Play Circus Charlie (level select, set 1) Online in your browser

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6 versions · same console

Choose an original release, regional version, revision, bootleg or clearly labelled ROM hack/mod, then press Play. Hacks may change the gameplay. Switching versions restarts the player.

Default · level select, set 1
Centuri
Centuri, earlier
no level select
level select, set 2
level select, set 3

Selected: Default · level select, set 1 · Japan, USA

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Circus Charlie (level select, set 1)

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Circus Charlie Overview

Arcade
Arcade
5· 0 votes

Circus Charlie is an arcade action game that Konami put out in 1984. It hit North American arcades in March through Centuri, then Japan in April. You control a circus clown named Charlie through six different minigames. This particular ROM set is labeled 'level select, set 1', which refers to a specific MAME version that allows you to pick which event you want to play rather than going through them in order.

GAME INFO

Platform: Arcade
Genre: Arcade
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Released: 1984
Players: 1
Region: Japan, USA
Version: level select, set 1

How to play Circus Charlie online

In Circus Charlie you take on six circus events one at a time. The first thing you do is press Start to begin. Depending on the ROM revision you may see a title screen then a level select where you can jump straight to any event. The core loop is simple: navigate each minigame using the arrow keys to move left or right and press X to jump. The B button makes Charlie run or perform a secondary action like bouncing on a trampoline.

Each event has a different objective. For example the high‑wire act has you walk across a tightrope while avoiding falling weights. The lion taming segment requires you to leap over lions. The game keeps track of your score and a timer pushes you to finish quickly. There is no continue feature so you have to restart from the beginning if you lose all your lives. The level select option makes it easier to practice a specific event.

CONTROLS

Controls

Arrow Keys: Joystick / Movement
X: Button 1
S: Button 2
Z: Button 3
A: Button 4
Q: Button 5
E: Button 6
Enter: Start / 1P
V: Coin / Insert

Circus Charlie FAQ

Does Circus Charlie have a multiplayer or co-op mode?

Circus Charlie is strictly a single‑player arcade title. There is no option for two players simultaneously or alternating turns.

In what year was Circus Charlie originally released?

Konami first released Circus Charlie to arcades in 1984. The North American launch came in March and the Japanese version followed in April.

Is Circus Charlie exclusive to Arcade or did it appear on other systems?

The game was ported to several home platforms. In 1984 it came to the MSX computer, followed by a Famicom version in 1986 and a Commodore 64 release in 1987.

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