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Gun.Smoke

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Arcade

Controlling a cowboy in the Wild West you have to make your way through hostile cowboys of each level. Shooting barrels reveals power-ups such as boots, rifles and bullets. Each level has a weapon specialist end boss, like winchester, knives, darts and boomerangs. Gun.Smoke is very similar to Co...

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Developer
Capcom

Released on
1985

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Arcade

Requirements
Arcade

Downloads
Shooter

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

Cooperative
Yes

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Description

Controlling a cowboy in the Wild West you have to make your way through hostile cowboys of each level. Shooting barrels reveals power-ups such as boots, rifles and bullets. Each level has a weapon specialist end boss, like winchester, knives, darts and boomerangs.

Gun.Smoke is very similar to Commando, another Capcom game, but with several differences. Whereas Commando is a run and gun game, this game is a scrolling shooter in which the screen scrolls upward automatically and players only have three ways to shoot, using three buttons for left, right, and center shooting. However, a player can also change the way the gunman shoots through button combinations. A player can still die by getting shot or struck by enemies like in Commando but improve protection by getting special items, including a horse, for protection up to three hits; boots, for speed of movement; bullets, for faster shots; and rifles, for shot length. These items are found by shooting barrels and rifles, boots, and bullets can stock up to five.

The lead developer was Yoshiki Okamoto (credited as Kihaji Okamoto).

Gun.Smoke

Overview & History

Released by Capcom in 1985 for the arcades, Gun.Smoke is a vertically scrolling, Wild West-themed run-and-gun shooter designed by Yoshiki Okamoto. Set in the lawless frontier town of Hicksville, the storyline follows a fearless bounty hunter named Billy Bob. His mission is to track down and eliminate the brutal Wicked Shibata gang—consisting of ruthless outlaws like Boulder, Fat Man, and Gorman—who have terrorized the town and kidnapped the sheriff. Unlike side-scrolling shooters of its era, Gun.Smoke pioneered a unique vertical progression where the screen continuously scrolls upward as players navigate dusty canyons, saloon-lined streets, and treacherous mountain passes, accompanied by an iconic, twangy chiptune soundtrack that perfectly captures the spaghetti western aesthetic.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike traditional arcade shooters where firing directions are tied exclusively to movement, Gun.Smoke utilizes a revolutionary three-button attack scheme. The cabinet features three distinct fire buttons: the left button shoots diagonally up-left, the middle button fires straight ahead, and the right button shoots diagonally up-right. This layout is vital for targeting agile bandits, snipers on rooftops, and stealthy outlaws emerging from behind saloon doors. Throughout the stages, players collect star power-ups to increase firepower, boots for speed, and wanted posters that grant massive point bonuses or clear the screen of enemies. Additionally, players must manage a cash economy by picking up bags of gold dropped by defeated thugs, which can be spent at gunshops to purchase specialized firearms like the powerful Magnum or the rapid-fire Shotgun. If Billy Bob takes a hit without his defensive horse companion, he loses a life, escalating the tension during intense boss showdowns.