Arcade classic Karnov heads to Mega Drive in new fan made port

Karnov is heading to the Sega Mega Drive and Genesis. A new port of Data East’s 1987 arcade action game is currently in development, with the project aiming to bring the original coin-op version to Sega’s 16-bit hardware. The latest work-in-progress build already shows the opening stage running on the console, complete with Karnov’s familiar fireball attacks, enemies, platforms and item-based gameplay. It’s not finished yet. Palette work, performance tuning and other technical fixes are still being worked on, but the basic direction is already clear: this is an attempt to recreate the arcade game rather than rework it into something completely different.

Karnov is being built around the arcade original

The Mega Drive version is being developed by Master Linkuei, who has worked on Sega projects including conversions, hacks and original Mega Drive software. This time, the focus is squarely on Karnov.

The current build follows the structure of the 1987 arcade release. Karnov runs through side-scrolling stages, throws fireballs at enemies, jumps across platforms and collects items that can help him reach new areas or deal with tougher sections. Some of the graphics are still being adjusted. Colours need more work, and performance is still being tuned in places.

That’s fairly normal for a project like this. The arcade machine and the Mega Drive may share some similarities, but they’re not the same hardware. You can’t simply move an arcade game across and expect everything to behave perfectly.

The original Karnov arcade board used a Motorola 68000 processor, and Sega’s Mega Drive uses the same processor family. That gives the conversion an interesting technical starting point. The graphics hardware, memory layout, sound system and other parts of the machines are different, though, so the game still needs plenty of adaptation.

What is Karnov?

If you missed it the first time around, Karnov is a side-scrolling action-platform game released by Data East in 1987. You play as Jinborov Karnovski, better known as Karnov. He’s a strongman who fights enemies by launching fireballs while making his way through a series of increasingly difficult stages. The game has nine levels.

Along the way, Karnov can collect items and keep them in an inventory. These aren’t just score bonuses. Ladders can help him reach higher platforms, while other items affect movement or provide access to parts of a level that would otherwise be difficult to reach.

Karnov’s main attack can also be upgraded. Collecting red orbs increases his firepower, allowing him to throw more fireballs at once. Movement upgrades matter too. Running and jumping shoes improve Karnov’s mobility, and those mechanics are also being worked into the Mega Drive version.

The Mega Drive port isn’t based on the NES game

That’s an important distinction. Karnov appeared on several home systems after its arcade debut, including the Famicom and NES. It also reached machines such as the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC and IBM-compatible PCs. Those versions made changes to fit their hardware.

The new Mega Drive project, however, is being built around the arcade release rather than using the NES version as its template. That means the developers are looking at the arcade game’s graphics, enemy behaviour, stages, item system and general feel as the main reference point. For players who know Karnov mainly from Nintendo’s 8-bit version, the difference should be noticeable.

Sound is also being converted for Mega Drive hardware

Audio is another part of the job. The project is using the Mega Drive’s XGM audio format for music and sound effects. Sega’s console uses Yamaha FM synthesis, so the arcade soundtrack and effects need to be adapted to work within the machine’s own sound setup.

There’s also a practical target for the ROM size. The current plan is to keep the complete game within 2 MB. That could still change during development, but it gives a good idea of the project’s scope.

Karnov Mega Drive release date hasn’t been announced

There’s no final release date yet. The game is still in active development, and the current footage should be treated as an early look rather than a finished version. Palette corrections, optimisation and other changes are still on the list.

Even so, the project has already reached the point where the arcade gameplay can be seen running on Mega Drive hardware. For a game that never received an official Sega 16-bit conversion, that makes this an interesting addition to the growing list of arcade titles finding their way onto the Mega Drive decades after the console first arrived.

Spread the love