Classic Games Database
ClassicGames DB

Centipede

Review
Also known as
Game Room: Centipede

Defend against waves of insects in this fixed shooter, using rapid fire to survive the enchanted forest.

Centipede for Game Boy was released in 1992 by Accolade. The original arcade game was released in 1981.

About Centipede

Centipede for the Game Boy is a fixed-screen shooter where the player, armed with a magic wand, defends against waves of insects in an Enchanted Forest. The primary threat is the Centipede itself, which attacks from the top of the screen in progressively fragmented waves, starting as a connected chain and eventually splitting into numerous independent heads. Hitting a segment turns it into a mushroom and causes the following segment to become the new head, with the creature respawning after destruction.

The environment is populated by mushrooms, which serve as both obstacles and potential cover. These can be destroyed with multiple shots or transformed by enemy actions. Other insects present distinct secondary threats: Spiders destroy mushrooms and are worth more points when hit at close range, Fleas appear to replenish mushrooms if too many are cleared, and Scorpions poison mushrooms, which in turn alters the Centipede's movement pattern.

Scoring is based on defeating enemies, with values differing for Centipede heads versus body segments, and for Spider distance. Bonus wands are awarded at score milestones. The player begins with three wands and loses one upon being bitten by an insect, which also causes temporary paralysis. The game ends when all wands are lost.

Multiple game structure variations are offered, including solo play, alternating turns for two players, and simultaneous two-player modes that feature either competitive or cooperative scoring rules. Four difficulty settings are available, ranging from easy to challenging.

Centipede Screenshots

5 images
Title Screen
Menu Screen
First Level
Shoot down the spider for more points
Ooh, a new enemy.