Gun.Smoke is a classic Western-themed vertical scrolling shooter released for the NES in 1988. Developed by Capcom and designed by Yoshiki Okamoto, this arcade port puts you in the boots of a bounty hunter chasing down infamous outlaws. Known as a spiritual predecessor to the Red Dead series, it stands out in the run-and-gun genre with its challenging top-down gunfights, upgradable weapons, and the ability to ride a horse into battle.
How to Play
Your objective is to shoot your way through hostile territory, defeat waves of bandits, and eliminate the stage boss to claim their bounty. To face a boss, you must first find or purchase a Wanted poster hidden in each level. Play in your browser using the default NES controls: the Arrow keys to move, Z and X (the A and B buttons) to fire your revolvers, Enter to Start, and Shift to Select. In Gun.Smoke, the firing angles are mapped to your buttons: press one button to shoot diagonally left or right, and press both simultaneously to fire straight ahead.
Tips
- Buy the horse: A horse acts as an extra layer of armor, absorbing hits that would otherwise kill you instantly. It’s often worth saving your money to buy one from the merchants.
- Memorize enemy spawns: Enemies pour in from specific locations. Learn where snipers and bombers appear so you can eliminate them before they crowd the screen.
- Hunt for the Wanted poster: You cannot face the boss without the Wanted poster. It is hidden in a barrel or sold by a merchant, so blast every barrel you see and keep enough cash on hand.
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