Sonic Boom is an arcade game shoot 'em up with a vertically-scrolling perspective in which the player is a US pilot, armed with the super-powerful Sonic Boom aircraft. Players must face six levels of cannon-fodder enemies in order to prevent the world being destroyed, but has 5 continues with 3 lives each to make use of. There is a boss at the end of each level which must be beaten in a time limit in order to progress. Most enemies are aircraft, but there are also tanks, trains, and turret installations to wipe out. Defeated waves of enemies reveal improved weaponry and other bonuses.