Pros: Good for those who aren't familiar with the original game
Cons: Poor control using keyboard; poor graphics; little user info
The Bottom Line: If you've heard about Centipede, but have never played it, this may be the game for you. If you played the original, you probably won't enjoy it.
For me, in the early 80's arcade games were the height of all visits to the mall, pizza joints and movie theaters. I remember well literally being pulled away from games as movies were starting or dinners were growing cold and the stares from the kids behind me with quarters in clammy hands. There were two games in particular that I loved and Centipede was one of them. I played it for untold hours and countless quarters.
Imagine my delight when a notice showed up in my inbox informing me of the game being available for Windows 9x! I threw all caution to wind, did no research whatsoever, and headed off to eBay (what would I do without that site?). I had the game in my grubby little hands within a couple of weeks.
First Thoughts
I was confused. Since I did not check the game out prior to purchasing, I wasn't sure if I was missing something or not. Albeit, what I received was a sealed copy. However, it was not in a box and had no users manual. Instead, a short booklet (3x5") of 20 information pages was tucked inside the front of a CD jewel case. My initial thought was that it really didn't matter since I'd played the game before; I didn't need instructions. I was wrong.
The Game
There are two games, actually. They are:
1) Arcade Centipede ~ As the name implies, it is designed after the ones we fed the quarters to in laundry mats and food courts so many years ago. Very little has changed in the game play, which to this writer, is a plus. There are some differences in the actions, however. The game seems a little slower and the sound of blasting the creatures to smithereens is dull (my sound card and speakers are great - that's not the problem).
2) Adventure Centipede ~ It's more graphic-rich with added colors and sounds to it. However, while better than DOS, the graphics certainly are not very sophisticated by today's standards as far as I am concerned. I feel able to make such a comparison since I now own a copy of the Sims. :) I found this game to be easy enough to maneuver and play, but once I hit a certain level, I was stuck. With shame, I admit, I couldn't get past that level even using a cheat!
One of the most annoying problems I had with this game was the of lack user support in the 'manual'. For instance, I had difficulty just in finding which keys were to be used to play the game. The author chose instead to spend more time and space on large pictures of the creatures to be killed and their point values. Two Thumbs Down for effort there.
***Another Observation:
One disadvantage comes more in the form of peripherals (or, in my case, lack of). The game can be played on the keyboard using the numeric keypad for direction and a few other keys as 'shooters'. This makes for poor play, in my opinion. Perhaps if I had a gamepad (which is recommended but not necessary for play), I would have gotten as much enjoyment out of the game as I did with the ball that was used for the original game. This holds especially true for the Arcade Centipede.
Conclusion
I cannot recommend this game to anyone who had an enjoyable history with Centipede. However, I have noticed that my nephews, ages 10 and 12, love the game. They, of course, are playing for the first time. They have nothing to compare it to. So, it is my belief, that it may be a good game for anyone who doesn't have any particular expectations.
You and your opponent are about to enter the strange world of Centipede to play an exciting game! Based on Ataris classic arcade game youll move your ...More at Kids Software Outlet
Classic Arcade and Adventure Game Variations. Multiplayer Split-Screen Action for You and a Friend. Five Worlds - 30 Levels. Fast Action Real-time 30 ...More at Amazon Marketplace
BUY and Pay for 3 GET A 4th ONE FREE!! (Buy 3 kids titles, get a kids product...buy 3 games, get a free game) Our choice...your surprise bonus! Check ...More at eBay
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.