Playing Karnov (NES)
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 miracle, 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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