Karnov, 1987 Data East (20 From 1987 #17)
13Odd little platform jumping/scrolling adventure by Data East, yet this was a signature 80s title for them, as the titular Russian strongman found himself appearing in a number of Data East games, either as a cameo (usually) or a playable character (the Fighter's History games). The best thing about this game is the litany of special items Karnov can have access to after collecting them-- by pressing left or right he can move a marker between the items and press the "special item selection" button. These items can often be in plain view to collect but sometimes you will need another special item to reach them. The special items are: Jump/Speed Shoes, which give you high jump and faster speed for a limited time; Bombs, which can grant you access through an area in Stage 3 and you can collect several of them (and cause damage to an enemy, I suppose); the Ladder which you can use to climb up to high areas and recollect by climbing back down it-- though you should watch for a red dragon that appears sometimes when you use it; the Boomerang which cuts any boss down with one swing.. just remember how to recollect it when it comes back; the Super Flame, which is stronger than your regular shot and can be used 30 times; and now onto the items that you can only use when prompted: Wings, which allow you to fly up to some otherwise impassable areas for a limited time; Scuba Gear, which allows you to swim faster on stage 5; the Mask, which allows you to see hidden items for a while; and the skates (I think?) that allow you faster movement down slopes. There are also K icons (which probably stand for Karnov) that grant you a 1up if you collect 50-- the only way to get an extra life in this game. Karnov can also upgrade his firepower by collecting red orbs. One gives you double shots, then one more grants you triple shot firepower. The enemies in this game are really weird and often have goofy movement patterns, but they're weird in a way I kind of like. A big key to success in this hard game (made especially hard with unforgiving collision detection and a lot of enemies firing a lot of bullets at once): Learn to use that boomerang on bosses and how to catch it on the rebound! Get a good distance between you and the boss and just stand still and throw. When it rebounds and goes through the enemy's head, killing it instantly, you will want to do a quick jump to catch it shortly after. Since many stages have multiple bosses (and mini-bosses), this is a good idea. Many stages also have multiple paths to get to the end, making the Karnov world bigger than expected-- use Wings/Ladder/Jump Boots to further explore this wild, weird fantasy world. Cool game with a decent-- though far inferior-looking-- NES port. Have a great weekend, everybody, and see you soon for game #16! Hopefully if you still have mask mandates in your state/country (as I do) that they are almost over (ours is the 19th).