Karnov
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| Karnov | |
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| Developer(s) | Data East |
| Publisher(s) | Data East |
| Release date(s) | Arcade version 1987 NES version  December 18, 1987 1988 |
| Genre(s) | Platform |
| Mode(s) | Up to 2 players, alternating turns |
| Platform(s) | Arcade, NES, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum |
| Input | Joystick; 3 buttons |
| Arcade cabinet | Standard |
Karnov is a video game by Data East from 1987. It was originally released as an arcade game; an NES version followed, along with various other versions. The game puts the bulging muscled, fire-breathing, ex-circus strongman east-Russian (Asian) hero on a quest to search for treasures. However, between him and the treasures were several horrendous monsters, including sword wielding monks, jinns, foot hopping giant fishes and ostrich-riding skeleton warriors.
Karnov later became Data East's mascot, and was reintroduced in many other Data East games, including Bad Dudes in which he played a boss in the first level. Karnov would later appear in 1994 in another one of his own games for the Neo-Geo hardware called Karnov's Revenge. This game, also known as Fighter's History Dynamite, is not a sequel to the original Karnov, but to Fighter's History, a competitive one-on-one fighter in which Karnov was the end boss.
Karnov, although popularly illustrated as an Eastern European or a Slav, is actually from the Far East of the former Soviet Union as shown on the original arcade flyer and again in 'Karnov's Revenge'.
Karnov's full name is Jinborov Karnovski.
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[edit] Gameplay
Karnov must travel through 9 different levels. He must walk, jump and shoot his way through these levels and find special items that will help him on his way. He can collect red orbs in which he can upgrade up to 3 fireballs at a time. Each level contains a variety of strange enemies in which Karnov must destroy or avoid. Some of these creatures consist of gargoyles, rock creatures, and strong men. When he reaches the end of a level he usually has to face one or more powerful enemies which he must defeat to beat the level and receive a new piece of a treasure map. At the end of the game he must face a powerful boss often called "The Wizard" and collect the treasure.
[edit] Special Items
In each level Karnov can collect a variety of items along the way, which can be chosen right away or only at certain times.
- Jump Boots - Allow Karnov to jump much higher for a temporary amount of time
- Bomb - Destroys enemies and some floors and walls which can lead to hidden areas
- Ladder - Useful item that is used to reach high places
- Boomerang - Powerful throwing weapon that destroys most enemies in one hit and can be retrieved after being thrown
- Super Fireball - Destroys most enemies in one hit and you are given 30 of them at a time
- Wings - Used to fly in certain portions of a level
- Scuba Helmet - Allows Karnov to swim faster in water
- Mask - Used only in certain parts of a level. It will flash and a noise will sound where it can be used to receive a cache of hidden items
- Trolley - Karnov can ride through and destroy only ground enemies
- Letter K - Although not really a special item, if Karnov collects 50 of these, he will earn an extra life
[edit] Ports
Several ports of this game were made for the NES, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Tiger Electronics handheld and others.
[edit] Famicom/NES Version
Karnov was released for the Famicom on December 18, 1987 in Japan, and a year later on its North American equivalent, the NES, in 1988. Although it plays very similarly to the original arcade game there are some noticeable differences:
- Karnov takes 2 hits to die instead of just one. After being hit once he will turn a blue color in which he has one hit left or can gain an extra hit back by grabbing a blue fireball orb.
- The Super Fireball is replaced with the Spike Bomb which destroys every enemy on screen. The Trolley item is replaced with the Shield which is used to reflect an enemies fireballs.
- Levels 4 and 8 are completely different from the arcade levels.
- The final boss is no longer the Wizard, but a giant three-headed dragon by the name of Ryu. Both fights, however, take place in similar rooms.
Both the Famicom and NES versions are also slightly different from each other. The Famicom provides a story throughout the entire game, complete with images. The NES game does not have such a feature. The Famicom game is also considerably more difficult since it does not allow the player to continue after all lives are lost. The NES game, however, provides unlimited continues.
[edit] Appearances
[edit] Video games
Besides being featured in the many different versions of the original Karnov game and Karnov's Revenge , he has found his way in several other gaming titles, usually as an enemy:
- In Bad Dudes by Data East, he is featured as the first level's boss. A slightly different rendition of the boss music is used when fighting him, which contains the familiar melody from the original Karnov game.
- In Trio The Punch - Never Forget Me..., only released in Japan by Data East, features several different enemy renditions of Karnov. Some of these bizarre takes are of enormous stone statues and even mini versions of him.
- Although not a direct cameo, the guard boss from the Gaelco game, Big Karnak, is almost identical to Karnov's sprite from Bad Dudes.
- Karnov appeared as an enemy in the Data East game Tumblepop
- Karnov appears in the alley background of the Neo-Geo game Street Slam". He is shown wearing a shirt with a "K" on it.
[edit] Pop culture
- In a stranger vein, Karnov appeared as the protagonist of Something Awful's Dance Dance Revolution parody, Dance Dance Karnov.[1]
- In March and June of 2006, Karnov once again appeared as the subject of Something Awful updates. "The Karnov Playsets" (1 and 2) included short clips featuring Karnov in a variety of surreal and nonsensical settings. [2] and [3]
