The game seems like it should have one alternative ending where if you have replayed through the whole game enough times. Umlaut cuts you off because they're tired of playing and you winning.
That or a friend of the player character slaps the token out of their hand and says stop putting in that stupid token you're only making things worse you idiot followed by a slap in the back of the head that makes the camera fly forward implying the player character was knocked over forwards and hitting their head on the tombstone and getting knocked out shown by the camera doing a closing iris shot
*(spits out the token into your face)* “Why’re you here again Pennybags, have you no shame? You’ve won so many times, I thought this was supposed to be Tokkentakker’s game! On one hand, who can complain with this ‘glorious donation’ of money? Yet here you are again rotting away your eyes on a screen when it’s nice and sunny?!”
I really think this should be true or maybe a sequel, so it could explain the protagonist’s motivations for doing this over and over,or it finally stops. Umlaut just constantly yells at the player asking why, and the player could ( possibly speak back ) giving an answer.
I like how the player character appears to be such a selfish and deranged lunatic that even after the nightmare is over, he’s perfectly happy with just going through the whole thing all over again, even if that means dragging his friend/girlfriend along for the ride against her will.
I used to assume the player character just thought everything was just a bad drunken dream after a Halloween party (hence the girl that also regain consciousness beside him), remembered what he was originally going to do and gave it a go just for fun before getting his way back home
I thought he’d just had amnesia and was like “WTF happened and where am I?” Then he does what any other curious person does when they see a coin and a grave slot. So I like to think like it’s a never ending hell for them and by “them” I mean Betty.
I love how it implies CarnEvil did it's job and our player had the time of his life at the carnival. In some twisted way I think the monsters would be delighted to learn this.
I find it absolutely hilarious that the typical "hostage/girl" character you aren't supposed to shoot is the same person. I'd like to imagine that Betty is either immortal or one of many self-replicating homunculus flesh clones.
CarnEvil gives off a purgatory vibe where you can't die but you will feel the pain. It would make sense if the MC discovered this and comes back regularly for fun.
I think the reason for the specific order, is because it emulates _actually visiting a circus carnival._ First you ride the rides (Rickety-town), then you visit the attractions (Haunted House), then you kill time at the sideshows (Freak Show), all while you're waiting for the main show (Big Top)
Yes! I remember it distinctly from my local bowling alley as well. It never frightened me out right, but I was so entranced by the comedy horror presentation along with how crazy the carnival really was. Sadly, it’s gone now but I’ll never forget the quarters I put into that cabinet to blast away some freaks and zombies.
It was a laser tag place for me. I had trouble sleeping after seeing it but every time I was there I couldn't help but look at it. I do remember watching someone fight Marie at one point. Specifically the impaling.
OH MY GOD, SAME HERE, I was invited to this kid’s birthday party in third grade, and we went to a bowling alley with a Carnevil cabinet. Needless to say it scarred me for weeks😂
In the 80’s and 90’s cheap ass theme parks were more common and virtually all of them had some Christmas ride open all year round. For me it was The Land of Make Believe (as my dad used to say, because you make believe there is something worth paying to see) with Santa’s barn. Even as a little one I felt sorry for that poor sap wearing that godawful outfit in the middle of summer with that pos fan next to him like that was going to do anything.
CarnEvil has that comedy & horror vibe that you get from stuff like Beetlejuice, Ghostbusters, Gremlins, & Killer Klowns from Outer Space. They all have different levels of comedy & horror, but you get enough laughs & spooks to leave you satisfied.
The only reason I know about this game is because my local movie theater had one in their very, VERY small arcade back before they renovated the whole lobby. The room was so small in fact that 7 year old me who hated anything horror (some things never change) found it VERY difficult to even be in that room, no matter how much he wanted to play Donkey Kong. Watching this feels like a sense of closure, while also unearthing some deep seeded fears. Overall, wonderful job as always.
Buddy I am right there with you! Our small $1 ticket theater had 8 arcade games and this was one of them. My little brother and I did not like scary things but couldn't help but watch the cut scene any time we went. Always had nightmares at the end.
I think the ending where the player re-inserts the token is just like how some people are with rides. Everyone has had that moment of "Let's do that again!"
I always thought that this game could have used a film adaptation. I mean, the premise just seems like it would have made a great horror movie. This is one of the few arcade games my Dad and I enjoyed playing together (with Revolution X being the top). He actually purchased the arcade cabinet.
I appreciate that you showed off the voice lines and attack animations of the enemies. Those usually get drowned out in gunfire when I watch other people play CarnEvil on UA-cam.
Years ago as a kid I played this at a Laundromat! I was terrified of the arcade machine, but was so entranced by the horror of it! A great experience! Nice Bexx!
It really sucks that midway is no longer around. I really wanted a remake or at the very least a remaster of the suffering and the suffering ties that bind. 😥
I don't think that's the problem. I think WB just wants to put their money in safe IPs that they can monetize. I like this game too but I doubt it's made enough money in the past for someone in WB corporate to take a chance on.
I remember that creepypasta as well. IIRC, it wasn't so much the cult was formed around the game but that some of the devs were part of a cult trying to infiltrate the game industry.
As a kid, this arcade game, scared the hell out of me, making me stay out of that corner, where it was placed, but now I just want to keep playing it whenever I find it
My local mall used to have an arcade machine...Area 51 and CarnEvil would always be the ones I didn't bother looking at because the enemies scared me, more-so carnevil with it's creepy enemies. I now appreciate the arcade game, I did end up playing it eventually, the demo trailer was awesome.
Kinda weird that Evil Marie had jiggle physics, considering she’s undead. Guess evil magic keeps the body from atrophying. By the way, great video and Happy Halloween!
it's funny, I think the only level boss I reached/defeated in this as a kid was Krampus, but I also have clear memories of Evil Marie (let's just say some imagery really sticks with a prepubescent lesbian lol), so I think I must've watched someone else fight her, but yeah, I could never actually get past Hambone I don't think. I also don't recall ever seeing either Junior *nor* Deaddy (I have a feeling, given that this would've been in Utah, that the arcade had turned off Junior, but you never know, considering I'm pretty sure the cabinet had the highest gore setting still turned on from what I can remember), and I don't think I ever saw any of the Big Top level (because I just wasn't that good/rich back then, and I don't think I ever saw anyone else get there, either)
i mean dead bodies bloat and become infested with vermin at some time after death....that is most likely just maggots or something else wriggling around under her outfit.
This was my first video from this channel, and it earned a sub and a binge of more arcade content. You managed to scratch a nostalgic itch I didn’t know I had.
I will always have a special fondness for this game. When I was in my first year of middle school, me and my "childhood best friend who moved away" (Everyone has one) went on a school trip one town over and we ate at a restaurant that had an arcade. We saw CarnEvil and decided to give it a shot, and we were frustrated that we didn't beat it. Later that year, we went on another school trip to that town and were scheduled to eat at that same restaurant. We saved up a sock of quarters and were determined to beat the game. We got to the restaurant, chowed down as fast as we could so we had enough time to play, and started our run. We were incredibly focused this time and were better prepared from the lessons we learned during our attempt months prior. I particularly remember having to dual wield the guns while my friend ran to the bathroom after we beat the first level. By the time we got to the final boss, about ten other 12 year old boys from our school had gathered to watch us play, so the pressure was on. Once we finally beat Token Taker, they all started clapping and cheering. We were on top of the world.
I don't think I've ever played the game, or have even seen a cabinet in over 10 years, but the moment intro sequence started I immediately remembered the whole thing. It just stood out that much wherever I found it.
I loved playing CarnEvil when I was at the arcades. The dark humor and creepiness were great, especially Evil Marie. Also, I loved your take on this, Bexx! Subscribed!
This is anecdotal, but a fun story. I used to work at the computer retailer Micro Center in Chicago. It was close to NetherRealm Studios so we would get purchases from their IT department. One of them came through my checkout lane, she gave her company email and I made some small talk. She mentioned that she was with them all the way back in the midway days, I told her my favorite game from them was Carnevil. She was happy to hear it because she was friends with the team behind it, and still in contact with most of them. She said she’d pass on the message to them and that they’d be happy someone still remembered it.
i was 10 when this game came out and IT WAS MY JAM. so happy to see creators like you do videos on this. it really was a gem of arcade games back in the day. hope they make a remake one day. it deserves it
Fun fact: you can stun hambone if you shot his chaingun. I figured this out by shooting him in different spots, and I noticed that he can be stunned very easily by just shooting that specific spot. If you just continue to shoot his gun, you can stun him indefinitely, making his encounter a joke
I was hoping you would cover this game! From a purely aesthetic standpoint, CarnEvil is my favorite rail shooter, and your video does it so much justice!
“I hope i brought some recognition of this game” Honestly?? Id always known of Carnevil by.. name? I guess? But this is such a good walk through of Carnevil I am in love, its exactly what I love about tongue-in-cheek horror, its so damn charming, like Killer Klowns from Outer Space- I can tell how much fun the devs had making this, i have no other word but so damn charming
I've had a hyper fixation on Arcade shooters my entire life and its awesome to see these retrospectives come out on old games that only I ever seem to remember. Love all the videos you've been doing, keep up the great work!!
You have such a sweet and friendly voice. It makes hearing you gush about the gore mechanics and say "Ladders are for pussies" infinitely more entertaining.
Thank you very much for doing a video on this. I remember playing it in the arcade as a kid. It’s very underrated. I wish that it could get a Resident Evil style survival horror reboot.
My fondest memory of this game was discovering its existence when I visited a movie theatre in another town to see Erin Brockovich with my mother in 2003. I was wow'ed by the scenery and the amount of quality the theatre itself had including some badass arcade machines. (My Local theatre didn't have those at the time.) And saw CarnEviL for the first time. It's the small touches that stick with you in a good way. 🙂
The UA-cam Algorithm ™️ has blessed me, and led me to your channel. I have binged all of your rail shooter arcade reviews, and I love it so much. Please continue doing this!! You’ve unlocked such core memories from my childhood at arcades, it’s fantastic!
Thanks for covering this game! I remember feeling a particular sense of dread when I was a kid, seeing this at my local theater and wondering what horrors awaited those who played. Also, you have such a lovely voice and perfectly read each line in your review. Your skills really make the review more fun and interesting to listen to!
I always love when you find a relatively smaller creator because you just happened to google a game from your childhood. Stayed for excellent commentary. Liked and subscribed thank you! P.S. My local arcade had Deaddy so this was an interesting surprise!
14:37 "Hambone is a parody of Jason Voorhees" to be fair, that's one parody, but when you look closely, he looked like Rick Taylor from Splatterhouse as well if we're going with a bit of the old Splatterhouse game, since the remake wasn't made until 2010s.
I’ve never been on this channel before, so this is my first video of yours, and it was amazing! You also have a great voice for narrating. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
Yep! Remember this at our local mini golf arcade section! Mostly for waiting to play the actual park holes or waiting for others to come back! Never played it, too scared to do so as a kid; but glad this is covered! Thanks Bexx!
i don't comment on videos very much but i needed to let you know how much i adore your content. rail shooters are a favorite of mine and i'm very glad to see someone review and look at them the way you do. hope to see more!
I always just went left to right. And HAMBONE actually can be interrupted during his attack. Aim and hit his minigun at anytime during his attack. I did it each and every time, works every time.
There’s no way you just reviewed this game. I found this game at a small arcade at one of my favorite amusement parks. My grandma took me there one day after I haven’t been there in years, I rode the rides and saw a small arcade in a wooden building. I saw this game and a few others. She gave me 3 quarters to use and I played this game first, died immediately, played tekken, then played this last. I was scared at first, but absolutely loved this game. I’ll always love it.
So weird that this little arcade game I played as a kid is getting so much UA-cam attention now, of all times, a good generation after it was popular. I honestly hadn’t thought about this game in 25 years. It was a lot of fun!
Hey! This was a pretty good and informative video. I did want to add on a few bits of fun trivia, personal thoughts and also clear up a few things you missed: You're not wrong that people seem to like playing Rickety Town first and then Haunted House and lastly The Freakshow. When I first played this game I also started with Rickety Town. Sadly when I got near the end of Haunted House, the arcade cabinet glitched so I couldn't go further. According to in-manuel lore, the Christmas attractions are only a temporary thing and just so happen to occur within the events of the gameplay. The dinos are CarnEvil's mascot, named "Carnie the Dinosaur"! With Krampus, you did point out how you can shoot Krampus in his head and chest, but you can ALSO shoot both of his ankles. Doing this will bring up his voice line, 'Ow! Me good leg!' You CAN actually negate most of Hambone's damage by shooting his chaingun. This works in both the regular and "The Revenge" forms. Understandably it's not a very well known weakpoint so I can completely understand missing it. I had no idea you could rest in the grave while the zombies just chill above you. 19:27 Not much to say here, I just found this funny. All in all it's cool how you go into some of the more finer details with this review =]
Man, I remember playing this in the arcade at the hockey rink my brother used to play at. Used to be scary for me then, but crazy fun nonetheless. Awesome to see you cover it!
Really glad you reviewed this game, it’s honestly perfect for your channel. I remembered seeing this at game at a movie theater but I never got to play it and I really regret it since the game is super hard to find nowadays. Probably my favorite video of yours and I hope you have a good vacation!
I remember my first trip to Las Vegas Nevada, where I visit the arcade area of Excalibur Hotel and Casino. There I meet with this arcade Carnevil and spend my whole evening there, not playing anything else but this one for no reason.
I grew up in super rural West Virginia and we had two CarnEvil machines in the county. Both had Deaddy. I never knew about Junior when I was younger. It wasn't until over a decade later I found the machine at a bar, I played all the way to the boss fight just to try and show a friend the giant teddy bear only to see a giant baby instead W T F
Awesome! So happy to see you cover this, CarnEvil is easily one of my favorite arcade games of all time. A tip for Hambone, if you shoot his gun it parries him.
Oh man, I still remember how I ran into this game. It was back in 2000, and I was in high school. I was on a date at the mall with a boy that had a crush on me. After visiting the bookstore, Gamestop, and after eating at a fast food joint, we decided to head to the arcade. We walked around, played the usual fighting games and shooters. As we were heading out, I saw a couple of teens playing CarnEvil. What caught our attention was the pump action required to do to reload the gun. We were hypnotized by the amount of violence and gore in the gameplay. When it was our turn to play, we spent in total $23 (the machine cost $1 to play) and beat the game in one sitting. It was so much fun!
One of my favorite arcade games ever! One of those games I played so much I could eventually beat entire levels, maybe even more than one on a single credit. Never beat it in the arcade though, as that last boss is just insane with how much damage it did, and how long the fight is.
Quite enjoyed the snappy flow of this one. Your cadence leads to a lot of jokes being slow burners that take a second to hit and are more potent for it. Plus you justly slaughtered those wretched mimes! Subbed
I'm so psyched you did this game! I was hoping for it since the day I found your channel! This was my favorite shooter after House of the Dead 1 & 2 back in the day. I'll say, at least in the Bible Belt of the American South I had never seen Junior in any Arcade (the Freak Show was my favorite level) and was shocked to discover him here, mainly because he didn't look as cool as Deaddy. I've always seen the bear. Keep up the great work, I hope your break is restful for you.
Wish we got a shooter released like this game. Just unhinged like Painkiller and throw so many weird and fun concepts. A fat lady enemy whose first attack bursts either a bunch of worms or one big worm, and the lady remains a thin slow enemy barely more than skin and bones.
Thank you for this video. I was not expecting someone to take me on a tour of a game I haven't seen since my middle school years. It was nice getting to see every aspect of the game I never would have otherwise. Much appreciated.
Really dig your reviews, the commentary is just right and like your tone of voice and sense of humor when talking about these games. Really refreshing and hitting my nostalgia button hard with your channel
I have never heard of carnevil or seen your channel. First 5 minutes of the view kept me hooked quite well and made me interested in the rest. Smashing job, hoping to see more.
I don't know why, but looking at the gameplay and listening to your description of it makes me think that ol' Cryptkeeper would absolutely love this game. XD
Unlocked a memory for me with this review. I always knew there was some arcade game I played back in the day that wasn't house of the dead. Great channel glad to have found it
This is the first video of yours I watched, Bexx, and I am impressed! All the little details pointed out that can easily be missed, especially the voices (arcades tend to be loud).
one of my favorite gaming memories is of playing this game with my Ma, of all people, at a hole in the wall arcade in an outlet mall. I think we managed to beat it. This is great, thanks for bringing it back to the forefront of my mind.
Here's something to think about: You summon Carn-Evil by putting a coin in the Jester's mouth. The game is an Arcade Machine, so how do you get to play it? You put coins in the Machine. You feed it coins and Carn-Evil "appears". You literally do the same action as the protagonist to summon Carn-Evil.
I found this game at my local arcade that I absolutely love and I adored this game! The only thing I’d say you forgot to mention is that (if I’m remembering correctly) you can stagger Hambone by shooting him in the gun.
I still remember first seeing this game back in 1998. I was too scared to play it, so I had my Dad play it while I watched behind him. Never could find it again after the arcade that had it shut down. 22 years later, an Arcade near me got their hands on it. Naturally, I had to play it. It was very satisfying to get a chance to play it and beat it. (Best $11 ever spent) Most people I know or saw playing CarnEvil (even myself) always did Haunted House, Rickety Town and then Freakshow.
I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS! the rail shooter niche is something i never thought would be talked about on UA-cam! I think you should point out ticket eating characters and segments of the games you review! (just a idea lol) I am saving up for a good pc so i can play lets go jungle since you helped me a while back on figuring out what i needed! Thank you!
Of all the videos I have seen on the subject, this is one of the best, there is another video that talks about this game as well as curiosities about it. When I was about 12 years old I came across the game in an arcade in a local square in my city. This is one of my favorite land-themed games and at the time I couldn't find more information on the subject besides what I would have liked to know more about the story, that is, the final boss. Thanks to the sutitutols I was able to understand your video better and I really loved it. Thank you very much for the video and I hope you have a good time this Christmas season. greetings from Mexico :D
I absolutely loved this game! I usually do the Haunted House first as that for me was the hardest level and I wanted that level out of the way, but the boss of the haunted house was incredible! You don’t see too many female zombies in video games anymore!
Oh man! You've brought back some seriously fun memories for me with this surprise upload. My older sister and I used to play the living hell out of this cabinet game whenever our mom would take us to our favorite movie theater. We would beg her to take us there hours before the movie that we were going to watch would start just so we could play as much CarnEvil as possible. I honestly remember that playing this game together was one of the first times that me and my big sis really bonded and had fun together. The Haunted House level was our favorite! ♥️ Though, one day our hearts were broken when we learned that not only did that particular theater sell off their CarnEvil cabinet but they were shutting down their entire upstairs arcade. Tears were shed by both of us that day. But the memories of blasting away undead freaks and monsters stayed fresh in our minds and everytime we go their to watch a new movie we make sure to show up a little early just so we can reminisce about those early days when we would have fun while playing CarnEvil. Such good memories. Thank you for making this video. I'm sending her the link to this right now.
This game holds so much nostalgia for me, I remembered playing this game at a random arcade at a laser tag arrena and being absolutely TERRIFIED of this thing. I tried playing it but couldn’t get past the beginning of rickety town 😅. Remembering this years later i actually love this game, it’s cool and has pretty great character designs. Love the video!
I'm super happy this video got recommended to me, it's amazing to see a new person who's got a new point of view. And even better to see youtube actually functioning and giving me someone worth watching!
I am so happy to have stumbled across this channel. Arcade/rail shooters are so fun to play but, at least in the circles im in, seem so niche and hard to find people with similar experiences/tastes. And your videos are very well done! Good commentary, not overly bloated with details but a nice amount to keep it interesting, and you very apparent joy of railgun games/arcades in general. Defenitly will be awaiting any videos in the future!
This would’ve been such an awesome game primed for a series. Unfortunately, Arcadey games kind of got silently released with little marketing and essentially sent out to die on the shelves…only really being appreciated far after they should have 🤷🏽♂️ This game was my JAM as a kid and I used to play the whole game whenever (and wherever!) I found a CarnEvil arcade machine, $5-$15 at a time 😁 As a person born in the early 1990s, it definitely came to shape my personality, much like episodes of Tales from the Crypt playing at 11:30pm on FOX or my pops mistakenly buying me Twisted Metal 1 & 2 (along with JetMoto + Crash Bandicoot 2) with my very first PlayStation! Probably didn’t think much of it until he saw me playing TM: Black 3-4 years later 😂 I swear, if I ever get filthy stinking rich…I’ll hunt down whoever owns the Rights to this, buy it from them outright, and hire a development team and writers to reboot this as a AAA Arcade Game/T & FPS Horror Action Adventure title…but, as opposed to the games coming out these days, I’ll (or, rather, WE’LL) do it with reverence and love for the Arcade and the gaming community 👍🏽 Thanks for the nostalgia rush! Subbed!
YES! YES! YES! You did it!!!! You did a review of Carnevil!!!!! You have officially made my year! Happy late Halloween! And thank you soo much! I used to have a hard time with the haunted house level as a kid. But now I make it tradition to watch Carnevil on UA-cam once every year.
The game seems like it should have one alternative ending where if you have replayed through the whole game enough times. Umlaut cuts you off because they're tired of playing and you winning.
That or a friend of the player character slaps the token out of their hand and says stop putting in that stupid token you're only making things worse you idiot followed by a slap in the back of the head that makes the camera fly forward implying the player character was knocked over forwards and hitting their head on the tombstone and getting knocked out shown by the camera doing a closing iris shot
*(spits out the token into your face)* “Why’re you here again Pennybags, have you no shame? You’ve won so many times, I thought this was supposed to be Tokkentakker’s game! On one hand, who can complain with this ‘glorious donation’ of money? Yet here you are again rotting away your eyes on a screen when it’s nice and sunny?!”
I really think this should be true or maybe a sequel, so it could explain the protagonist’s motivations for doing this over and over,or it finally stops. Umlaut just constantly yells at the player asking why, and the player could ( possibly speak back ) giving an answer.
@@Necromansir1"i do it for the fun lolz"
- player 2 betty and protagonist, 199something
If it wasn't an arcade game, then that is a perfect idea
I like how the player character appears to be such a selfish and deranged lunatic that even after the nightmare is over, he’s perfectly happy with just going through the whole thing all over again, even if that means dragging his friend/girlfriend along for the ride against her will.
question is, can it reappear during day or does it have to wait until night to spawn?
I used to assume the player character just thought everything was just a bad drunken dream after a Halloween party (hence the girl that also regain consciousness beside him), remembered what he was originally going to do and gave it a go just for fun before getting his way back home
Of course he’d point the coin back in… he didn’t beat the high score.
I thought he’d just had amnesia and was like “WTF happened and where am I?” Then he does what any other curious person does when they see a coin and a grave slot. So I like to think like it’s a never ending hell for them and by “them” I mean Betty.
I love how it implies CarnEvil did it's job and our player had the time of his life at the carnival.
In some twisted way I think the monsters would be delighted to learn this.
I find it absolutely hilarious that the typical "hostage/girl" character you aren't supposed to shoot is the same person. I'd like to imagine that Betty is either immortal or one of many self-replicating homunculus flesh clones.
I think the latter is more likely given the themes and aesthetic of the game.
Well, considering CarnEvil is undead...
Or just keeps getting trapped over and over at an unbelievable speed.
I guess Betty is actually your reward for surviving: your own cloned 'perfect girl.'
I'd actually buy that from a game made in the early 90s.
CarnEvil gives off a purgatory vibe where you can't die but you will feel the pain. It would make sense if the MC discovered this and comes back regularly for fun.
I think the reason for the specific order, is because it emulates _actually visiting a circus carnival._
First you ride the rides (Rickety-town), then you visit the attractions (Haunted House), then you kill time at the sideshows (Freak Show), all while you're waiting for the main show (Big Top)
I had never heard of this accepted order, and just played from left to right like reading a book.
Haunted House, Rickety Town, Freak Show.
Makes sense but for whatever reason the freakshow makes sense last because the tent stage has circus vibes so nice transition
@@theoneandonlymichaelmccormick
I was just pointing out potential logic behind why that specific order seems to be the most common one.
@@GuukanKitsune It’s certainly very interesting.
The opening cutscene for this game has lived rent free in my head since I saw it at a bowling alley in elementary school
Yes! I remember it distinctly from my local bowling alley as well. It never frightened me out right, but I was so entranced by the comedy horror presentation along with how crazy the carnival really was. Sadly, it’s gone now but I’ll never forget the quarters I put into that cabinet to blast away some freaks and zombies.
fucking same
It was a laser tag place for me. I had trouble sleeping after seeing it but every time I was there I couldn't help but look at it.
I do remember watching someone fight Marie at one point. Specifically the impaling.
OH MY GOD, SAME HERE, I was invited to this kid’s birthday party in third grade, and we went to a bowling alley with a Carnevil cabinet. Needless to say it scarred me for weeks😂
Given the fact we’re now seeing Christmas commercials before October is even half way over, the Rickety Town level has aged surprisingly well.
Doubly so since Thanksgiving is all but forgotten
@@adriannaranjo4397 i think its funny how stores totally bypass Thanksgiving (and sometimes Halloween) and go right into Christmas
@@mattalan6618*cough* Lowe’s *cough*
In the 80’s and 90’s cheap ass theme parks were more common and virtually all of them had some Christmas ride open all year round. For me it was The Land of Make Believe (as my dad used to say, because you make believe there is something worth paying to see) with Santa’s barn. Even as a little one I felt sorry for that poor sap wearing that godawful outfit in the middle of summer with that pos fan next to him
like that was going to do anything.
@@adriannaranjo4397 TBF the Paul Bunyan and the food court area can be a little bit resemble thanksgiving
CarnEvil has that comedy & horror vibe that you get from stuff like Beetlejuice, Ghostbusters, Gremlins, & Killer Klowns from Outer Space. They all have different levels of comedy & horror, but you get enough laughs & spooks to leave you satisfied.
Don't forget leprechaun 😂
Killer Klowns....Holy shit.
The only reason I know about this game is because my local movie theater had one in their very, VERY small arcade back before they renovated the whole lobby. The room was so small in fact that 7 year old me who hated anything horror (some things never change) found it VERY difficult to even be in that room, no matter how much he wanted to play Donkey Kong. Watching this feels like a sense of closure, while also unearthing some deep seeded fears. Overall, wonderful job as always.
Same, they had this game at the Galaxy former know as Rialto theater in San Antonio, TX
Same
Buddy I am right there with you! Our small $1 ticket theater had 8 arcade games and this was one of them. My little brother and I did not like scary things but couldn't help but watch the cut scene any time we went. Always had nightmares at the end.
I think the ending where the player re-inserts the token is just like how some people are with rides. Everyone has had that moment of "Let's do that again!"
That or the protagonist is just a masochist who enjoys suffering.
Some people are into that,but I ain't judging 🫥
Reminder that this is a COIN-OPERATED ARCADE GAME.
Guess how you play one of them.
Making him downright INSANE.
I always thought that this game could have used a film adaptation. I mean, the premise just seems like it would have made a great horror movie. This is one of the few arcade games my Dad and I enjoyed playing together (with Revolution X being the top). He actually purchased the arcade cabinet.
Make it a bit like Beetlejuice with maybe a bit of The Mask thrown in and I'm sold.
Killer klowns from outer space?
It would be a great horror comedy
I appreciate that you showed off the voice lines and attack animations of the enemies. Those usually get drowned out in gunfire when I watch other people play CarnEvil on UA-cam.
Years ago as a kid I played this at a Laundromat! I was terrified of the arcade machine, but was so entranced by the horror of it! A great experience! Nice Bexx!
Ive only seen this at Bowling Alleys and Arcades any laundromat that had it must be the coolest in the world
@@worsethanhitlerpt.2539 It was, I miss it fondly! 🥲
#relatable
It really sucks that midway is no longer around. I really wanted a remake or at the very least a remaster of the suffering and the suffering ties that bind. 😥
WB Games owns all of Midways old IPs
@@mattalan6618even then, theres a high chance there wont be a remake in the foreseeable future cuz of how violent the game is
I don't think that's the problem.
I think WB just wants to put their money in safe IPs that they can monetize. I like this game too but I doubt it's made enough money in the past for someone in WB corporate to take a chance on.
@@WarDragonOfTheLight yeah like Mortal Kombat for example. violence aside the franchise makes them money
@@alienboneztoday we have the least amount of gaming censorship we've ever had.
I remember there was a creepypasta about a cult that formed based on this game, it was pretty good.
I remember that creepypasta as well. IIRC, it wasn't so much the cult was formed around the game but that some of the devs were part of a cult trying to infiltrate the game industry.
Juggalos?
@harrisonashley1631 just look up "4chan thread - /x/ - The CarnEvil Cult"
@harrisonashley1631 The Carnevil cult
If CarnEvil was made into an Arcade 1up, I’d definitely make room for it.
As a kid, this arcade game, scared the hell out of me, making me stay out of that corner, where it was placed, but now I just want to keep playing it whenever I find it
CarnEvil has the specific brand of horror and comedy that hits my brain just right.
My local mall used to have an arcade machine...Area 51 and CarnEvil would always be the ones I didn't bother looking at because the enemies scared me, more-so carnevil with it's creepy enemies. I now appreciate the arcade game, I did end up playing it eventually, the demo trailer was awesome.
I like your script. Tight, well written and to the point. It's crazy how hard it is to find succinctly written video essays.
Kinda weird that Evil Marie had jiggle physics, considering she’s undead. Guess evil magic keeps the body from atrophying.
By the way, great video and Happy Halloween!
See what happens when you let the dev team have fun? You get all sorts of details put in a game.
Evil Marie (formerly known as "Lady ChasTITY") is my 3 favorite characters.
it's funny, I think the only level boss I reached/defeated in this as a kid was Krampus, but I also have clear memories of Evil Marie (let's just say some imagery really sticks with a prepubescent lesbian lol), so I think I must've watched someone else fight her, but yeah, I could never actually get past Hambone I don't think.
I also don't recall ever seeing either Junior *nor* Deaddy (I have a feeling, given that this would've been in Utah, that the arcade had turned off Junior, but you never know, considering I'm pretty sure the cabinet had the highest gore setting still turned on from what I can remember), and I don't think I ever saw any of the Big Top level (because I just wasn't that good/rich back then, and I don't think I ever saw anyone else get there, either)
i mean dead bodies bloat and become infested with vermin at some time after death....that is most likely just maggots or something else wriggling around under her outfit.
This was my first video from this channel, and it earned a sub and a binge of more arcade content. You managed to scratch a nostalgic itch I didn’t know I had.
Dude I've been consistently watching and it's been great content. I was hooked since Jurassic Park lost world. Hope to see more as the years go by.
Mr Smiley Bob reminds me of Guston with a heavy face lift.
YOUR RIGHT!! i wasnt subbed and couldnt place where I heard her voice before. I hope she does house of the dead next
I will always have a special fondness for this game.
When I was in my first year of middle school, me and my "childhood best friend who moved away" (Everyone has one) went on a school trip one town over and we ate at a restaurant that had an arcade. We saw CarnEvil and decided to give it a shot, and we were frustrated that we didn't beat it.
Later that year, we went on another school trip to that town and were scheduled to eat at that same restaurant. We saved up a sock of quarters and were determined to beat the game.
We got to the restaurant, chowed down as fast as we could so we had enough time to play, and started our run. We were incredibly focused this time and were better prepared from the lessons we learned during our attempt months prior. I particularly remember having to dual wield the guns while my friend ran to the bathroom after we beat the first level.
By the time we got to the final boss, about ten other 12 year old boys from our school had gathered to watch us play, so the pressure was on. Once we finally beat Token Taker, they all started clapping and cheering. We were on top of the world.
I personally love Rickity Town's Christmas theme. Not only is it super jarring, but its got some serious Nightmare Before Christmas vibes.
As a big CarnEvil fan, I consider this THE definitive review of the title. Very well done!
I don't think I've ever played the game, or have even seen a cabinet in over 10 years, but the moment intro sequence started I immediately remembered the whole thing. It just stood out that much wherever I found it.
Found you from the Jurassic Park arcade video and I've been loving everything since. You have real talent and you deserve a lot more attention.
1:37
"You believed that you got the high score."
"BUT IT WAS I! DIO!"
I loved playing CarnEvil when I was at the arcades. The dark humor and creepiness were great, especially Evil Marie. Also, I loved your take on this, Bexx! Subscribed!
This is anecdotal, but a fun story. I used to work at the computer retailer Micro Center in Chicago. It was close to NetherRealm Studios so we would get purchases from their IT department.
One of them came through my checkout lane, she gave her company email and I made some small talk. She mentioned that she was with them all the way back in the midway days, I told her my favorite game from them was Carnevil. She was happy to hear it because she was friends with the team behind it, and still in contact with most of them. She said she’d pass on the message to them and that they’d be happy someone still remembered it.
She's back with the greatest of old arcade classics - CarnEvil! The niche reviewster we all need in our lives.
i was 10 when this game came out and IT WAS MY JAM. so happy to see creators like you do videos on this. it really was a gem of arcade games back in the day. hope they make a remake one day. it deserves it
This game always freaked me out as a kid, but honestly my fear disappeared after the kid restarts the curse in the ending cutscene.
Fun fact: you can stun hambone if you shot his chaingun. I figured this out by shooting him in different spots, and I noticed that he can be stunned very easily by just shooting that specific spot. If you just continue to shoot his gun, you can stun him indefinitely, making his encounter a joke
I was hoping you would cover this game! From a purely aesthetic standpoint, CarnEvil is my favorite rail shooter, and your video does it so much justice!
“I hope i brought some recognition of this game”
Honestly?? Id always known of Carnevil by.. name? I guess? But this is such a good walk through of Carnevil
I am in love, its exactly what I love about tongue-in-cheek horror, its so damn charming, like Killer Klowns from Outer Space- I can tell how much fun the devs had making this, i have no other word but so damn charming
I've had a hyper fixation on Arcade shooters my entire life and its awesome to see these retrospectives come out on old games that only I ever seem to remember. Love all the videos you've been doing, keep up the great work!!
I second this. Hyperfixation on a largely dead genre is big sad >~
You have such a sweet and friendly voice. It makes hearing you gush about the gore mechanics and say "Ladders are for pussies" infinitely more entertaining.
CarnEvil captures the spirit of Halloween perfectly (besides the Christmas sections, anyway).
One of the best games I’ve played in an arcade. It scared me and enticed me as a kid I loved going to the mall to play it
Thank you very much for doing a video on this. I remember playing it in the arcade as a kid. It’s very underrated. I wish that it could get a Resident Evil style survival horror reboot.
Same.
Gotta say I found you out of no where but goodness I’m so glad I did your reviews are exactly the type I enjoy thank you for being here
My fondest memory of this game was discovering its existence when I visited a movie theatre in another town to see Erin Brockovich with my mother in 2003. I was wow'ed by the scenery and the amount of quality the theatre itself had including some badass arcade machines. (My Local theatre didn't have those at the time.) And saw CarnEviL for the first time. It's the small touches that stick with you in a good way. 🙂
Whether it's this game or something else it doesn't matter, I genuinely wish more games took this game's twisted carnival aesthetics and run with it.
The UA-cam Algorithm ™️ has blessed me, and led me to your channel. I have binged all of your rail shooter arcade reviews, and I love it so much. Please continue doing this!! You’ve unlocked such core memories from my childhood at arcades, it’s fantastic!
Thanks for covering this game! I remember feeling a particular sense of dread when I was a kid, seeing this at my local theater and wondering what horrors awaited those who played. Also, you have such a lovely voice and perfectly read each line in your review. Your skills really make the review more fun and interesting to listen to!
I always love when you find a relatively smaller creator because you just happened to google a game from your childhood. Stayed for excellent commentary. Liked and subscribed thank you!
P.S. My local arcade had Deaddy so this was an interesting surprise!
14:37 "Hambone is a parody of Jason Voorhees" to be fair, that's one parody, but when you look closely, he looked like Rick Taylor from Splatterhouse as well if we're going with a bit of the old Splatterhouse game, since the remake wasn't made until 2010s.
I’ve never been on this channel before, so this is my first video of yours, and it was amazing! You also have a great voice for narrating. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
Yep! Remember this at our local mini golf arcade section! Mostly for waiting to play the actual park holes or waiting for others to come back! Never played it, too scared to do so as a kid; but glad this is covered! Thanks Bexx!
i don't comment on videos very much but i needed to let you know how much i adore your content. rail shooters are a favorite of mine and i'm very glad to see someone review and look at them the way you do. hope to see more!
I always just went left to right.
And HAMBONE actually can be interrupted during his attack.
Aim and hit his minigun at anytime during his attack. I did it each and every time, works every time.
There’s no way you just reviewed this game. I found this game at a small arcade at one of my favorite amusement parks. My grandma took me there one day after I haven’t been there in years, I rode the rides and saw a small arcade in a wooden building. I saw this game and a few others. She gave me 3 quarters to use and I played this game first, died immediately, played tekken, then played this last. I was scared at first, but absolutely loved this game. I’ll always love it.
I've never played this game but it's giving me strong "Voodoo Vince" vibes. That was like my all time favorite game as a kid.
So weird that this little arcade game I played as a kid is getting so much UA-cam attention now, of all times, a good generation after it was popular. I honestly hadn’t thought about this game in 25 years. It was a lot of fun!
Hey! This was a pretty good and informative video. I did want to add on a few bits of fun trivia, personal thoughts and also clear up a few things you missed:
You're not wrong that people seem to like playing Rickety Town first and then Haunted House and lastly The Freakshow. When I first played this game I also started with Rickety Town. Sadly when I got near the end of Haunted House, the arcade cabinet glitched so I couldn't go further.
According to in-manuel lore, the Christmas attractions are only a temporary thing and just so happen to occur within the events of the gameplay. The dinos are CarnEvil's mascot, named "Carnie the Dinosaur"!
With Krampus, you did point out how you can shoot Krampus in his head and chest, but you can ALSO shoot both of his ankles. Doing this will bring up his voice line, 'Ow! Me good leg!'
You CAN actually negate most of Hambone's damage by shooting his chaingun. This works in both the regular and "The Revenge" forms. Understandably it's not a very well known weakpoint so I can completely understand missing it.
I had no idea you could rest in the grave while the zombies just chill above you.
19:27 Not much to say here, I just found this funny.
All in all it's cool how you go into some of the more finer details with this review =]
Man, I remember playing this in the arcade at the hockey rink my brother used to play at. Used to be scary for me then, but crazy fun nonetheless. Awesome to see you cover it!
Nice videos, your gentle voice is a pleasant change from the ton of British dudes covering game videos. Glad UA-cam recommended you.
Really glad you reviewed this game, it’s honestly perfect for your channel. I remembered seeing this at game at a movie theater but I never got to play it and I really regret it since the game is super hard to find nowadays.
Probably my favorite video of yours and I hope you have a good vacation!
I remember my first trip to Las Vegas Nevada, where I visit the arcade area of Excalibur Hotel and Casino.
There I meet with this arcade Carnevil and spend my whole evening there, not playing anything else but this one for no reason.
I grew up in super rural West Virginia and we had two CarnEvil machines in the county. Both had Deaddy. I never knew about Junior when I was younger. It wasn't until over a decade later I found the machine at a bar, I played all the way to the boss fight just to try and show a friend the giant teddy bear only to see a giant baby instead W T F
You telling me theres a smaller channel that makes video essays about games I have no interest in?? thats like everything ive ever wanted
Awesome! So happy to see you cover this, CarnEvil is easily one of my favorite arcade games of all time. A tip for Hambone, if you shoot his gun it parries him.
Oh man, I still remember how I ran into this game. It was back in 2000, and I was in high school. I was on a date at the mall with a boy that had a crush on me. After visiting the bookstore, Gamestop, and after eating at a fast food joint, we decided to head to the arcade. We walked around, played the usual fighting games and shooters. As we were heading out, I saw a couple of teens playing CarnEvil. What caught our attention was the pump action required to do to reload the gun. We were hypnotized by the amount of violence and gore in the gameplay. When it was our turn to play, we spent in total $23 (the machine cost $1 to play) and beat the game in one sitting. It was so much fun!
One of my favorite arcade games ever! One of those games I played so much I could eventually beat entire levels, maybe even more than one on a single credit. Never beat it in the arcade though, as that last boss is just insane with how much damage it did, and how long the fight is.
Dude I just remember watching the "insert coin" preloaded screens at pizza hut when i was 14. Wow man. So cool to actually see it in action!
It is always nice to see people talk about classic niche games to games that scared me as a kid. Excellent work!
Quite enjoyed the snappy flow of this one. Your cadence leads to a lot of jokes being slow burners that take a second to hit and are more potent for it. Plus you justly slaughtered those wretched mimes! Subbed
I'm so psyched you did this game! I was hoping for it since the day I found your channel! This was my favorite shooter after House of the Dead 1 & 2 back in the day. I'll say, at least in the Bible Belt of the American South I had never seen Junior in any Arcade (the Freak Show was my favorite level) and was shocked to discover him here, mainly because he didn't look as cool as Deaddy. I've always seen the bear. Keep up the great work, I hope your break is restful for you.
I remember seeing him once to, likely as a result of also being in the Bible Belt.
Wish we got a shooter released like this game.
Just unhinged like Painkiller and throw so many weird and fun concepts.
A fat lady enemy whose first attack bursts either a bunch of worms or one big worm, and the lady remains a thin slow enemy barely more than skin and bones.
YESSSSS, the demo cinematic used to terrify me as a kid. Love your vids Bexx :)
Thank you for this video. I was not expecting someone to take me on a tour of a game I haven't seen since my middle school years. It was nice getting to see every aspect of the game I never would have otherwise. Much appreciated.
I found your channel a bit ago and was super excited for your next upload. This one is set up to be amazing! ❤
Really dig your reviews, the commentary is just right and like your tone of voice and sense of humor when talking about these games. Really refreshing and hitting my nostalgia button hard with your channel
Devastated as a kid when CarnEvil disappeared from our local lazer tag spot back in the day.
I have never heard of carnevil or seen your channel. First 5 minutes of the view kept me hooked quite well and made me interested in the rest. Smashing job, hoping to see more.
I don't know why, but looking at the gameplay and listening to your description of it makes me think that ol' Cryptkeeper would absolutely love this game. XD
Unlocked a memory for me with this review. I always knew there was some arcade game I played back in the day that wasn't house of the dead. Great channel glad to have found it
This is the first video of yours I watched, Bexx, and I am impressed! All the little details pointed out that can easily be missed, especially the voices (arcades tend to be loud).
Hey I’m following you now, I’m very excited to see all the old arcade games I never got to finish as a child.
one of my favorite gaming memories is of playing this game with my Ma, of all people, at a hole in the wall arcade in an outlet mall. I think we managed to beat it. This is great, thanks for bringing it back to the forefront of my mind.
Here's something to think about:
You summon Carn-Evil by putting a coin in the Jester's mouth. The game is an Arcade Machine, so how do you get to play it?
You put coins in the Machine. You feed it coins and Carn-Evil "appears". You literally do the same action as the protagonist to summon Carn-Evil.
I found this game at my local arcade that I absolutely love and I adored this game! The only thing I’d say you forgot to mention is that (if I’m remembering correctly) you can stagger Hambone by shooting him in the gun.
This game was setup in a local laundry mat; never played it though. Its opening cutscene got stuck in my head.
I still remember first seeing this game back in 1998. I was too scared to play it, so I had my Dad play it while I watched behind him. Never could find it again after the arcade that had it shut down.
22 years later, an Arcade near me got their hands on it. Naturally, I had to play it. It was very satisfying to get a chance to play it and beat it. (Best $11 ever spent)
Most people I know or saw playing CarnEvil (even myself) always did Haunted House, Rickety Town and then Freakshow.
I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS! the rail shooter niche is something i never thought would be talked about on UA-cam! I think you should point out ticket eating characters and segments of the games you review! (just a idea lol)
I am saving up for a good pc so i can play lets go jungle since you helped me a while back on figuring out what i needed! Thank you!
I appreciate your channel becoming a source for slightly obscure and generally interesting games at such a fast rate. You definitely need a break
Of all the videos I have seen on the subject, this is one of the best, there is another video that talks about this game as well as curiosities about it.
When I was about 12 years old I came across the game in an arcade in a local square in my city.
This is one of my favorite land-themed games and at the time I couldn't find more information on the subject besides what I would have liked to know more about the story, that is, the final boss. Thanks to the sutitutols I was able to understand your video better and I really loved it.
Thank you very much for the video and I hope you have a good time this Christmas season.
greetings from Mexico :D
I absolutely loved this game! I usually do the Haunted House first as that for me was the hardest level and I wanted that level out of the way, but the boss of the haunted house was incredible! You don’t see too many female zombies in video games anymore!
Oh man! You've brought back some seriously fun memories for me with this surprise upload. My older sister and I used to play the living hell out of this cabinet game whenever our mom would take us to our favorite movie theater. We would beg her to take us there hours before the movie that we were going to watch would start just so we could play as much CarnEvil as possible. I honestly remember that playing this game together was one of the first times that me and my big sis really bonded and had fun together. The Haunted House level was our favorite! ♥️ Though, one day our hearts were broken when we learned that not only did that particular theater sell off their CarnEvil cabinet but they were shutting down their entire upstairs arcade. Tears were shed by both of us that day. But the memories of blasting away undead freaks and monsters stayed fresh in our minds and everytime we go their to watch a new movie we make sure to show up a little early just so we can reminisce about those early days when we would have fun while playing CarnEvil. Such good memories. Thank you for making this video. I'm sending her the link to this right now.
This game holds so much nostalgia for me, I remembered playing this game at a random arcade at a laser tag arrena and being absolutely TERRIFIED of this thing. I tried playing it but couldn’t get past the beginning of rickety town 😅. Remembering this years later i actually love this game, it’s cool and has pretty great character designs. Love the video!
I'm super happy this video got recommended to me, it's amazing to see a new person who's got a new point of view. And even better to see youtube actually functioning and giving me someone worth watching!
this game brings me back memories at the arcade as a little kid good times :)
I am so happy to have stumbled across this channel. Arcade/rail shooters are so fun to play but, at least in the circles im in, seem so niche and hard to find people with similar experiences/tastes. And your videos are very well done! Good commentary, not overly bloated with details but a nice amount to keep it interesting, and you very apparent joy of railgun games/arcades in general. Defenitly will be awaiting any videos in the future!
OMFG this game scared me so much as a kid. Lmao good times. Love seeing you cover it.
This channel is great. I never really went to arcades as a kid so seeing these games is fantastic
Way to go. It was worth it. Happy Halloween to you, bexx
I think Junior is scarier because a massive flesh golem is a much more unsettling sight than an evil stuff bear, tho both would be scary either way
This would’ve been such an awesome game primed for a series. Unfortunately, Arcadey games kind of got silently released with little marketing and essentially sent out to die on the shelves…only really being appreciated far after they should have 🤷🏽♂️
This game was my JAM as a kid and I used to play the whole game whenever (and wherever!) I found a CarnEvil arcade machine, $5-$15 at a time 😁
As a person born in the early 1990s, it definitely came to shape my personality, much like episodes of Tales from the Crypt playing at 11:30pm on FOX or my pops mistakenly buying me Twisted Metal 1 & 2 (along with JetMoto + Crash Bandicoot 2) with my very first PlayStation! Probably didn’t think much of it until he saw me playing TM: Black 3-4 years later 😂
I swear, if I ever get filthy stinking rich…I’ll hunt down whoever owns the Rights to this, buy it from them outright, and hire a development team and writers to reboot this as a AAA Arcade Game/T & FPS Horror Action Adventure title…but, as opposed to the games coming out these days, I’ll (or, rather, WE’LL) do it with reverence and love for the Arcade and the gaming community 👍🏽
Thanks for the nostalgia rush! Subbed!
I pray you win the lottery then 😁
YES! YES! YES! You did it!!!! You did a review of Carnevil!!!!! You have officially made my year!
Happy late Halloween! And thank you soo much!
I used to have a hard time with the haunted house level as a kid. But now I make it tradition to watch Carnevil on UA-cam once every year.