Defender Classic
Atari 2600 · Shoot 'em Up / Action
Carnival
Deep cut
| System | Atari 2600 |
|---|---|
| Genre | Shoot 'em Up, Action |
| Developer | SEGA |
| Publisher | Coleco Industries, Inc. |
| Players | 1–2 players |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Legacy | Deep cut · legacy score 2 |
Carnival is a shoot 'em up released for the Atari 2600, developed by SEGA and published by Coleco Industries, Inc.. It blends shoot 'em up and action elements.
SEGA also made Pengo, Zaxxon and Tac/Scan for the 2600.
Carnival supports up to 2 players, whether that means taking turns or going head-to-head.
Pick it if…
- you want to fight, blast and test your reflexes
- you have time for a quick session (under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
- you have a friend to play against
- you've played the 2600 hits and want something less obvious
Maybe skip it if…
- you dislike high difficulty and screens full of bullets
What playing Carnival is like
Shoot 'em ups (shmups) put you in a ship facing waves of enemies and bullets. Runs are short and intense, and the goal is to survive, collect power-ups and push your high score.
Tip for newcomers: Focus on your ship's small hitbox rather than the flood of bullets, and learn which power-ups suit each stage. Most shmups are designed to be replayed many times.
Carnival walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Carnival.
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Playing 2600 games today
Most 2600 games are built for short, score-chasing sessions, which makes them perfect for a quick nostalgia hit. Original hardware is cheap and plentiful, the Atari 2600+ reissue plays original cartridges on modern TVs, and official collections such as Atari 50 bundle many first-party classics.
Carnival FAQ
Who made Carnival?
It was developed by SEGA and published by Coleco Industries, Inc..
Is Carnival multiplayer?
Yes. Carnival supports up to 2 players.
How long does Carnival take to play?
As a shoot 'em up, Carnival typically falls into the "Quick session" category: under an hour, or endless arcade fun. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.
Read more about Carnival on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.