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Centipede (1998 video game)

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Centipede
North American PC cover art
Developer(s)Leaping Lizard Software[a]
Publisher(s)Hasbro Interactive[b]
Producer(s)Jeff Buccellato
Designer(s)Richard Rouse III
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, Dreamcast, Macintosh
ReleaseMicrosoft Windows
PlayStation
  • NA: June 1, 1999
  • EU: June 1, 1999[2]
Dreamcast
Macintosh
May 2001
Genre(s)Shoot 'em up
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

Centipede is a 1998 action game developed by Leaping Lizard Software, and a remake of Atari's 1981 arcade game of the same name. It was published by Hasbro Interactive, their first under the Atari label after purchasing the brand and former assets.

Gameplay consists of a series of rounds that are completed once the player eliminates the centipede(s) that wind down the playing field. Obstacles such as spiders, fleas, and scorpions complicate the game. At the same time, a population of mushrooms grows between the player and each centipede. Optionally, the player is tasked with rescuing villagers and bystanders and preventing damage to key structures; although ignoring these tasks does not prevent the player from being able to complete the round regardless.

Gameplay

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Screenshots of the original version (bottom) and the 1998 sequel (top).

The game can be played in two game modes: "Arcade" and "Adventure" — the latter marking a departure from the original version. Arcade mode allows the player to experience a ported version of the original arcade Centipede, with some enhancements.

In the adventure campaign, one completes a series of levels linked by a storyline. Here, the player encounters both the original enemies (centipede, spider, flea, scorpion, poisonous mushroom) and a new array as well (dragonfly, butterfly, firebug, icebug, killer mushroom, etc.), some of which are capable of throwing projectiles to destroy the shooter, and others capable of altering mushrooms. If an enemy or projectile contacts the shooter, the player loses a life.

Campaign story

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Even though the graphics were 3D, they consisted of simple geometrical si shapes. There is the hexagonal head of the scorpion, as seen in the game.

The story centers around a collective of villages known as "Weedom" and a prophecy that foretells their imminent destruction. Each century, an army of large insects invades Weedom at the hands of their leader, the Queen Pede. The player assumes the role of Wally Gudmunzsun, who is tasked with the destruction of the invading insect army, while piloting a craft known simply as "The Shooter".

Development and release

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Centipede was conceived by Hasbro Interactive, the video gaming arm of Hasbro, following its purchase of former Atari Corporation assets from JTS.[4] Development was done by Leaping Lizard Software, a small firm based in Maryland.[5]

Released for Microsoft Windows, it was ported to PlayStation, Dreamcast and later Macintosh.

Reception

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The game received mixed reviews on all platforms according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[6][7][8] Chris Charla of NextGen said of the PlayStation version in its September 1999 issue, "A solid 3D shooter with a nice, if young, story makes this a great game for your little brother, but don't be surprised if you find yourself playing a few games, too."[28] Five issues later, Adam Pavlacka said that the Dreamcast version "may look good in 3D, but the classic version of the game is still more fun."[27] GamePro said of the same Dreamcast version: "Who will dig on Centipede, and who will bag on it? Old schoolers will feel the pull of sentimentality, and may find themselves caught up in the newer, fiercer version of Centipede contained within. Twitch[y] gamers will also enjoy Centipede, but anyone not in those two classes may find the game tiresome and repetitive. Give Centipede a chance, you might just catch the bug."[31][f]

The PC version won Computer Games Strategy Plus' 1998 "Classic Game of the Year" award. The staff praised the graphics, addictive gameplay and the game's enhancements.[32]

Notes

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  1. ^ Ported to PlayStation by Real Sports Games and Macintosh by Westlake Interactive.
  2. ^ MacSoft published the Macintosh version.
  3. ^ Two critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the Dreamcast version each a score of 4/10, one gave it 4.5/10, and the other gave it 6/10.
  4. ^ In Electronic Gaming Monthly's review of the PlayStation version, one critic gave it a score of 2.5/10, another gave it 6/10, and the rest gave it each a score of 3.5/10.
  5. ^ In GameFan's viewpoint of the PlayStation version, three critics gave it each a score of 65, 62, and 48.
  6. ^ GamePro gave the Dreamcast version 4.5/5 for graphics, 3.5/5 for sound, and two 4/5 scores for control and fun factor.

References

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  1. ^ GameSpot staff (October 23, 1998). "New Releases". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on June 9, 2000. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  2. ^ "Centipede - (Pal)".
  3. ^ Justice, Brandon (October 29, 1999). "Centipede Squiggles Past Original Release Date". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on July 8, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  4. ^ "Centipede crawls again - Mar. 16, 1998". money.cnn.com. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  5. ^ "Leaping Lizard - Bios". February 18, 1999. Archived from the original on February 18, 1999. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Centipede for Dreamcast". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on January 20, 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Centipede for PC". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 22, 2019.
  8. ^ a b "Centipede for PlayStation". GameRankings. Archived from the original on May 1, 2019.
  9. ^ Thorpe, Damien. "Centipede (DC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  10. ^ D'Aprile, Jason (June 25, 1999). "Centipede (PS)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 23, 2000. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  11. ^ D'Aprile, Jason (November 26, 1998). "Centipede". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on July 9, 2003. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  12. ^ Jepsen, Dawn (March 1999). "A Bug's Death (Centipede Review)" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 176. Ziff Davis. p. 157. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 3, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  13. ^ Johnston, Chris; Boyer, Crispin; Chou, Che; Hager, Dean (January 2000). "Centipede". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 126. Ziff Davis. p. 221. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  14. ^ Johnston, Chris; Chou, Che; Hager, Dean; Smith, Shawn (July 1999). "Centipede (PS)" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 120. Ziff Davis. p. 128. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 2, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  15. ^ Fitzloff, Jay (July 1999). "Centipede (PS) [author mislabeled as "Paul Anderson"]". Game Informer. No. 75. FuncoLand. p. 62. Archived from the original on May 22, 2000. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  16. ^ Johnny B. (January 1999). "Centipede 3D [sic] Review (PC)". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  17. ^ Liu, Johnny (June 1999). "Centipede Review (PS)". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on October 1, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  18. ^ Mylonas, Eric "ECM"; Ngo, George "Eggo"; Weitzner, Jason "Fury" (July 1999). "Centipede (PS)". GameFan. Vol. 7, no. 7. Shinno Media. p. 12. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  19. ^ Stahl, Ben (December 3, 1999). "Centipede Review (DC)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on November 25, 2004. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  20. ^ Shamma, Tahsin (December 16, 1998). "Centipede Review (PC)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on December 12, 2004. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  21. ^ Stahl, Ben (June 1, 1999). "Centipede Review (PS)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on October 19, 2004. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  22. ^ BenT (January 4, 2000). "Centipede". PlanetDreamcast. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 31, 2009. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  23. ^ Gantayat, Anoop (November 22, 1999). "Centipede (DC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on July 8, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  24. ^ Blevins, Tal (November 16, 1998). "Centipede (PC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  25. ^ Harris, Craig (June 1, 1999). "Centipede (PS)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  26. ^ Sammis, Ian (September 2001). "Centipede". MacADDICT. No. 61. Imagine Media. p. 48. Archived from the original on August 22, 2001. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  27. ^ a b Pavlacka, Adam (February 2000). "Centipede (DC)". NextGen. No. 62. Imagine Media. p. 92. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  28. ^ a b Charla, Chris (September 1999). "Centipede (PS)". NextGen. No. 57. Imagine Media. p. 87. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  29. ^ Kujawa, Kraig (July 1999). "Centipede". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Vol. 2, no. 10. Ziff Davis. p. 61. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  30. ^ Bottorff, James (1998). "'Centipede' should stay in arcade". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Gannett Company. Archived from the original on February 8, 2005. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  31. ^ Scary Larry (December 18, 1999). "Centipede Review for Dreamcast on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG. Archived from the original on November 2, 2004. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  32. ^ CGSP staff (February 11, 1999). "The Best of 1998 (Classic Game of the Year)". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on February 8, 2005. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
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