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Karnov, the subpar platformer with the infamous ending
Game's Ratings
Overall
Graphics
Sound
Addictiveness
Depth
Story
Difficulty
Average User Score
6.7
6
5.5
4.5
4.5
3.5
6
07-06-14 02:41 AM
endings is Offline
| ID: 1045999 | 995 Words
endings is Offline
| ID: 1045999 | 995 Words
endings
Level: 58
POSTS: 12/829
POST EXP: 193341
LVL EXP: 1511772
CP: 19865.5
VIZ: 1245887
POSTS: 12/829
POST EXP: 193341
LVL EXP: 1511772
CP: 19865.5
VIZ: 1245887
Likes: 0 Dislikes: 0
Usually I review nostalgic gems from my childhood. Ones that stood out as something fun and engaging I would play for hours. Karnov is not that kind of game. It stands out in my memory, but for the wrong reasons. Not to say the game is bad, I'm sure the developer meant well. After all, Karnov was I think a mascot for DATA EAST for a bit, and was even an enemy boss in another game. Wait, isn't he a hero in this? Maybe a Wario-type greedy bad guy? Well its hard to tell, because there is not a lot of info here. Karnov was a hard to find arcade game, and this port does pretty good justice to the graphics. It even added some small touches to the home console, as some ports?were known to do at the time. In this case, its a small life bar, a lot like Ghosts N Goblins. A very good move! So decent port of graphics, and a life bar are added, so far so good. But lets talk about the graphic art for a bit. ?If the things you fight make you question 'what is that??', well the arcade wasn't any better. The first flaw is character design. You are a short, squat dude who is supposed to be a strongman, but Karnov looks pretty portly. The enemies you fight almost defy descr The game does not make it clear. Only an instruction manual will give you any back story at all, making lack of any reason to care for why we are here, or our hero. The game seems to be a treasure hunt for relics that you never see, even upon beating a boss. You are a short guy with a sweet mustache, the titular Karnov, and he breathes fire and is apparently some kind of strongman. You do not get to see him lift anything or fight in a circus, but you do see him shoot fire. By the hundreds. Fire ball spitting is his main weapon, and boy, he can really lay it down. Rapid fire, and with power ups shooting sometimes 3 or more bullets, he can tear up the opponents quickly. He also can withstand two hits, turning blue if he takes one point of damage - but this can be restored via red orbs that hang about in the sky. Touching one with full health will give you extra fireballs and make him a beast for combat. Karnov can also use a lot of different items and duck and fire, which easily dodges most enemy bullets. Speaking of those different items he can equip, lets talk about those. He can use small bombs, jumping shoes, a shield, boomerang, some scuba gear, wings for flight, and more. The catch is items like the wings and ladder you just can't use anytime you want. You have to look at the icon flashing below. If its flashing, you can press Lacking in any variety is the choice of music, which sadly is composed of one Russian sounding song for the entire game. The most alarming sound issue I found is a loud alarm sound for a few seconds. It kept making me think an enemy was coming or I was running out of time on the stage. However its used to try and help you, letting you know an item can be used at this moment. The alarm noise is more distracting than anything. Also missing variety is the bosses. There are 9 stages, and several of the bosses get a retread. Not a palette swap, its 'here is that green fish guy again' kind of deal. Some bosses are big and kind of imposing, although I was disappointed in most, as they do not offer much challenge and have a limited strategy of attack. I would not say this is a hard game if you know what the red orbs do, and have a limited understanding of the ladder/bombs/wings power ups. The rest is fluff. I will leave this review with talk of the best feature, and the worst feature of Karnov. The best feature I think is right at the beginning of a stage. Karnov comes down from lightning for some reason. Its a dramatic effect, like he's made from it. This entrance looks pretty cool, although he's a fire guy and has no lightning attacks. The worst feature is the ending. This definitely in the running for the worst NES ending ever. I won't spoil it for you, but its pretty hilarious. Even years and years later, I remember getting that ending and the closest I can think of the disappointment is Christmas Story movie with the decoder ring. If that reference makes no sense to you, reader, just know well it sucks. Its a downright downer of an ending. Karnov is not a bad game, it functions, but its not up to par with any Mario or better platformer out there. In the sense DATA EAST had to take a moldy sandwich of a game and just added some great plating. Its as nice as they could get it, but they really should have just worked on porting over a better game than Karnov in the first place. Karnov was a hard to find arcade game, and this port does pretty good justice to the graphics. It even added some small touches to the home console, as some ports?were known to do at the time. In this case, its a small life bar, a lot like Ghosts N Goblins. A very good move! So decent port of graphics, and a life bar are added, so far so good. But lets talk about the graphic art for a bit. ?If the things you fight make you question 'what is that??', well the arcade wasn't any better. The first flaw is character design. You are a short, squat dude who is supposed to be a strongman, but Karnov looks pretty portly. The enemies you fight almost defy descr The game does not make it clear. Only an instruction manual will give you any back story at all, making lack of any reason to care for why we are here, or our hero. The game seems to be a treasure hunt for relics that you never see, even upon beating a boss. You are a short guy with a sweet mustache, the titular Karnov, and he breathes fire and is apparently some kind of strongman. You do not get to see him lift anything or fight in a circus, but you do see him shoot fire. By the hundreds. Fire ball spitting is his main weapon, and boy, he can really lay it down. Rapid fire, and with power ups shooting sometimes 3 or more bullets, he can tear up the opponents quickly. He also can withstand two hits, turning blue if he takes one point of damage - but this can be restored via red orbs that hang about in the sky. Touching one with full health will give you extra fireballs and make him a beast for combat. Karnov can also use a lot of different items and duck and fire, which easily dodges most enemy bullets. Speaking of those different items he can equip, lets talk about those. He can use small bombs, jumping shoes, a shield, boomerang, some scuba gear, wings for flight, and more. The catch is items like the wings and ladder you just can't use anytime you want. You have to look at the icon flashing below. If its flashing, you can press Lacking in any variety is the choice of music, which sadly is composed of one Russian sounding song for the entire game. The most alarming sound issue I found is a loud alarm sound for a few seconds. It kept making me think an enemy was coming or I was running out of time on the stage. However its used to try and help you, letting you know an item can be used at this moment. The alarm noise is more distracting than anything. Also missing variety is the bosses. There are 9 stages, and several of the bosses get a retread. Not a palette swap, its 'here is that green fish guy again' kind of deal. Some bosses are big and kind of imposing, although I was disappointed in most, as they do not offer much challenge and have a limited strategy of attack. I would not say this is a hard game if you know what the red orbs do, and have a limited understanding of the ladder/bombs/wings power ups. The rest is fluff. I will leave this review with talk of the best feature, and the worst feature of Karnov. The best feature I think is right at the beginning of a stage. Karnov comes down from lightning for some reason. Its a dramatic effect, like he's made from it. This entrance looks pretty cool, although he's a fire guy and has no lightning attacks. The worst feature is the ending. This definitely in the running for the worst NES ending ever. I won't spoil it for you, but its pretty hilarious. Even years and years later, I remember getting that ending and the closest I can think of the disappointment is Christmas Story movie with the decoder ring. If that reference makes no sense to you, reader, just know well it sucks. Its a downright downer of an ending. Karnov is not a bad game, it functions, but its not up to par with any Mario or better platformer out there. In the sense DATA EAST had to take a moldy sandwich of a game and just added some great plating. Its as nice as they could get it, but they really should have just worked on porting over a better game than Karnov in the first place. |
Trusted Member
Affected by 'Laziness Syndrome'
Registered: 04-30-13
Last Post: 25 days
Last Active: 18 days
| A reviewer prone to flashbacks |
Affected by 'Laziness Syndrome'
Registered: 04-30-13
Last Post: 25 days
Last Active: 18 days
(edited by endings on 07-06-14 02:55 AM)
07-06-14 03:07 AM
saldek is Offline
| ID: 1046004 | 70 Words
| ID: 1046004 | 70 Words
saldek
Level: 54
POSTS: 511/648
POST EXP: 41633
LVL EXP: 1191855
CP: 1328.6
VIZ: 402434
POSTS: 511/648
POST EXP: 41633
LVL EXP: 1191855
CP: 1328.6
VIZ: 402434
Likes: 0 Dislikes: 0
Nice review man, hope you continue on and become better. (I think you should become a site staff: game reviewer...in my opinion) I don't think I've heard of this game before, but from what I understand from you, it is somewhat an average game, though I'm not ganna try it (yes, I'll watch the ending via youtube). But before that, I think I'll see what's wrong with the enemies' sprites. I don't think I've heard of this game before, but from what I understand from you, it is somewhat an average game, though I'm not ganna try it (yes, I'll watch the ending via youtube). But before that, I think I'll see what's wrong with the enemies' sprites. |
Member
Affected by 'Laziness Syndrome'
Registered: 01-07-10
Last Post: 2946 days
Last Active: 2719 days
Affected by 'Laziness Syndrome'
Registered: 01-07-10
Last Post: 2946 days
Last Active: 2719 days
07-06-14 03:12 AM
ARedLetterDay is Offline
| ID: 1046005 | 29 Words
| ID: 1046005 | 29 Words
ARedLetterDay
Level: 23
POSTS: 65/101
POST EXP: 13535
LVL EXP: 65223
CP: 2991.8
VIZ: 101123
POSTS: 65/101
POST EXP: 13535
LVL EXP: 65223
CP: 2991.8
VIZ: 101123
Likes: 0 Dislikes: 0
Really well put together review! Clear and concise! I actually really enjoy this game, it's a fun time waster, though nothing incredibly special. The arcade version is much better. I actually really enjoy this game, it's a fun time waster, though nothing incredibly special. The arcade version is much better. |
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Affected by 'Laziness Syndrome'
Registered: 01-02-13
Location: Colton, CA, USA
Last Post: 2683 days
Last Active: 471 days
| The rules of my pain do not permit me. |
Affected by 'Laziness Syndrome'
Registered: 01-02-13
Location: Colton, CA, USA
Last Post: 2683 days
Last Active: 471 days
07-06-14 12:45 PM
endings is Offline
| ID: 1046100 | 6 Words
endings is Offline
| ID: 1046100 | 6 Words
endings
Level: 58
POSTS: 13/829
POST EXP: 193341
LVL EXP: 1511772
CP: 19865.5
VIZ: 1245887
POSTS: 13/829
POST EXP: 193341
LVL EXP: 1511772
CP: 19865.5
VIZ: 1245887
Likes: 0 Dislikes: 0
thanks for the kind words y'all |
Trusted Member
Affected by 'Laziness Syndrome'
Registered: 04-30-13
Last Post: 25 days
Last Active: 18 days
| A reviewer prone to flashbacks |
Affected by 'Laziness Syndrome'
Registered: 04-30-13
Last Post: 25 days
Last Active: 18 days
