Gun.Smoke

ガンスモーク (Gan Sumōku)NES, Arcade, Famicom Disk System, PlayStation +141985

  1. JP1985
  2. NA1985
  3. EU—
  4. RUDendy

Gun.Smoke is ガンスモーク in Japan, Capcom's current re-release uses the romanized title Gan Sumoku, and the Amstrad CPC version was called Desperado – Gun.Smoke. The easiest legal way to play it today is the Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium: Gan Sumoku add-on (Steam, Switch, PS4 and Xbox One), which includes the Japanese and English arcade versions.

Gun.Smoke is a scrolling Wild West shooter released by Capcom in arcades in 1985, with Romstar distributing it in North America. Yoshiki Okamoto directed and designed it, and Ayako Mori composed the arcade music. Instead of the spacecraft of most scrolling shooters of the time, the hero is a bounty hunter, Billie Bob. A horse power-up absorbs three enemy hits but does not carry over to the next stage.

The home versions differ a lot. The 1988 Famicom Disk System version in Japan makes you find a wanted poster before each boss appears and adds shops, and the North American NES release of February 1988 got a new story and music. Ports also appeared on the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC and MSX, and Topo Soft made a home computer sequel, Desperado 2, in 1991.

The arcade game has since been included in Capcom Generation 4, Capcom Classics Collection and, from 21 July 2022, Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium.12

Names and releases

RegionTitle on the boxPlatformDatePublisherSrc
NA Gun.Smoke Arcade October 1985 Romstar 1
NA Gun.SmokeNew storyline and music NES February 1988 Capcom 1
JP ガンスモークGan SumōkuEnglish Wikipedia gives 23 October 1985, Japanese Wikipedia November 1985 Arcade 1985 Capcom 1
JP ガンスモークFamicom Disk System Famicom Disk System 1988 Capcom 3
JP Capcom Generation 4Compilation, arcade version; Sega Saturn the same day PlayStation Nov 12, 1998 Capcom 2
JP Capcom Classics CollectionCompilation; also Xbox PlayStation 2 Mar 2, 2006 Capcom 2
JP Capcom Classics CollectionCompilation PSP Sep 7, 2006 Capcom 2
WW Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium: Gan SumokuAdd-on for Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium, also on Switch, PS4 and Xbox One; includes Japanese and English versions Windows Jul 21, 2022 Capcom 4

Also known as: ガンスモーク JP1Gan Sumōku JP1Gan Sumoku WW4Desperado – Gun.Smoke EU1

Box art by region

  • Gun.Smoke box art, North America release
    NA Gun.Smoke

Box art © its publishers, shown to identify each release. Scans: libretro-thumbnails.

Version differences

  • ContentNES

    The NES version adds a new story: in 1849 the Wingates gang attacks Hicksville and kills the sheriff, until the bounty hunter Billie Bob arrives.1

  • GameplayFDS (JP)

    In the Disk System version you have to find a wanted poster in each stage before the boss appears, and there are shops where you buy items; it is somewhat easier than the arcade game.2

  • GameplayFDS (JP)

    With only two buttons, B fires left, A fires right and A+B fires straight ahead.2

All differences (6)

Where to play legally today

  • Steam Purchase

    Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium: Gan Sumoku

    Arcade version (Japanese and English)

    Checked: 2026-10-134store.steampowered.com

Reception

In January 1986 Game Machine ranked Gun.Smoke the second most successful table arcade unit in Japan, and Play Meter listed it among the top five US arcade games. It was Japan's sixth highest-grossing table arcade game of the first half of 1986.1

In lists

Sources

  1. 1en.wikipedia.org
  2. 2ja.wikipedia.org
  3. 3tcrf.net
  4. 4store.steampowered.com
  5. 5ja.wikipedia.org

Checked: 2026-10-13Text reviewed: 2026-10-13

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