Gun.Smoke

Gun.Smoke

Overview & History

Released by Capcom for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1988, Gun.Smoke is a gritty, vertically scrolling Western shooter that originated in the arcades before being meticulously ported to the home console by Micronics. Unlike typical side-scrollers, the game casts players as the relentless bounty hunter "Wingate," who rides into the lawless frontier town of Hicksville to eradicate the vicious Winchester gang. The storyline unfolds across ten distinct stages, ranging from dusty canyon trails and muddy frontier towns to sprawling fortresses and saloons. The NES port introduced unique progression systems, including currency collection required to purchase critical upgrades from wandering merchants, distinguishing it from its arcade predecessor by adding a layer of strategic resource management to the traditional run-and-gun formula.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Wingate constantly marches northward automatically, demanding precise positioning as enemies ambush him from rooftops, windows, and horsebacks. The game’s signature mechanic is its tripartite firing system: the D-pad moves Wingate in eight directions, while the attack buttons independently fire his guns diagonally left, straight up, or diagonally right. This allows players to strafe backward while firing forward or target flanking bushwhackers simultaneously. Throughout the stages, Wingate can collect boots for speed, horses for temporary invulnerability and extra health, and wanted posters that trigger lucrative boss fights. Defeating bosses like the whip-wielding Fatman or the dynamite-throwing Ninja rewards players with bounties. Weapons can be upgraded from basic pistols to devastating shotguns and machine guns using horseshoes and currency gathered from fallen outlaws, though dying strips Wingate of his active firepower.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move Wingate
• Action Keys: Attack / Jump
• Enter: Start / Pause