Planet Bob - Playing Karnov (NES)

[RSS Bot]

Hi there!

 

Here we go with the NES port of an obscure Data East Arcade game:

 

 

Well, if you're anything like me, you've probably also had this lifelong dream of playing a fat, half-naked, fire spitting russian in a video game

 

Thank heavens, such design oddities aside, the game itself is a pretty solid jump'n'shoot game.

 

Besides usual upgrades like spitting 2/3 fireballs at once, you also collect a series of extra boxes, which are spread throughout the levels. Collecting 50 of the standard K-Boxes gains an extra life. Others provide ladders, wings, larger jumps, smartbombs and stuff.

 

The game has 9 different themed levels, which are largely scrolling from left to right - each ending with the mandatory boss battle. The fith level has Karnov diving underwater where, by some physics defying wonder, he can still spit fireballs

 

Starting quite easy, the difficulty ramps up nicely and the second half of the game gets really tough. After a hard end battle vs. a dragon the game ends in fireworks:

 

 

Nothing essential, but a nice conversation piece to have in a well assorted NES collection I'd say

 

Some future day the "Playing..." series may see its sequel "Karnov's Revenge", but first it'll continue with something else.

 

Greetings,

Manuel

 

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