Gang Busters
Gang Busters is a top-down action shooter that Konami released in arcades in 1988, known in Japan as Crazy Cop. One or two players take the roles of police officers Smith and Wesson, chasing members of the Dagrus mob after they rob the Main Street bank. The game runs across four stages, from the town and harbor to a railway and the gang's mountain hideout. You start with a pistol with unlimited ammunition and can carry up to three bombs.
Controls
What Gang Busters is
Gang Busters came from Konami in 1988, at a time when top-down shooters with two-player co-op were common in arcades. The officers' names are a nod to the firearms maker Smith and Wesson, which sets the light tone of the game.
Beyond shooting, there is an arrest mechanic. Certain red-coated gang members can be disabled instead of killed and led away on a rope. Delivering them to police vans placed around the stage earns extra bombs. Weapon pickups upgrade your basic gun, including rockets that punch through foot soldiers. Konami's game has since been re-released on Switch and PS4 through Hamster's Arcade Archives series.
How it plays in your browser
The version on this page is the arcade original running in an emulator, so there is no install and no account needed. It plays with a keyboard or a connected gamepad.
The difficulty climbs sharply after the first stage, with enemies entering in waves and turrets guarding later areas. Expect to use a few credits the first time through.
Z fires your gun and X throws a bomb. Insert a coin with the Select key listed above, then press Enter to start.
Tips worth knowing
- Your shots go in the direction you are moving, so line yourself up with an enemy before firing rather than strafing past.
- Arrest the red-coated gang members and walk them to a police van, since the bombs you earn are the easiest way out of crowded situations.
- Save bombs for the wave fights in later stages, where enemies pour out of doors faster than a pistol can handle.
- Keep your weapon upgrades in mind when you reach turrets, because some weapons that work well on soldiers are weaker against fixed guns.
- Play with a second player if you can, as covering two sides of the screen makes the later stages far more manageable.
Frequently asked questions
Who developed Gang Busters?
Konami developed and published Gang Busters for arcades in 1988.
Is Gang Busters the same game as Crazy Cop?
Yes. Crazy Cop is the Japanese title of the same arcade game.
How many stages are in Gang Busters?
There are four stages: the town, the harbor, the railway, and the Dagrus mob's base in the mountains.
Does Gang Busters support two players?
Yes, two players can play at the same time as officers Smith and Wesson.
More games like this
Ninja Clowns, Rapid Hero, Trog. You can also browse the full games library or read the guides on the blog.