CarnEvil

CarnEvil is a light gun shooter arcade game released by Midway Games in 1998. It is well-known for its extensive use of graphic violence and dark humor, and it stands as Midway Games' most successful light gun shooter.
== Gameplay ==
The gameplay in "CarnEvil" is reminiscent of Sega's "House of the Dead" series. The game consists of four levels, each concluding with a boss battle. The first three levels (Haunted House, Rickety Town, Freak Show) can be tackled in any sequence, while the fourth (Big Top) becomes accessible only after clearing the previous three. Players engage in shooting enemies as they progress through various carnival and amusement park settings. The gameplay is notably violent and includes several gory scenes. Players interact with the game through a pump-action shotgun connected to the arcade cabinet by a cable. Reloading is accomplished by either pumping the fore-end or firing off-screen.
Occasionally, a character named Betty appears as an innocent civilian. Accidentally shooting her results in a life penalty, but it does not bring about any lasting consequences or changes to the game.
Health and weapon power-ups are scattered throughout the game. Weapon power-ups encompass a machine gun, shotgun, flamethrower, acid bath gun, and an extended magazine capacity for the standard gun. These power-ups can be acquired by shooting floating icons, such as a shotgun shell or a barrel of acid. Special weapons cannot be reloaded, but the magazine increase remains effective until the player's health is depleted. Collecting these power-ups also yields bonus points.
== Plot ==
The game unfolds in the fictional town of Greely Valley, Iowa. According to urban legend, inserting a golden token into the jester skull's mouth atop the gravestone of ringmaster Professor Ludwig von Tökkentäkker will resurrect his haunted carnival.
The narrative commences with a group of teenagers embarking on a hayride tour through the Greely Valley cemetery, led by the local "ghost expert" Spooky Sam. The game's protagonist separates from the tour and approaches Tökkentäkker's tombstone, discovering a golden coin in its slot. By inserting the coin into the jester's mouth, the haunted amusement park emerges from the ground. Trapped within, the protagonist acquires a shotgun from the shooting gallery and utilizes it to fend off waves of zombies and other undead creatures, aiming to escape. After navigating through the Haunted House, Rickety Town, and the Freak Show, the protagonist enters the Big Top and proceeds to confront Tökkentäkker directly on his airship.
Following Tökkentäkker's demise, the protagonist falls from the exploding airship. In the morning, alongside the sole survivor, Betty, they awaken in front of the tombstone, where the token returns to its slot. The protagonist re-inserts it into the jester's mouth, causing it to emit a sinister laugh as Betty screams in terror.