Cannon Spike is similar to games like Smash TV and Capcom's Commando, although with primary focus on boss fighting.

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.

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).

[7][9] Greg Orlando of NextGen said that the game was "not quite artillerific, but it is a mindlessly fun way to murder some time.