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Cannon Spike
When robotic and biological terrorism spreads throughout the world in the near future, it's up to several of Capcom's finest to put a stop to them in this top-down shooter from Capcom and Psikyo.
Overview
Cannon Spike, known in Japan as Gunspike, is an overhead run-'n'-gun game developed by both Psikyo (Company) and Capcom (Company) and released by Capcom for arcades (using Dreamcast (Platform)-based Sega NAOMI (Concept) hardware) in 2000. It later received a Dreamcast port, released in North America on November 14, 2000, in Japan on December 21, 2000, and in Europe on May 3, 2002.
A collaboration between Psikyo and Capcom, Cannon Spike features several characters from numerous Capcom series (some of which are unique interpretations) in a crossover as they use their guns and mobile vehicles (most of which are rollerblades known as Motor Boots) to deal with a variety of mechanized soldiers and mutated creatures in a near-future 20XX. As members of the Anti-Robot Special Forces (ASRF), these mercenaries deal with a variety of robotic and biological attacks of terrorism throughout the world, hunting down the criminal organization responsible for it.
Gameplay
Cannon Spike is, in its arcade version, a single-joystick, three-button game with two attack buttons (Shot for ranged attacks and Attack for melee attacks) and a Mark button used for locking-on to enemies. These can be combined for more advanced techniques:
- Shot - On its own, it is a standard weapon attack that can be held down for rapid-fire. Defaulted to the A button in the home version.
- Attack - On its own, it is a standard melee attack, which can be chained together (even with other types of attacks) for combos. Defaulted to the B button in the home version.
- Mark - On its own, it projects a lock-on cursor on the closest target the character is facing, which automatically turns the character towards (as long as it's held down) them for more concentrated attacks. Defaulted to the R button in the home version.
- Heavy Shot (Shot + Attack) - A more powerful ranged attack with a lengthier recovery window. The home version uses a shortcut button (defaulted to X).
- Heavy Attack (Attack + Mark) - A more powerful melee attack with a lengthier recovery window. The home version uses a shortcut button (defaulted to Y).
- Special Attack (Shot + Attack + Mark) - A very powerful limited-use attack that also grants temporary invincibility during the attack. It makes use of Special Attack Item pick-ups, which The home version uses a shortcut button (defaulted to L).
Characters
The game includes seven playable characters, two of which are time-locked in the Arcade version. Each of them are either characters previously established in multiple Capcom (Company) universes or based on characters from said universes, and have unique weaponry, abilities, and stats for speed, attack power, and vitality.
In addition, the Spanish ninja Vega (Character) from the Street Fighter series appears as a minor antagonist "Fallen Balrog".
Shiba Shintaro
The game's main protagonist, and based on Siva (Character) from the 1991 game Three Wonders (Game), Shiba is a cocky Japanese skateboarder who became involved in the terrorist plot and fights with the ARSF as a counter-attack. Wielding both a L989-A3 rifle and riding a very fast hoverboard (which he uses for melee attacks), Shiba is also accompanied by the robotic wisp companion Akaby.
- Playstyle: Offensive
- Heavy Shot: Cyclone Ball - Launches an explosive ball of energy in a short distance.
- Heavy Attack: 1080 Turn - Performs a longer-lasting, more-powerful spin attack.
- Special Attack: Homing Akaby - Summons multiple copies of Akaby as homing missiles.
Cammy White
Originally from the Street Fighter (Game) series, Cammy (Character) is a member of the British special forces unit Delta Red and the leader of the ARSF. She maneuvers with Motor Boots and dual-wields sub-machine guns (the ZZ01 Mantis & Caesar SNG).
She has an alternate outfit based on her appearance in the Street Fighter Alpha (Franchise) series, which gives her a higher attack power and lower vitality. This outfit is only selectable in the arcade version if a VMU containing the home version's save file is present. In the home version, this outfit is selectable from the start (off-screen in the character select screen).
Additionally, the game's English name comes from her heavy attack.
- Playstyle: Offensive
- Heavy Shot: Riot Smasher - Fires two powerful energy shots.
- Heavy Attack: Cannon Spike - Performs a quicker somersault kick.
- Special Attack: Chain Grenade - Throws a grenade that deals multiple explosions in a straight line.
King Arthur
Based on Sir Arthur (Character) from the Ghosts n' Goblins series, Arthur is a British mercenary of justice whose mechanized heavy armor resembles a hulking golden knight. He wields a gunlance, which he names "Excalibur", and moves around with his armor's rocket boots.
- Playstyle: Defensive
- Heavy Shot: Arthur Missile - Launches a barrage of homing missiles from his armor.
- Heavy Attack: Arthur Rush - Dashes forward, powerfully stabbing all enemies in his path.
- Special Attack: Arthur Beam - Launches four energy beams from his armor in a wide angle.
Charlie
Originally from the Street Fighter (Franchise) series, and known in the Japanese version as Nash, Charlie (Character) is a member of the United States Air Force (Concept) who is dispatched to assist Cammy and the ARSF. He maneuvers with Motor Boots (which resemble rollerblades in the official artwork) and wields a MARS Command Carbine rifle.
- Playstyle: Defensive
- Heavy Shot: Piercing Cannon - Fires a single, more powerful shot that pierces enemies.
- Heavy Attack: Somersault Kick - Performs a two-kit somersault kick.
- Special Attack: Sonic Break - Launches a barrage of energy "sonic boom" projectiles from his arms.
Simone
Based on Linn Kurosawa (Character) from the 1994 game Alien vs. Predator, Simone is a French cyborg and a mercenary working with Arthur. She maneuvers with Motor Boots and, along with a C&P MPV sub-machine gun, she wields a katana in combat.
- Playstyle: Offensive
- Heavy Shot: Samurai Laser - Quickly fires a thin, piercing laser.
- Heavy Attack: Samurai Slash - Performs a series of slashes with her katana.
- Special Attack: Samurai Sword - Launches a shockwave in front of her.
B.B. Hood
Originally from the Darkstalkers (Franchise) series and known in the Japanese version as Bulleta, B.B. Hood is a mysterious young girl searching for treasure. She rides a kick scooter and wields both a S32 Impact sub-machine gun and her sadistic tendencies.
In the arcade version, she is time-locked. In the home version, she is playable from the start (off-screen in the character select screen).
- Playstyle: Offensive
- Heavy Shot: Cheer of Fire - Unleashes a long-ranged flamethrower from a bottle. She can control her movement while it is in effect.
- Heavy Attack: Apple for You - Tosses an explosive apple.
- Special Attack: Bazooka Paradise - Launches a barrage of missiles from twin shoulder-mounted bazookas.
Mega Man
Originally from the Mega Man (Franchise) series and known in the Japanese version as Rockman, Mega Man (Character) is a mysterious young helper robot who volunteers for combat. He maneuvers using his armor's rocket boots and is armed with his trusty arm cannon (the "Mega Buster", known in-game as "Rock Buster").
In the arcade version, he is time-locked. In the home version, he is playable from the start (off-screen in the character select screen).
- Playstyle: Defensive
- Heavy Shot: Super Mega Buster - Fires an explosive charged shot from his Mega Buster.
- Heavy Attack: Tornado Hold - Summons a tornado around him, which moves forward before dissipating.
- Special Attack: Rock 'n' Roll - Performs a multi-hit forward rolling attack.
Stages
The first four stages of the run follow a particular sequence, which is either Day->Night->Day->Night or a Night->Day->Night->Day. Abandoned Bridge and Occupied Town count as Day stages, while Perished Town and Unholy Dwelling count as Night stages.
- The Abandoned Bridge - Bosses: Gunship Delfin, UFO ROBO Vader
- The Occupied Town - Bosses: Buggy Hayabusa, Rick Blue & Bob Green & Ken Brown
- The Perished Town - Bosses: Fallen Balrog, Big Wheel Dragon
- The Unholy Dwelling - Bosses: Bio Gorilla Bloody, Bio Monster Giant-BB
The fifth, sixth, and seven stages follow a sequence that plays the following in a random order:
- The King of the Jungle - Bosses: Crazy Machine Jet Tiger, Jungle Master Sasuke
- The Slope - Bosses: Flying Fortress Kabuki, Snowboard ROBO Rusher
- Uninhabited Station - Bosses: Dual Mech Savage Bros, Insect ROBO Overlord, Attacker Antonio
The eighth, ninth, and tenth stage follow the same order:
- Geofront Entrance - Bosses: Revenger Balrog, Revenger Kabuki
- Deep Shrine - Bosses: Cat Lady Beauty, Cat Lady Beauty (transformed), Psychicer Sting
- Extreme Sphere - Bosses: Metal Blade Nightmare, Flame ROBO Nightmare
If all ten stages are cleared at higher difficulty without continuing, the game gives players a tougher second loop.
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- Name
- Cannon Spike
- Release Date
- 2000
- Platform
- Arcade (Platform)
Dreamcast (Platform) - Developer
- Publisher
- Genre
- Action (Genre)
Shooter (Genre) - Aliases
- Gunspike