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Neo Geo AES

Karnov’s Revenge

Neo Geo AES

Neo Geo AES

Fighter's History was probably the most blatant rip-off of Street Fighter 2 in history (hence the title). Lo and behold, Data East had the audacity to make a sequel a year after the release of the original, even after Capcom tried to sue them for ripping off SF2. Fighter's History Dynamite (al...

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Developer
Data East

Released on
1994

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Neo Geo AES

Requirements
SNK Neo Geo AES

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Description

Fighter’s History was probably the most blatant rip-off of Street Fighter 2 in history (hence the title). Lo and behold, Data East had the audacity to make a sequel a year after the release of the original, even after Capcom tried to sue them for ripping off SF2.

Fighter’s History Dynamite (also known as Karnov’s Revenge) is at least an improvement over the original. The sequel adds playable bosses (Clown and Karnov) and two new characters: Zazie & Yungmie. Besides a better selection of playable characters and some new backgrounds, the game itself really hasn’t changed very much in terms of looks or gameplay.

While playing Karnov’s Revenge, there’s just no way to shake the feeling that this game is trying to be Street Fighter 2 with a different cast of characters. For the second time around, it doesn’t offer any true innovation to the fighting game genre. Although, you could unlock a special fight against a bull if you beat the game without losing a single round, but who the hell would want to play this game for that long?

Karnov's Revenge

Overview & History

Released by Data East in 1994 for SNK's powerful Neo Geo AES and MVS hardware, Karnov's Revenge (known in Japan as Fighter's History Dynamite) serves as the quirky sequel to 1993's Fighter's History. The storyline revolves around a mysterious martial arts tournament hosted by the nefarious Kazuo, challenging a bizarre international cast of fighters—including the returning fire-breathing circus strongman Karnov—to prove their specific disciplines are superior. Historically infamous for a notorious copyright lawsuit filed by Capcom over perceived similarities to Street Fighter II, Data East's fighting game remains a cult-classic neo-geo gem, celebrated for its vibrant sprite work, unique rhythmic soundtrack, and distinct gameplay identity.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Karnov's Revenge refines its predecessor's mechanics by introducing a distinct "Weak Point" system. Each of the 13 playable characters—ranging from the drunken boxing master Lee to the electric-wielding Zazie and the grappling Amazon Ray—possesses specific vulnerable zones on their body. Landing repeated attacks on an opponent's glowing weak point causes them to temporarily buckle, opening them up for devastating combo strings. The game utilizes a traditional four-button arcade layout for weak and strong punches and kicks, supplemented by an intuitive evade and counter-attack dash system. Characters feature iconic special maneuvers, such as Karnov’s signature fireball projectile and his devastating floating aerial drop kick, alongside frantic "Super Combo" finishers executable when the health bar flashes red.