Chelnov, also known as Atomic Runner Chelnov, is a Japanese shoot-’em-up arcade game from 1988. The game was developed and published by Data East, known for its arcade games like Commando and Bad Dudes Vs. Dragon Ninja. It was later released for the Sega Genesis in 1992 and the X68000 computer in 1993.
The game has received overall positive reviews and was one of the most-successful arcade games in the month of its release. Critics have praised it for its intense challenges, fun gameplay, and surreal designs.
Chelnov Premise
This sci-fi side-scroller faced controversy upon its release due to its plot and main character being seen as a parody of the Chernobyl disaster. But Data East has said any connections are pure coincidence. Because of this, the original arcade version has a different story than the Sega Genesis and computer versions.
Arcade Version
One day an explosion happens at a nuclear power plant that also impacts the nearby coal mines. Chelnov and his father were in the mines when it happened. Somehow Chelnov survived but his father died. He now finds himself stronger than any human because of the intense radiation. At the same time that happens, the United States is being invaded by the Deathtarians, a mysterious race that claims to have inhabited Earth in prehistoric times. The Deathtarians want to reclaim Earth as their own but to do that they must wipe out its current inhabitants.
When this news reaches Chelnov’s rural village, he decides to take revenge for his father and save the world. But before he gets the chance, the Deathtarians have already found his village. When they learn of his new abilities, they capture him and take him to an underground base to brainwash him. But this gives Chelnov time to learn about them and he discovers their boss is in New York. Now he can continue his mission for vengeance and head straight for New York.
Sega Genesis and X68000 Version
In this version of the game, alien ships begin suddenly falling from the sky in a massive invasion with no warning. Giant ships slam onto the Earth’s surface like massive bombs. Massive aliens begin mercilessly capturing humans by the thousands.
Chelnov and his father take shelter in an underground science lab. Right before he dies, his father tells him of the mysterious Atomic Suit that was discovered in an ancient Egyptian pyramid. The aliens built this suit to give the pharaohs superhuman abilities. Like the arcade version, the aliens were here long before our own societies and now they want to reclaim the planet for themselves. To stop this from happening, Chelnov must use this special suit to get rid of the aliens and become the Atomic Runner.
Chelnov Main Character
The main character of this run-and-gun platform is the titular Chelnov. The version of the game also decides part of his backstory. In the arcade version, he and his father are coal miners in the mines when the explosion happens. In the Sega Genesis and X68000 versions, they were both scientists.
Chelnov also has several cameos throughout Data East’s titles, like in Fighter’s History: Mizoguchi Kiki Ippatsu!!, making him one of their main mascots along with Karnov.
Chelnov Series
Chelnov is a standalone arcade game but Data East has a wide variety of other platformers for you to check out. And our favorite protagonist, Chelnov, makes an appearance in many of them. So if you want to catch another glimpse of our favorite superhuman, here are all of the other titles he makes an appearance in. His part in the games range from small cameos to being the final boss.
- Bad Dudes Vs. Dragon Ninja (1988)
- Sly Spy (1989)
- Trio The Punch: Never Forget Me… (1990)
- Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninja (1991)
- Tumble Pop (1991)
- Diet Go Go (1992)
- Joe & Mac Returns (1994)
- Fighter’s History Dynamite (1994)
- Fighter’s History: Mizoguchi Kiki Ippatsu!! (1995)
- Windjammers 2 (2022)
Chelnov Cheat Codes
The Sega Genesis version has two helpful cheats that make the players invincible and help them skip a level.
Sega Genesis Codes
| Effect | Code |
| Invincibility | At the Data East logo, hold Down + C + Start on Control Pad 2 and go to the options and choose Sound Test 21. Then hold Down + A + C on Control Pad 2 and press Start on Control Pad 1 to return to the title screen. During gameplay, hold Up + A + C on Control Pad 2 and press Start on Control Pad 1. |
| Level Skip | At the Data East logo, hold down Down + C + Start on Control Pad 2. Press Start on Control Pad 2 to skip the current level. |
For players that have a Game Genie for their Sega Genesis, here are even more codes for you to try out. They can give you infinite continues, an extra jump, and so much more.
Game Genie Codes
| Effect | Code |
| Master Code | J2BT-AR40 |
| Almost Invincible | RYYT-A6ZW |
| Don’t Change Y Coordinate | REZT-A60J |
| Enable Cheat Mode | RFWT-A60N B2GA-AA44 FNGA-AVXN 96GA-AADW |
| Infinite Continues | AJPT-AA7A |
| Invincible Against Burning Attacks | RYYT-A6TN |
| Invincible Against Non-Burning Attacks | RYYT-A6TJ |
| Invincible Against Walls | D21T-AA50 |
| Jump in Midair | JAGA-AAB0 JAGA-AACA 1AGA-A6WE VAGA-ARLG |
| You Can Not Fall Down Into Pits | 6JXT-ACAC |
| You Character Does Not Stumble Over | RYYT-A6TG |
| Your Character Is Invincible And Never Stumbles Over | A2YA-AA8N |
And here are the Game Genie codes for the Japanese version of the game.
Game Genie Codes (Japan Version)
| Effect | Code |
| Infinite Continues | AJRA-AA2R |
| Infinite Lives | AJPT-AA8R |
| Invincibility (Disable Hit Detection) | RYYT-A6X0 RYYT-A6X4 RYYT-A6XY RZPT-A616 |
And for the lucky players who have a Pro Action Replay, these are the codes you can use on your Sega Genesis. These can give you a super jump, infinite lives, and more.
Pro Action Replay Codes
| Effect | Code |
| Infinite Continues | FFC321:0003 |
| Infinite Lives | FFC322:0009 |
| Invincibility | FFDCFC:000D |
| Super High Jump | FFDD1A:10 |
Unfortunately for the other versions of the game, there are no known cheat codes.
Chelnov Cheat Code FAQ
Does Chelnov have any cheat codes?
For the Sega Genesis version, yes! And there are even more cheats if you have a Game Genie or Pro Action Replay for your Sega Genesis. These codes can make the player invincible, help them skip a hard level, and more!
What is a Pro Action Replay?
A Pro Action Replay is a cheat device that allows players to input different cheats and codes for multiple different consoles like the SNES, Game Cube, Commodore 64, GameBoy Advanced, and so much more. They manipulate the memory of the game code itself to allow cheats like infinite health, more powerful weapons, and even saving the game when it does not have a save mechanic.
What is a Game Genie?
A Game Genie is another cheat device, similar to the Pro Action Replay. They are available for many retro consoles like the NES, SNES, original Game Boy, Genesis, and more.
What makes a cheat device different?
Since developers implement traditional cheat codes in their games on purpose, not every game has them. But that does not mean players don’t want them. Hence, cheat devices were born. Devices like the Game Genie or Pro Action Replay allow players to do things the developer did not intend, while regular cheat codes are put there by the developers. They alter the game’s code to get it to work differently.
How long will it take to finish Chelnov?
According to HowLongToBeat.com, you can finish the arcade version of the game in three hours or the Sega Genesis version in only one.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Chelnov Cover Art.