Keep running and never turn back. This is the motto you live and die by in the game Chelnov: Atomic Runner. In this game you play a coal miner who has survived a nuclear reactor meltdown that left him with super powers. He now must battle futuristic mutants as he runs the hell away from Russia to get to America. Originally released in 1988 by Data East, the game was immediately met with controversy. It suffered from the “too soon” phenomenon, since the Chernobyl nuclear reactor meltdown had happened just a few years prior to the game’s release. Chelnov’s obvious allusions to the Chernobyl incident were considered tacky and in poor taste. The little arcade game struggled as a result, yet Chelnov kept on running anyway.
Compared to modern video game controversies such as Modern Warfare 2’s “No Russian” level, Chelnov’s handling of its nuclear subject matter seems a silly thing to be trifled with today, especially when there are much more morbid post-nuclear gamers such as S.T.A.L.K.E.R. or Fallout 3. Now, Chelnov: Atomic Runner can just be viewed as the fun little run n’ gun platformer it has always been.
Chelnov never stops running. The screen is constantly scrolling forwards and you cannot move backwards- you can stop for a moment, but the screen pushes forward. You can shoot, jump, and turn around to fire backwards, but you can only move to the right. Having the game constantly push you forward gives it a sense of urgency and requires the player to constantly think and react quickly. The fact that you can’t move backwards also adds an extra layer of challenge because you have to plot your path correctly the first time. Overshoot a jump and you’re dead. Leap over a power up and you won’t get it back. This may seem like a limitation to the game, but it actually makes it more enjoyable because it is pleasantly challenging. The turn-around mechanic also adds to the challenge of Atomic Runner. There is a button you press to turn Chelnov 180 degrees. You can only move from left to right, but you can do so while facing right or left, so you can shoot enemy mutants that are in your way, or creeping up behind you. This mechanic becomes increasingly important as you progress through the game and you have to learn how to juggle between jumping, shooting to the left and the right, and keeping pace with the ever-scrolling screen. The level design starts off easy with requiring you to turn around only a few times in a level, but become increasingly demanding as the game progresses. You have to keep timing your directioned shots while enemies encroach on both sides, all the while trying to jump to the next platform without falling. The action gets frantic.
Chelnov’s graphics are nothing fantastic, even for 1988, but they are serviceable. The animations are surprisingly smooth and some of the creatures, particularly the larger bosses have a nice sci-fi comic book style. The themes are a weird mix of retro-futuristic technology, flying dragons, mutants, demons, and post-nuclear apocalypse. The soundtrack is also good, but short of being great. It keeps a steady beat that works for the never-stopping pace of the game and seeps into the background where you will hardly notice it, and it will only slightly color your perception of the game. It is wallpaper music with fairly subdued, but fitting colors. But the graphics and sound are not what is important in this game. It’s the running. Never stop running and never look back.
Chelnov saw both a US and Japanese release. The Japanese version is more difficult, and preferable for that reason if you are skilled at this type of game. There was also a Mega Drive/Genesis release in the early 90s.
Chelnov: Atomic Runner is a true hidden gem. Because it was mired in a controversy that no longer seems controversial, it has mostly been forgotten. The gameplay is incredibly fun though. There is something unique about this run n’ gun style where you can’t stop running mixed with the left-right juggle of the shooting mechanic that make it incredibly challenging and enjoyable. You will die a lot, but you will keep coming back for more to fix your mistakes. The level design keeps the challenge up, while not being unfair and keeping the game fun. For this reason it is still worth playing today. Chelnov keeps on running.
