Play Game
Karnov (US, rev 6)
Powered by EmulatorJS · Arcade
- Console
- Arcade
- Release
- 1987
- Players
- 2P alt
- Developer
- Data East Corporation
About Karnov (US, rev 6)
Arcade Video game published 39 years ago:
Karnov (c) 1987 Data East USA, Inc.
North American release. Game developed in Japan. See the original version for more information.
This US version has: * More enemies. * The ostrich in level 1. * The red serpents. * This version hurries you along if you dawdle by dropping invincible plants that fire at you and red serpents when you put up your ladder - this doesn't happen in the Japanese version. * When you use Boomerang or Flame, after it is used up you return to your original triple fire (in Japanese version, you go back to base single fire). * Some of the placements are different for the random items.
Player layout in our catalog: 2P alt.
If you are exploring by feel rather than by title, jump from the tags above into the matching genre rooms, or return to the Arcade hall for the full wall.
Open Play on this page to start Karnov (US, rev 6). Keyboard, USB/Bluetooth pads, and the on-screen touch gamepad all work inside the emulator bar. Save states and fullscreen live on that same bar so you can pause mid-session and resume later.
Karnov (US, rev 6) — play guide
What Karnov wants from you
Karnov (Data East) is a platform / shoot cab: clear stages with route honesty and fireball peeks before continues empty. Route honesty beats mash. Learn Karnov windows cold—do not paste Ghosts ’n Goblins charts blindly—the fireball and stage scripts are their own exam. Calm first stages until fireball timing is narratable; karnov chrome is packaging, not free invulnerability or free stage clears on every board for vanity leaps into every pit while a hit finishes the life.
First minutes in Karnov
On stage one, learn fire timing and jump arcs before inventing no-peek hero rushes. Prefer mid-range breaths over point-blank mash into packs. Collect items when the lane is clear; diving through lace for vanity is expensive. Early stages are spacing labs under circus dressing. One clean stretch with composure left beats three freeze-aim deaths that looked aggressive until a flyer arrived from above.
Core systems in Karnov
Fire breath attacks, jumps, power-ups, enemy scripts, and mid/boss patterns define Karnov. Continues fund denser stages as later maps tighten. Reach tools beat sticky packs when you earn space; they are not a substitute for movement. Bosses punish greed in the open after you skipped every pickup. Survival spacing gates every strongman fantasy the cabinet sells. Mash religions are still empty lives with extra flame animation under Data East density.
Score, continues, and resources in Karnov
Stage clears with lives left beat nest tourism that empties resources before the next door. Continues while fire composure builds; cut them once point-blank mash deaths stop. Score waits until survival routes are boring under pressure. Extends follow score when present—clean circus routes beat farming stage one forever for vanity kills that still die to a flyer.
Mistakes that burn credits in Karnov
Point-blank mash into packs, ignoring flyers, pickup greed through lace, and entering bosses empty-handed are classic Karnov mistakes. Poke with fire range, jump with intent, save strong toys for doors and bosses. Strongman art will not refill a wasted power-up. Treating every nest as a button test is how Data East collects the next credit on this board.
Next steps after Karnov
Ghosts ’n Goblins is Capcom platform literacy if Karnov’s fireball honesty still feels soft—re-learn hazard peeks there first. Wonder Boy keeps Sega platform company warm. Adventure Island is Hudson once Karnov jump honesty finally sticks and you want denser fruit stress instead of Karnov boards. Falls drop once panic-mash leaps stop mid-gap. Clear one careful stage before vanity leaps return on denser Data East cabinets.
Sources cited below under Further reading.
Cabinet dossier
Karnov (US, rev 6) is filed in our catalog as a 1987 release.
Player layout on this cabinet: 2P alt.
Genre tags on Classic Arcade Games: Platform.
Credit line lists Data East Corporation as developer.
Screenshots
Next cabinets
Nearby cabinets you may also open from this hall (each on its own play page):Karnov (handheld), Act-Fancer Cybernetick Hyper Weapon (World revision 3), Captain Silver (World), Express Raider (World, Rev 4), Midnight Resistance (World), Psycho-Nics Oscar (World revision 0), Trio The Punch - Never Forget Me... (World), Burger Time (Bandai), Burger Time (Data East set 1), Burger Time (DECO Cassette) (US), Crude Buster (World FX version), Caveman Ninja (World ver 4)
Explore more on this site
Same series
Same genre
Karnov (handheld) · Act-Fancer Cybernetick Hyper Weapon (World revision 3) · Captain Silver (World) · Express Raider (World, Rev 4) · Midnight Resistance (World) · Psycho-Nics Oscar (World revision 0) · Trio The Punch - Never Forget Me... (World) · Burger Time (Bandai) · Burger Time (Data East set 1) · Burger Time (DECO Cassette) (US) · Crude Buster (World FX version) · Caveman Ninja (World ver 4)
Same studio
Karnov (handheld) · Act-Fancer Cybernetick Hyper Weapon (World revision 3) · Captain Silver (World) · Express Raider (World, Rev 4) · Midnight Resistance (World) · Psycho-Nics Oscar (World revision 0) · Trio The Punch - Never Forget Me... (World) · Burger Time (Bandai) · Burger Time (Data East set 1) · Burger Time (DECO Cassette) (US) · Crude Buster (World FX version) · Caveman Ninja (World ver 4)
How to play Karnov (US, rev 6) online
- Arcade stick feel: Arrow keys for the joystick, X/Z (and nearby keys) for buttons, Enter=Start.
- USB / Bluetooth pads map cleanly; six-button fighters use the face-button cluster.
- On phones, open the on-screen pad from the emulator bar; rotate sits next to fullscreen.
- Save states, load, volume, and fullscreen stay on the emulator bar between credits.
Studio notes — Data East Corporation
Data East Corporation appears on this cabinet’s credit line. Browse more titles from the same studio on the developer shelf, or stay on this page and try the next cabinets in the same hall.
Karnov (handheld) · Act-Fancer Cybernetick Hyper Weapon (World revision 3) · Captain Silver (World) · Express Raider (World, Rev 4) · Midnight Resistance (World) · Psycho-Nics Oscar (World revision 0) · Trio The Punch - Never Forget Me... (World) · Burger Time (Bandai)
Questions about Karnov (US, rev 6)
Can I play Karnov (US, rev 6) free in a browser?
Yes. Classic Arcade Games hosts Karnov (US, rev 6) as a Arcade cabinet you can start on this page. The emulator loads in the browser; you do not need to install a separate app.
What controls does Karnov (US, rev 6) support?
Arcade stick feel: Arrow keys for the joystick, X/Z (and nearby keys) for buttons, Enter=Start. USB / Bluetooth pads map cleanly; six-button fighters use the face-button cluster.
Are there other games in the same series as Karnov (US, rev 6)?
Yes — related series cabinets on this site include Karnov (handheld). Each has its own play page with the same browser emulator path.
Further reading
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