Gun.Smoke

Gun.Smoke

Overview & History

Originally developed by Capcom as a vertical-scrolling arcade coin-op in 1985, Gun.Smoke was successfully ported to the Sega Master System in 1988 by SEGA. Unlike the NES version released around the same time, this 8-bit home port takes full advantage of the Master System's hardware capabilities to deliver a distinct Wild West bounty hunter experience. Players step into the weathered boots of an intrepid U.S. Marshal named Wingate (or Billy Bob in localized lore), whose overarching storyline revolves around tracking down and eliminating the vicious Savage Brothers and their ruthless gang of outlaws across grueling frontier towns, treacherous canyons, and dusty frontier trails. The Master System edition stands out for its crisp sprite scaling, varied scrolling speed, and faithful adaptation of the arcade's grueling challenge, requiring players to clear each stage of escalating bandit hordes before facing off against heavily armored boss outlaws in tense, face-to-face showdowns.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike standard vertical shoot 'em ups where you pilot a spacecraft, Gun.Smoke forces Wingate to hoof it entirely on foot. The game is viewed from a top-down, vertically scrolling perspective, but with a clever twist: you can shoot in three distinct directions using the controller's two action buttons. You can angle your shots straight ahead, diagonally left, or diagonally right to clear out snipers hiding on rooftops and flanking bandits. The core gameplay loop revolves around collecting "M" (Money) bags dropped by enemies, which serve as currency at the end of each stage. Cash is critical for purchasing upgrades at the town's general store, including faster boots, superior horses for temporary invincibility, and a variety of specialized firearms like the Magnum, Shotgun, and rapid-fire Machine Gun. You must also keep a sharp eye out for boot symbols that increase your walking speed, barrel symbols to clear the screen with an explosion, and the coveted "Wing" icon which eliminates all on-screen threats.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move Wingate in eight directions across the screen
• Action Keys: Attack / Jump (Button 1 fires left/straight, Button 2 fires right/straight)
• Enter: Start / Pause