Chelnov

Chelnov (チェルノブ, cherunobu), also known as Atomic Runner or fully titled as Atomic Runner Chelnov - Nuclear Man, the Fighter (ATOMIC RUNNER CHELNOV 戦う人間発電所, Atomic Runner Chelnov - Tatakau Ningen Hatsudensho, lit. "Atomic Runner Chelnov - Fighting Human Power Plant"), is a Japanese infinite runner arcade game developed and published by Data East in 1988.

In-game description

Gameplay

The player controls Chelnov's movements with the 8-way joystick, and the 3 buttons to attack, jump, or turn around. Six types of weapons can be obtained during the game, and collecting power-ups can improve Chelnov's attack power, rapid-firing capability, attack range, or jumping height.

The game is a forced side-scrolling game where the screen continually scrolls to the right at a constant speed unless the player is fighting a boss, in which the screen will stop scrolling. Chelnov will continue to run with the screen even if the player lets go off the joystick. Though the player can move to the left or right of the scrolling screen by entering the corresponding direction on the joystick, it is impossible to stop or move backwards except when fighting a boss (Chelnov can turn backwards while jumping). The main character's sprite animation is highly detailed and smooth for its time, comparable to the level of Karateka and the early Prince of Persia games. The ending screen appears when the player finishes all 7 levels of the game.