Karnov/Stage 2


 * When you begin the stage, you will face three tall columns, each of which contain a statue of a head at the top. The heads can fire two projectiles straight at Karnov with a good degree of accuracy.  To pass them, Karnov must shoot down the portions of the column so that the head drops down to the floor, and ultimate destroy the heads.  Pay close attention to the projectiles that are fired at Karnov and avoid them.  (Jump before the first pillar to make a hidden shoe tile appear.)
 * Once you pass the three columns, you will find a door along the ground, as well as a wings tile and a Red Orb on top of a ledge. Use the ladder to climb up to the ledge (shown right).  After you collect the items, you have a choice to make.  You can either remain on the ledge and take the upper path, or climb back down to reclaim the ladder, shoot the door open, and take the lower path.

Upper path

 * If you decide to take the upper path, one gray and one brown stone thrower will appear as you rise along the roof top. Beyond them, a fourth column must be destroyed before you continue to climb up and return to the left.  Climb up the ladder to the top.
 * When you arrive at the top, a flock of six birds will gather above you. You can generally run to the right and ignore them.  As you continue, a new version of the flame riding demons will appear.  These demons are pink, and they do shoot projectiles at you.
 * Continue to the right and you will eventually have to drop off a ledge. Five K marks await you at the bottom, along with another flame rider.  Several small winged demons will fly around you as well.  When you get a certain distance in, if you have a mask power-up, it will begin to blink.  If you activate it, four tiles will appear (shown right).  To collect them all, you need a ladder.  Even using the shoes, you can only collect the bottom three, thereby missing the helmet at the top.
 * When you jump up to the first step, a golden robot will appear in front of you. Attack it ferociously as fast as you can in an attempt to destroy it before it splits apart.  If it does, you must dodge all of the pieces that fly from it and wait for it to reassemble before you can attack it once again.  Watch out for the small demons flying above.
 * Another golden robot will form at the end of the ledge before the drop. Destroy it as quickly as possible.  If you stand on the edge, the wings icon will start to blink.  If you use it, you can fly through the sky to the end of the stage instead of simply dropping down.  There are some icons in the air (see below, section Stage end).

Lower path

 * Enter through the door and collect the Red Orb. The large face on the wall can be shot in the eyes.  For every shot it receives, it spits slow moving projectiles at Karnov that are fairly easy to jump over if they are not spaced apart too far.  Also, a tear will fall from the eyes and drop to the floor.  Each tear will turn into a K mark for you to collect.
 * Drop down the ledges and collect the K marks along the floor. At the bottom of the drop, a golden robot will form in front of you.  Like those described above, you must attack it as quickly as possible in an attempt to destroy it before it splits apart, creating more danger for you to avoid.
 * Watch out for the small winged demons as you jump up the stairs. The face to your left acts just like the first one you found; you can shoot the eyes and jump over the projectiles if you wish to collect more K marks.  Proceed to the next chamber and two doors will seal you inside.  A series of bats will appear (shown right).  The doors will only open when all of the bats are destroyed.
 * Head right, and you'll see another large face on the right wall. Fall down, and you'll see a smaller face on the left.  This face will shoot projectiles, one high followed by one low, at regular intervals without provocation.  Be prepared to jump over the lower shot as you approach a newly formed golden robot.  You can use a ladder or shoes to collect the bombs if you wish.
 * As you approach the next steps, two men will leap over your head. Shoot them as they pass you on the left.  After a climb to the top, you'll see what looks like a woman crying on the floor, but as you get close, it will transform into a monster.  Squat low while you fire at it and it won't hurt you.  You only need to climb up and collect the ladder and shoes if you are missing one or the other.

Stage end

 * Whether you took the upper path and used the wings to find items hidden in the air (shown right) or you took the lower path through the underground, you will arrive in front of three pillars. A flock of six birds will appear high in the sky and glide down to attack, while knights will appear on either side of you.  Knights will throw daggers at you if you allow them to survive for a long time.
 * Continue to approach the right, attacking the knights and small winged demons as they appear until you reach the boss.

Boss: Lion tamer
The boss of this stage is a lion tamer. He has two lions on a leash, each of which is tugging on their chains to attack you. The lions shoot projectiles that travel high off the ground and are easily ducked. The lion tamer will toss a dagger at you if he is forced to release the lions. The best strategy is to squat down on the ground and all the lions to approach close enough to you so that the lion tamer is visible. Remain squatting and start firing at the group once you can see the lion tamer. If you attack quickly enough, you should be able to destroy one leashed lion and the lion tamer. That will leave one lion unchained. It will bound toward you, but if you stay your ground and continue to fire, you should be able to defeat it before it gets close enough to harm you.

NES differences

 * The statue heads in this version are entirely different. The base columns on which they lie cannot be destroyed.  Only the heads are vulnerable to attack.  Fortunately, the base columns are connected and it's easy to leap from one to the next.  As a result, when you beat the third head (shown left), you won't need a ladder to reach the wing tiles.
 * Lower path: The large face statues do not drop tears when you shoot at them, and the fire at you at regular intervals instead of only when attacked. The bats still appear when you end up trapped between the doors, but only six of them appear, so it's much easier to survive the encounter.
 * Upper path: Only two birds appear in a flock instead of six, and they dive down to attack simultaneously and much faster than in the arcade version. Instead of five K marks on the floor, there will be four and a ladder.  When you use the mask, you will only find four bombs.  Use the ladder to help you collect them all.
 * The lion tamer is different than the arcade version. He is easier because there is only one lion instead of two (shown right).  However, you cannot squat beneath the projectile that is fired at you, so you must jump it.  After firing at the pair long enough, the tamer will disappear and the lion will run toward you, but you should be able to defeat it before it reaches you.  If not, simply jump over the lion as it approaches you.