Who still enjoys NES Karnov to this day?

[Steven]

I just played some Karnov tonight... really aged well IMHO. Karnov is a bit slow in responding to jump, but I guess it fits his portly build. Sure some bosses repeat later on, and the game is quite short, but there's plenty of fun and action I think, with some nice locales.

Oh, and the icons added some depth to the game, and I liked the weapon system.

Just a weird, cool, "different vibe" kind of NES game. I still like it now as I did 20 years ago :)

[Fuyukaze]

I still love it but I still find it hard as hell. I normaly cant even beat the first stage because I feel the urge to grab EVERY item the game shoves on me.

[williewonka2k1]

Compared to other platformers that came out around the same time, I can't share the same sentiments. However, I cannot stress enough how well Bucky O'Hare by Konami has aged. Goddamn this game owns. I dunno, I just found the levels and design to be kinda bland. However, I think the arcade version has aged better.

[Zap!]

I still love it but I still find it hard as hell. I normaly cant even beat the first stage because I feel the urge to grab EVERY item the game shoves on me.

One of the most notorious endings ever. 20 years ago, after a day of hard work, I beat it and boy was I pissed.

[FamicomFreak]

Is this the game with this fat guy in it?

[Steven]

Is this the game with this fat guy in it?



HAHA, yes it is.

Karnov was also a boss in 1993's Fighter's History. The sequel to that was called Karnov's Revenge in some circles (AKA Fighter's History Dynamite).

I never played the arcade. Just have the NES version to go off of.

[rbudrick]

Karnov was pretty imaginitive, varied, and fun. The settings were seemingly ancient, mythical, ruin-like, and remote, and I could never quite put my finger on what civilization(s) the game was mimicking. The variety of levels and HUGE amount of secrets gave it major replay value. The alternate paths were very rare in games of the time.

Yes, the ending blew, but how awesome is it now to laugh at it?!

The game was extremely intimidating for some time, but I did eventually learn how to beat it on one life.

Highly recommended. Takes practice, but if you invest a couple hours and get past the first couple stages, it is very rewarding.

-Rob

[Blitzwing256]

interesting note, the japakahuchi version had a story as well as cutscenes between levels and GASP! a real ending.

and if i recall I think kitsune? translated it into english several years back.


the story had something to do with karnov making a wish or something of that nature.

[OldSchoolGamer]

I admit I wasn't a fan immediately but the more I played and the better I got the more I loved KARNOV!

[Nick]

Pffff....frekin Karnov. I love that game. I never personally owned it because when I was little you got like 1 game a year but wow...such a cool game. :D

[DigitalSpace]

Unfortunately, Karnov is one of those NES games I picked up on the cheap and have yet to ever play. One of these days...

[fishsandwich]

I hate this damn damn. I could never make it past that damn mermaid.

[Xian042]

My little Karnov story:

I was in Jr. High in the late 80's. I had some extra cash to pick up a game. Me and a buddy got a ride to Toys R Us to do some NES shopping.

I didnt know what to get, so I started reading the backs of the boxes. For some reason, Karnov caught my eye. The guy looked like my dad, and he could breathe fire. SOLD!

At the time, Toys R Us had a system where you tear off a tag from the game wall display and brought it to a cage in the front of the store, you hand the tag to a clerk and they would disappear in the back of the cage and emerge with your game.
I did this with my Karnov slip, but this time when she came back, she had my game AND a free magazine. This magazine was the premier issue of Gamepro.
I read the magazine all the way home, it had a preview of SUPER MARIO BROS. 3!!

I brought the magazine to school and at first teased that I knew all about Super Mario Bros 3, and told them all the inside info I got. They all thought I was full of BS, once I had everyones attention I pulled out the magazine.

IN YO FACE!

That pretty much kickstarted my obsession with gaming news and collecting.

oh, and yeah once I got used to Karnov, I enjoyed the game. I didnt have the patience to get too far in it, but one afternoon my buddy beat it. We stood there in shock at the sight of the "ending". They really must have thought no American kids would ever possibly finish this game, so why bother taking the time to translate the text of the actual cutscenes and ending.
jackasses.

[mailman187666]

I remember getting Karnov when I was a little kid. I played the game many times and it was freakin' hard. I don't remember how far I made it but I got a couple levels into it. The problem is that if you get further than you previously did, you don't know what to expect and end up dying because of how hard it is. I think one of the civilizations they were trying to portray is ancient Russia. Its almost a mix between Russia and Greece a little bit. To this day, I still would not mind playing a round of this game, definately a different kind of game.

edit: I can still clearly remember the little song that plays when you first start the game and I haven't played it in YEARS!

[demen999]

Never played it!

[StakeRaiser]

I beat it when I was a kid, somehow. Haven't played it in a long time, its sitting on my shelf. Wish it was like the Japanese version.

[Tempest]

I beat it when I was a kid, somehow. Haven't played it in a long time, its sitting on my shelf. Wish it was like the Japanese version.
I believe the cut scenes are still in the Karnov rom. I can remember playing it as a kid (yep I beat it) when my friends sister came into the room to dust the TV. As she was dusting she touched the NES and we saw a huge static electricity spark and the NES reset itself. However instead of going to the title screen, we saw this weird cut scene of Karnov kneeling down in front of someone or something (can't remember now) and then doing his little lightning transport thing. I think there was also Japanese text at the bottom (or maybe just garbled English). We never could get that scene to come up again, but it was really neat!

Tempest

[Draven]

Yep, still enjoy Karnov, on occassion. I have to say, it hasn't aged well and I find it much more difficult than I did 20 years ago. That probably has to do with the fact that I can't remember how all the items work (like the mask...I thought it made a noise when you need to wear it and it lets you 'see' other items...but I'm not even sure of that). I prefer to play against Karnov on Bad Dudes!!!

[XYXZYZ]

I love Karnov, it's a good well balanced platformer. The NES ending just has a black screen saying "Congratulations, THE END." (I think I only managed to finish Karnov once) But the Famicom game has three different endings, all involving the cutscene graphics you've mentioned. Anyone know how to get the different endings? I assume it has something to do with time. (Multiple endings usually do)

NES ending (http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/nes/b/kar.htm)

Famicom ending (http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/nes/a/karj.htm)

[Steven]

My little Karnov story:

I was in Jr. High in the late 80's. I had some extra cash to pick up a game. Me and a buddy got a ride to Toys R Us to do some NES shopping.

I didnt know what to get, so I started reading the backs of the boxes. For some reason, Karnov caught my eye. The guy looked like my dad, and he could breathe fire. SOLD!

At the time, Toys R Us had a system where you tear off a tag from the game wall display and brought it to a cage in the front of the store, you hand the tag to a clerk and they would disappear in the back of the cage and emerge with your game.
I did this with my Karnov slip, but this time when she came back, she had my game AND a free magazine. This magazine was the premier issue of Gamepro.
I read the magazine all the way home, it had a preview of SUPER MARIO BROS. 3!!

I brought the magazine to school and at first teased that I knew all about Super Mario Bros 3, and told them all the inside info I got. They all thought I was full of BS, once I had everyones attention I pulled out the magazine.

IN YO FACE!

That pretty much kickstarted my obsession with gaming news and collecting.

oh, and yeah once I got used to Karnov, I enjoyed the game. I didnt have the patience to get too far in it, but one afternoon my buddy beat it. We stood there in shock at the sight of the "ending". They really must have thought no American kids would ever possibly finish this game, so why bother taking the time to translate the text of the actual cutscenes and ending.
jackasses.



HAHA, dude, that's an awesome story. My uncle bought my bro and me Karnov at Target in '88 I recall. We were just SO fascinated by the exotic looking cool cover that we just had to have it. The game did not disappoint. I loved the bizarre enemies and atmosphere.

Yeah, I remember the old TRU game buying system. Those tags were funny things. We also got the GamePro premier issue, when we bought IIRC the first Madden on Genesis.

[Kid Fenris]

Karnov would've been much better if Data East had re-worked the arcade game for the NES version, just like Capcom did for Bionic Commando and Tecmo did for Rygar. With a refined item system, better hit detection, tighter control, and some RPG-ish leveling and exploration, Karnov could have been a great game.

Instead, Data West stuck with a straight arcade port, and the result was just another mediocre NES side-scroller.

[NE146]

This game reminds me of a night in 1987/1988 and my ex-girlfriend because after we ate we headed out to Toys R Us and bought NES Karnov, then we went home and played it. All I know is the atmosphere of the game left a lasting impression I still feel to this day. I agree.. it was just so.. "gothic"-y I guess. I dont know how to describe it.

I don't really remember the ending (it just ended right?) but yeah I guess it's literally been nearly 20 years now, I should try playing it again!

[Zap!]

Yep, still enjoy Karnov, on occassion. I have to say, it hasn't aged well and I find it much more difficult than I did 20 years ago. That probably has to do with the fact that I can't remember how all the items work (like the mask...I thought it made a noise when you need to wear it and it lets you 'see' other items...but I'm not even sure of that). I prefer to play against Karnov on Bad Dudes!!!

Wasn't Karnov a boss in Bad Dudes? If yes, what happened? Did he turn into a bad guy after saving the world?

[Tempest]

I love Karnov, it's a good well balanced platformer. The NES ending just has a black screen saying "Congratulations, THE END." (I think I only managed to finish Karnov once) But the Famicom game has three different endings, all involving the cutscene graphics you've mentioned. Anyone know how to get the different endings? I assume it has something to do with time. (Multiple endings usually do)

NES ending (http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/nes/b/kar.htm)

Famicom ending (http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/nes/a/karj.htm)

That's it! That's the scene I remember seeing (or something just like that). So it must still be in the rom!

Tempest

[Kitsune Sniper]

Instead, Data West stuck with a straight arcade port, and the result was just another mediocre NES side-scroller.

Mediocre isn't enough to describe this game. I had a fucking hell of a time trying to beat this thing.

If anyone's curious, I translated the Japanese version a while back. You can get the patch here:
http://www.foxhack.net/karnov/ - The game is exactly the same except for the intro and endings.

Speaking of, I have NO CLUE how to get them. Someone gave me a game genie code that changed the ending you got... I think it has something to do with the time and the amount of Ks you pick up. I'll look for the stuff and post it when I find it.

I also have the original translated scripts somewhere, if anyone wants to take a look at 'em. I can post the text from each of the three endings, too.

[XYXZYZ]

Ah, so those screenshots are from your work, Kit?

And by the way, since the thread title says "to this day", then yeah, as often as I play NES games (lots!) I have given Karnov a spin two or three times in '08.