Hefting an actual weapon was a lot more desirable than fiddling with knobs and buttons for many arcade patrons. For those inclined to fantasize about elves, dungeons and dwarves as well, Crossbow made a very appealing alternative to Donkey Kong.

Using a light gun shaped like a crossbow in front of the screen, the player attempted to protect a band of adventurers crossing the screen from left to right. Various dangers would befall the brave band of travelers and you had to shoot down any and all threats. If the adventurers made it to the other side of the screen, the player advanced to the next level.

The characters in need of your protection were a motley group of wizards, warriors, elves and dwarves who weren't completely defenseless but did rely on the player for the bulk of the dirt work. The magic crossbow didn't just shoot arrows but could also clear paths or create bridges out of rocks over difficult terrain. The dangers of the trip ranged from homicidal rolling rocks to bats to ghosts to fireballs. There were also monkeys throwing coconuts, which seems to be a standard feature in most arcade games.

Not only did you have to protect and defend, you were also the navigator on the trip and picked in which direction the party traveled by shooting at the desired location on a map screen. So there was the added hazard of getting lost and going around in circles until you found your way out. Terrains varied from deserts to villages to jungles and volcanos, each with its own special brand of obstacles.

The objective of the game was to reach the castle of the Master of Darkness but as long as you could shepherd even one survivor across the screen, you stayed alive in the game. Occasionally, new adventurers would join the quest and it made for a merry party that reached the dank lair of the Master.

The game was the first to use fully digital graphics and sound effects and boasted a "veritable menagerie" of animal sounds, speech and background effects. Crossbow appealed to action fans and fantasy fans alike, luring the latter out of their mom's basement to try their hand at the electronic manifestation of their imagination.