Atomic Runner

From Sega Retro

For the unreleased Sega Saturn port, see Atomic Runner (Saturn).

n/a

  • NTSC-U
  • PAL
  • NTSC-J

AtomicRunner Title.png

AtomicRunner MD PAL title.png

Chelnov MD title.png

Atomic Runner
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Virtual Console
Publisher:
Sega Mega Drive
Data East (Japan, US)
Sega Mega Drive
Sega (Europe)
Wii Virtual Console
Paon
Developer:
Original system(s): Arcade boards
Genre: Action[1][2]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP
¥7,8007,800 T-13073
Sega Mega Drive
US
$49.9549.95[3] T-13036
Sega Mega Drive
EU
1140
Sega Mega Drive
PT
MDJ1144
Sega Mega Drive
UK
£39.9939.99[4] 1140
Sega Mega Drive
SE
(Rental)
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Wii Virtual Console
JP
600pts600[6]
CERO: A

Atomic Runner, known in Japan as Atomic Runner Chelnov (チェルノブ), is a Sega Mega Drive action platform game developed and published by Data East. The game is a port of the company's 1988 arcade game Atomic Runner Chelnov but with significantly enhanced graphics and sound. It was first released in Japan, the United States, and Europe in late 1992, and has since been ported to the Nintendo Wii's Virtual Console courtesy of developer M2 in September 2007.

Story

Atomic Runner, Introduction.png

Introduction

While the original arcade version's plot took significant inspiration from the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, the home port's story was changed due to the minor controversy it caused in the contemporary Japanese game industry. Instead of a coal miner who developed superhuman abilities after getting caught in a Soviet nuclear failure who must fight an evil organization who wants to hire him for his advanced abilities, Chelnov is now a scientist living happily with his father and sister Chelmi. One night, he goes out for a jog only to hear an explosion at his house. Racing back home, he finds his father near-death at the hands of the "Deathtarians," a group claiming to be the original intelligent life — and consequently, the true owners — of planet Earth, predating humans.

Chelnov's father had been working to try to stop the Deathtarians, and now he leaves a suit which grants its wearer superhuman abilities and numerous weapons to Chelnov. Chelnov donned the suit to become the Atomic Runner and went on his way to save the world and rescue his now-kidnapped sister, but was overwhelmed by the Deathtarians's numbers. The Deathtarians captured, tortured, and attempted to brainwash the Atomic Runner, but eventually failed, leaving him with one last attempt to stop the Deathtarians.

Gameplay

The game is a forced side-scrolling action platformer. The screen continually scrolls to the left at a constant speed except during boss fights. Chelnov continues to run with the screen even if the player is not pressing forward. The player can run ahead faster with Right or stop with Left, though Chelnov starts moving again if he touches the edge of the screen. He also stops moving when he crouches with Down. He jumps with A and somersaults with Left+A or Right+A. He shoots his weapon with A, which has rapid-fire when the button is held down. Shots can be aimed with the D-pad; Chelnov can shoot at diagonal angles but not straight up. He can fire while jumping and while somersaulting. He can also attack enemies by jumping on them, which can be used to bounce off enemies to traverse gaps in the terrain. Chelnov changes the direction he is facing with Left+C or Right+C, which lets him shoot enemies behind him but does not change his direction of travel.

There are two alternative control schemes. The first scheme shoots with A, jumps with B, and changes direction with C. It is not necessary to hold a direction to turn around since it toggles between forwards and backwards. The second scheme jumps with B, shoots left with A, and shoots right with C.

Chelnov is initially equipped with a laser gun, but he can equip different weapons by finding items. He can upgrade his jump and his attack range, power, and speed by collecting power-ups as well. Chelnov dies with one hit. Touching enemies in any way besides jumping on top of them counts as a hit against Chelnov. He loses his upgrades and reverts to the laser gun upon death. He revives at certain checkpoints within the stages if the player has lives remaining. If the player runs out of lives, the game ends but can be continued. The player can set the starting lives and continues in the options before starting the game. Extra lives are rewarded at certain point thresholds.

Stages

Atomic Runner, Stage 1.png

Atomic Runner, Stage 1 Subboss.png

Atomic Runner, Stage 1 Boss.png

Atomic Laboratory

Atomic Runner, Stage 2.png

Atomic Runner, Stage 2 Subboss.png

Atomic Runner, Stage 2 Boss.png

Mutant Plant Zone

Atomic Runner, Stage 3.png

Atomic Runner, Stage 3 Subboss.png

Atomic Runner, Stage 3 Boss.png

Mayan Jungle

Atomic Runner, Stage 4.png

Atomic Runner, Stage 4 Subboss.png

Atomic Runner, Stage 4 Boss.png

Egyptian Desert

Atomic Runner, Stage 5.png

Atomic Runner, Stage 5 Boss.png

Treasure Room

Atomic Runner, Stage 6.png

Atomic Runner, Stage 6 Boss.png

Siberian Snowland

Atomic Runner, Stage 7.png

Atomic Runner, Stage 7 Boss 2.png

Atomic Runner, Stage 7 Boss 3.png

New York

Items

Items are found by shooting the aliens that carry them or sometimes by shooting torches.

Upgrades

Atomic Runner, Items.png
Jump
Increases the Atomic Runner's jump height, up to two times.
Atomic Runner, Items.png
Yellow Up
Increases shooting range and bullet speed, up to three times.
Atomic Runner, Items.png
Red Up
Increases bullet size and destructive power, up to three times.
Atomic Runner, Items.png
Blue Up
Increases attack speed, up to three times.
Atomic Runner, Items.png
Yen Coin
Gives the player 2,000 bonus points.
Atomic Runner, Items.png
Dollar Coin
Gives the player 5,000 bonus points.

Weapons

Atomic Runner, Items.png
Laser
Initially equipped. Shoots a laser with long range and good power but small area of effect.
Atomic Runner, Items.png
Boomerang
Throws boomerangs that return after being thrown. Long-ranged (though less than the full width of the screen) and very fast-firing.
Atomic Runner, Items.png
Light Ring
Launches destructive bands of light. Large area of effect but relatively slow-firing.
Atomic Runner, Items.png
Spiked Balls
Throws array of spiked balls forward. Tall area of effect and very strong but the shortest range of all the weapons.
Atomic Runner, Items.png
Morning Star
Shoots iron spheres. Slow but long-ranged and tall area of effect.
Atomic Runner, Items.png
Homing Missile
Sends out homing missiles that automatically target enemies. Good range and rapid-firing but relatively weak.

Versions

Localised names

Also known as
Language Localised Name English Translation
English Atomic Runner Atomic Runner
English (US) Atomic Runner Atomic Runner
Japanese チェルノブ Chelnov

Production credits

  • Game Arranged and Designed By: Acura Ohtani
  • Graphic Designed By: Mau Yokoi, Mutunori Sato
  • Programmed By: Works Sasamoto
  • Music & Sound Effects By: Koremasa
  • Sound Driver Programmed By: Hiroyasu Fujimaru

Thanks to everyone at Sapporo Satellite

Arcade Staff
  • Program: Inoue, Akiyama, Haga
  • Hard: Shinozaki
  • Sound: Hara, Kiuchi, Tenno
  • Graphic: M. Tokoro, J. S, Mix Man, Ritsu. T
Source:
In-game credits

Magazine articles

Main article: Atomic Runner/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Force (SE) #1993-03: "3/93" (1993-05-13)
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
40
[7]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
58
[8]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
73
[9]
Consoles + (FR)
79
[10]
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US)
75
[11]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 4 (RU)
40
[12]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
91
[13]
Game Mania (UK) NTSC-J
91
[14]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
95
[3]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
60
[15]
Joypad (FR)
92
[16]
Joystick (FR) NTSC-U
90
[17]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)
40
[18]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) NTSC-U
40
[19]
Mega (UK) PAL
45
[20]
Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-U
77
[21]
MegaTech (UK) NTSC-J
80
[22]
Marukatsu Mega Drive (JP) NTSC-J
85
[23]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
91
[4]
Player One (FR)
85
[24]
Play Time (DE)
75
[25]
Power Up! (UK)
83
[26]
Sega Power (UK) NTSC-U
88
[27]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
79
[28]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-U
59
[29]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
66
[30]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
81
[31]
Supergame (BR) NTSC-U
93
[32]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
50
[33]
Video Games (DE)
64
[34]
Sega Mega Drive
72
Based on
30 reviews

Atomic Runner

Mega Drive, JP
AtomicRunner MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
Chelnov MD JP CartTop.jpg
Chelnov MD JP Cart Back.jpgChelnov MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Chelnov md jp manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, US
AtomicRunner MD US Box.jpg
Cover
AtomicRunner MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
AtomicRunner MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
AtomicRunner MD US pcb.jpg
PCB
Mega Drive, EU
AtomicRunner MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
AtomicRunner MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Atomic Runner MD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
AtomicRunner MD EU pcb.jpg
PCB
Mega Drive, PT

Mega Drive, AU

AtomicRunner MD AU Cart Top.jpg
AtomicRunner MD AU Cart Back.jpgAtomicRunner MD AU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, AU (Silver)

AtomicRunner MD AU silver cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Mega Drive
CRC32 0677c210
MD5 6ddf32102f20c6f91b0d97bb5da5caad
SHA-1 8a6e868fe36f2e5ac01af2557d3798a892e34799
1MB 1992-03 Cartridge (US)
Sega Mega Drive
CRC32 b2fe74d8
MD5 d769a45255a31638e336f77f33aba822
SHA-1 ac1ae7b38f6498472bc4f072726a4ca069e41204
1MB 1992-03 Cartridge (JP)
Sega Mega Drive
CRC32 b3c05418
MD5 b953ab20d7bd508bd15d369339c67256
SHA-1 ab84274bc98a1f8f808bee3f41645884c95cc840
1MB 1992-03 Cartridge (EU)

External links

References

  1. File:AtomicRunner MD JP Box.jpg
  2. 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-02 23:21)
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 GamePro, "June 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 54
  4. 4.0 4.1 Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 58
  5. https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/software/04.html (Wayback Machine: 2018-03-05 23:40)
  6. http://vc.sega.jp:80/vc_chelnov/ (Wayback Machine: 2007-09-15 16:31)
  7. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 23
  8. Aktueller Software Markt, "November 1992" (DE; 1992-10-09), page 147
  9. Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1992" (JP; 1992-07-08), page 28
  10. Consoles +, "Octobre 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 72
  11. Electronic Games (1992-1995), "October 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 68
  12. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 4, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 13
  13. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 23
  14. Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 80
  15. Hippon Super, "August 1992" (JP; 1992-07-04), page 39
  16. Joypad, "Octobre 1992" (FR; 1992-10-xx), page 50
  17. Joystick, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-1x-xx), page 151
  18. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-xx-xx), page 40
  19. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 90
  20. Mega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-16), page 87
  21. Mega Fun, "08/92" (DE; 1992-08-18), page 25
  22. MegaTech, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-20), page 38
  23. Marukatsu Mega Drive, "September 1992" (JP; 1992-08-xx), page 119
  24. Player One, "Février/Mars 1993" (FR; 1993-02-10), page 80
  25. Play Time, "11/92" (DE; 1992-10-07), page 90
  26. Power Up!, "Saturday, April 03, 1993" (UK; 1993-04-03), page 1
  27. Sega Power, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-01), page 34
  28. Sega Pro, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-10), page 58
  29. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 64
  30. Sega Force, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-10), page 70
  31. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
  32. Supergame, "Outubro 1992" (BR; 1992-10-xx), page 22
  33. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 16
  34. Video Games, "10/92" (DE; 1992-09-30), page 100


Atomic Runner

AtomicRunner Title.png

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