike|magazine=Game Informer|publisher=FuncoLand|issue=89|date=September 2000}}
|GameFan = 88%{{cite magazine|title=REVIEW for Cannon Spike|magazine=GameFan|publisher=Shinno Media|date=15 November 2000}}
|GamePro = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.gamepro.com/sega/dreamcast/games/reviews/7459.shtml|title=Cannon Spike Review for Dreamcast on GamePro.com|author=Uncle Dust|date=27 November 2000|magazine=GamePro|publisher=IDG Entertainment|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050209110515/http://www.gamepro.com/sega/dreamcast/games/reviews/7459.shtml|archive-date=9 February 2005|url-status=dead|access-date=15 August 2019}}
|GameRev = C+{{cite web|url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/32201-cannon-spike-review|title=Cannon Spike Review|first=Joe|last=Nash|date=November 2000|website=GameRevolution|publisher=CraveOnline|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907224952/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/cannon-spike|archive-date=7 September 2015|url-status=live|access-date=15 August 2019}}
|GSpot = 7.8/10{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/cannon-spike-review/1900-2653212/|title=Cannon Spike Review [date mislabeled as "17 May 2006"]|first=Brad|last=Shoemaker|date=13 November 2000|website=GameSpot|publisher=Red Ventures|access-date=13 February 2019|archive-date=14 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214002810/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/cannon-spike-review/1900-2653212/|url-status=live}}
|NGen = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/NextGen71Nov2000/page/n125/mode/2up|title=Cannon Spike (DC)|first=Greg|last=Orlando|magazine=NextGen|publisher=Imagine Media|issue=71|date=November 2000|page=124|access-date=21 February 2021}}
}}
The Dreamcast version received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. Electronic Gaming Monthly and Game Informer gave it average reviews, months before its U.S. release. Greg Orlando of NextGen said that the game was "not quite artillerific, but it is a mindlessly fun way to murder some time." In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 30 out of 40.
Also in Japan, Game Machine listed the arcade version in their 15 November 2000 issue as the second most-successful arcade game of the month.{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software)|language=ja|magazine=Game Machine|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|issue=622|date=15 November 2000|page=17}}
{{clear}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/cannonspike/cannonspike.htm Cannon Spike] at HardcoreGaming101
- {{KLOV game|id=13109}}
- {{moby game|id=/cannon-spike}}
{{Darkstalkers series}}
{{Ghosts'n Goblins}}
{{Mega Man}}
{{Street Fighter series}}
Category:Crossover video games
Category:Multidirectional shooters
Category:Video games about terrorism