Cannon Spike
MSRP: $32.99
Number of Players: 1
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Reviewer: Robert Dirom
One character, a handful of moves, and a screen full of enemies
that you're meant to blast to smithereens. An example of modern game design,
Cannon Spike is not. The game is, however, a much needed throwback to the 16-bit era in a time when shooters and twitch games are becoming a
thing of the past. Cannon Spike is not a masterpiece, but it's a fun diversion from the typical games of today.
Cannon Spike's storyline is the bad sort of throwaway material you expected from shooters in the 16-bit days. Somehow the "World Union
for Peace" has managed to cobble together a team of heroes from a variety of Capcom series, including Mega Man, Arthur from
Ghosts and Goblins, B.B. Hood from Darkstalkers, as well as Cammy and Charlie from
the Street Fighter games. A couple of new characters are also introduced. This rag tag group of heroes clad in "specialized Motor
Boots" are entrusted with combating terrorists' robot soldiers who are
running amok in a world out of control due to a troubled economy. It doesn't make a lot of sense, but it's ample framework for a good
shooter.
Over the course of the game, you'll fight more than just robot soldiers,
you'll also face zombies, devil dogs and alligators, and there's enough
variety in the enemies that the levels won't seem overly repetitive. But
while the levels tend to have varied enemies, most of the 10 stages are
laid out exactly the same - you're given free movement in an open space
and required to kill a few waves of enemy grunts. Once you've succeeded
in doing that, you'll fight a sub-boss before moving to a new area to fight the "real" boss. No real surprises, but do you really expect many
from a fairly by-the-book shooter?
While generally a creature of convention, control is one element in Cannon Spike which differs from the norm. The free-roaming nature of the
levels and the overhead viewpoint necessitates a bit of a twist. Rather
than employing Gauntlet-style control, where you shoot in the direction
you're facing or moving, Cannon Spike lets you lock on to targets by pressing the R trigger on the controller. Lock-ons only last a few
seconds, but they're important, especially when facing some of the
bosses. The system is quite responsive overall, but it's inevitable that
occasionally losing a lock will lead to frustration for players.
Nevertheless, the controls are tight and responsive and, combined with
well-designed enemies and play balance, help contribute to an overall fun experience.
Visually, Cannon Spike is very attractive. It doesn't appear to be one
of the Dreamcast's most technically demanding games visually, but the levels, characters and special effects are all designed in a very
pleasing and cohesive manner. Everything is solid, well-textured and the
game moves at a smooth clip almost always, although occasionally special
attacks can result in a bit of slowdown (not unlike the game's 16-bit brethren). The in-game music and sound effects are solid as well,
although a bit of variety in the voice samples would have worked
wonders, as some of the character
battle cries grow tiresome in very short order. Also odd is the sound some opponents make when you finish
them off. The sound quality is very clean, though, and most of the effects fit the game nicely.
Cannon Spike is a short and sweet experience, and it may serve gamers best as a rental,
but it's definitely appealing enough to play over
and over if you're a fan of replaying shooters. It's a very well-made game, although it could stand to be longer. Capcom's well known for its
arcade-style games, and Cannon Spike is another success. But unless you're a shooter fan, the game probably won't have a long life in your
Dreamcast. This game is rental material for most gamers. Not that
there's anything wrong with that.
Graphics
9.0
Very well-designed and consistent.
Sound & Music
7.5
More than adequate, with good music and appropriate
sound effects. Slightly annoying character voices in certain areas.
Control
8.5
Very responsive control, but the lock-on system's
limitations will sometimes fail the player and lead to frustration.
Replay Value
4.0
Not a lot of long-term replay value, unless you're a fan
of replaying shooters.
Fun Factor
8.0
A fun experience that hearkens back to a time when games
were simpler and only cost a quarter in the arcade.
Overall
7.5
Cannon Spike is a game worth experiencing, but it's on the
short side and has limited long-term value. A very worthwhile game, but
only as a rental for most.
One character, a handful of moves, and a screen full of enemies
that you're meant to blast to smithereens. An example of modern game design,
Cannon Spike is not. The game is, however, a much needed throwback to the 16-bit era in a time when shooters and twitch games are becoming a
thing of the past. Cannon Spike is not a masterpiece, but it's a fun diversion from the typical games of today.
While generally a creature of convention, control is one element in Cannon Spike which differs from the norm. The free-roaming nature of the
levels and the overhead viewpoint necessitates a bit of a twist. Rather
than employing Gauntlet-style control, where you shoot in the direction
you're facing or moving, Cannon Spike lets you lock on to targets by pressing the R trigger on the controller. Lock-ons only last a few
seconds, but they're important, especially when facing some of the
bosses. The system is quite responsive overall, but it's inevitable that
occasionally losing a lock will lead to frustration for players.
Nevertheless, the controls are tight and responsive and, combined with
well-designed enemies and play balance, help contribute to an overall fun experience.
Cannon Spike is a short and sweet experience, and it may serve gamers best as a rental,
but it's definitely appealing enough to play over
and over if you're a fan of replaying shooters. It's a very well-made game, although it could stand to be longer. Capcom's well known for its
arcade-style games, and Cannon Spike is another success. But unless you're a shooter fan, the game probably won't have a long life in your
Dreamcast. This game is rental material for most gamers. Not that
there's anything wrong with that.