Overview and Gameplay
Fire-breathing strongman Karnov crosses nine timed stages to recover the Lost Treasure of Babylon from the dragon Ryu. This NES conversion of Data East’s 1987 arcade game combines platforming, projectile combat, bosses, alternate routes, and an inventory of situational tools. Karnov survives one hit before losing a life on the next, while Super Fireballs restore health or strengthen his attack.
Controls And Mechanics
- Directions move Karnov and duck; movement also shifts the inventory cursor.
- A jumps, while B fires or throws an active boomerang.
- Select uses the highlighted item, and Start pauses.
- Boots improve jumping, ladders reach high paths, glasses reveal concealed items, wings enable flight, and bombs break certain obstacles.
- This is a single-player game with score, extra lives from K marks, stage timers, and boss battles.
Version Notes
The American NES version omits the Japanese introduction, illustrated story scenes, and multiple endings. It also presents a repeatable continue option, making progression more forgiving than in the Famicom release.
Release And Credits
- NES release: 1988
- Developer: Sakata SAS
- Publisher: Data East
- Original platform: Arcade
