Karnov (NES)

Karnov
Developers: Data East, Sakata SAS Publishers: Namco (JP), Data East (US) Platform: NES Released in JP: December 18, 1987 Released in US: January 22, 1988 This game has a hidden level select. This game has regional differences. This game has a Data Crystal page

Karnov puts you in control of the shirtless fireball-throwing Jinborov Karnovski, on a mission to recover the lost Ark of the Covenant, or something.

Level Select

At the title screen, hold Right, Select, A and B at the same time on controller 1. On controller 2, press A the number of times equaling which stage you want to go, and then Start on controller 1.

Do note that this can only be done up to level 9.

(Source: Doodleheimer (GameFAQs))

Regional Differences

Introduction

The entire story of the game was removed in the US release. Along with this, the intro and ending cutscenes were cut out, likely due to the religious tones of the story. They can be re-enabled in the US version using the Game Genie code AAKITAZA, although the text wasn't changed so it's just gibberish.

Screenshot	Japanese	Translation
	クリアミナ　ちほうに　ちいさな　まちが　ありました。	There once was a small town in the region of Cleamina.
	あるひ、へいわな　このまちに　アラカタイという まほうつかいが　あらわれて　まちの　ひとびとから たからものを　とりあげて　しまいました。 ひとびとは　ちからを　あわせて　アラカタイを　たおそう と　しましたが　おこった　アラカタイは　クリアミナちほう の　あちこちに　おそろしい　まものを　はなって　ひとびと を　くるしめはじめたのです。	One day, in this peaceful town, a wizard named Alakatay appeared and took all of the treasures from the town's people. The people worked together to defeat Alakatay, but Alakatay happened to be doing horrible things on the other side of the Cleamina region and began cursing the people.
	そんな　ちじょうでの　ありさまを　みていた　かみさまは ひとりの　おとこを　ちじょうに　おろそうと　おもいました 　おとこの　なまえは　カルノフと　いいました。 カルノフは　にんげんだったころ　わるい　おこないばかり していたために　いまでは　かみさまの　めしつかいとして はたらかされて いたのでした。 よいか　カルノフ　ちじょうでは　つみのない　ひとびとが アラタカイに　くるしめられている。  おまえは　わたしが　あたえる　まほうのちからで アラタカイを　たおすのだ。 おまえの　ちじょうでの　おこないしだいでは　めしつかい から　かいほうして　やろう。  さあ　いくのだ！　カルノフ！	Seeing the events going on below, God decided to have a man on the ground and called for a man named Karnov. Karnov only did bad things when he was a human being, and now was a servant of God. Understood, Karnov? To prove your innocence, you must save the innocent people Alatakay has cursed. You will defeat Alatakay with this magic I've given you. Let me release you from your servitude once your deeds are performed. Well, let's go, Karnov!

Ending

To do: Pictures and translations of the endings.

Depending on how well the player did at the end, the player ends up with one of three different endings. These were all replaced with a simple text screen saying "CONGRATULATIONS!! THE END".

Continues

The Japanese version allows two continues, and the US version allows infinite continues. (This is inconsistent with the US manual, which states that the game allows three continues.) The continue method differs between versions as well: in the Japanese version, Start + Select must be pressed on the Game Over screen to continue, while the US version simply has a Continue option.