Gun.Smoke Overview
Gun.Smoke is a vertical scrolling shooter set in a gold rush town called Hicksville. The player controls a lone gunman whose objective is to liberate the town from a bandit gang known as the Wingates.
Gameplay involves constant upward scrolling as enemies approach from the sides of the screen. The player can shoot in several directions using a specific control scheme: one button fires diagonally up and right, another fires diagonally up and left, and pressing both together fires straight ahead. This control method can be replicated with a one-button system.
While primarily on foot, the action is reminiscent of diagonal-down shooters. The player can collect power-ups during the mission. Acquiring a horse provides an extra hit point before the character dies. The stages include varied environments, such as river rafting and sequences along railway tracks.
Each level focuses on eliminating a specific target enemy, though the player must also deal with that target's supporting henchmen. The combination of constant enemy pressure and precise aiming requirements makes the gameplay challenging.
