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Circus Charlie for the 8 bit Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)

If someone stopped you and asked if you've played Circus Charlie before, would you say yes? Of course you would! Kids of the 80's all played Circus Charlie at one point, and those unfortunate enough to have been deprived of this timeless classic can still catch up and play Circus Charlie online, the first authentic circus game in history (at least according to the arcade flyer).

Developed in 1984 by Konami, Circus Charlie is a lighthearted arcade platformer involving a circus clown performing death defying feats in a packed big top. Sporting 6 levels and an unlockable bonus level, the game's objectives are simple enough: get Charlie from one end of the circus to the other by safely jumping over any obstacles along the way. This is easier said than done, as most people who played the game can attest to its insane difficulty, especially on the first try.

In the first stage, Charlie is riding lionback (that means "on a lion", if you must know) while simultaneously jumping through flaming hoops and stationary pots of fire. Successfully navigate your way using the directional and jump button until Charlie makes it to the opposite side safely, where he lands on a platform and gives a bow amidst thunderous applause. The next few levels basically follow the same pattern. The second stage features Charlie walking a tightrope while monkeys are coming toward him. Similar to the first stage, Charlie must jump over his evolutionary ancestors to successfully clear the level.

The third stage has Charlie bouncing from one trampoline to another while avoiding fire-breathers and knife-throwers in between. In similar fashion, the fourth stage shows Charlie balancing and jumping from one oversized circus ball to another in order to get to the end platform. In the fifth stage, Charlie is riding horseback (that means "on a horse", if you must know) at breakneck speed while jumping spring-laden contraptions across his path. Finally, the sixth stage, and easily the most difficult, has Charlie swinging from one trapeze to another, all moving at different speeds. If the player completes all six tasks, a miracle in itself, Charlie lands on the final platform, kisses a beautiful maiden, and splits into a dozen copies. The duplicates wave a final goodbye and exit. With what he's done so far, Charlie's cloning ability pales by comparison.

If certain requirements are met, a bonus stage similar to the third stage appears wherein the fire-breathers and knife-throwers are replaced by dolphins that swim under and over the trampolines. Due to restrictions, the 1986 Circus Charlie Nintendo version differs slightly from the arcade, most noticeably the disappearance of the third and bonus levels as well as less vivid graphics.

Circus Charlie is an excellent game in itself, but the best part is the soundtrack which features three excerpts from popular music, including Johann Strauss' "The Blue Danube" and F.W. Meacham's "American Patrol", rendered in beautiful 8-bit audio that played in a continuous loop. The addicting soundtrack eventually cemented the games longevity, as years later most players automatically remember the game upon hearing the audio.

The Circus Charlie game is another timeless classic, one that almost every kid grew up playing and, at present, still can't finish successfully.

Still having fun? Why don't you give the double dragon 3 nes game or the mario brothers nes game a shot? Or is Mappy more your thing? We have the mappy game to play online as well as many other classic Nintendo games like the snow bros game. So, hang around a play some more!

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