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Centipede

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Centipede Game Guide

📖 About

Centipede is the classic 1981 Atari arcade shooter that captivated a generation! A segmented centipede winds its way down through a field of mushrooms toward your ship at the bottom. Shoot each segment to break it apart, but beware—the pieces become independent threats! Along with fleas, spiders, and scorpions, this fast-paced action game requires quick reflexes and strategic shooting!

🎯 Objectives

Destroy the centipede and all its segments before they reach the bottom of the screen. Clear each wave to advance to increasingly challenging levels. Avoid enemy creatures while shooting strategically through the mushroom field!

🎮 How to Play

Use Arrow Keys to move your ship left and right. Press Spacebar to shoot upward. Destroy centipede segments before they reach you. Shoot mushrooms to clear paths!

⌨️ Controls

Arrow keys move your ship horizontally at the bottom of the screen. Spacebar fires your laser upward. You can only move left and right—no vertical movement.

⚙️ Game Mechanics

  • Centipede winds through mushrooms toward you
  • Shooting a segment splits the centipede
  • Mushrooms can be destroyed or block shots
  • Fleas drop from above when few mushrooms remain
  • Spiders jump around unpredictably

Features

  • Classic Arcade Action - Authentic gameplay
  • Multiple Enemies - Centipede, flea, spider, scorpion
  • Progressive Difficulty - Each wave harder
  • High Score Tracking - Beat your best

💡 Tips

  • Focus on the head of the centipede first
  • Mushrooms can block your shots - clear them wisely
  • The centipede speeds up as it gets smaller
  • Stay in the center for maximum coverage

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens when I shoot a centipede segment?
The segment becomes a mushroom, and the centipede splits. Each piece continues independently, creating multiple threats to track!
Why do fleas appear?
Fleas drop from the top when there are too few mushrooms in the player area. They create new mushrooms as they fall, restoring the field.
What do scorpions do?
Scorpions crawl across the middle of the screen, poisoning mushrooms they touch. A poisoned mushroom sends the centipede into a frenzied dive toward the player!
Is there a pattern to the centipede's movement?
The centipede follows a predictable path until it hits a mushroom, then drops down and reverses direction. Learning this pattern is key to positioning your shots.

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