In March of 2017 we got word of a set of Three Atari board games coming to market based on arcade games of the 1980s. When I saw Centipede appear on Amazon, I put in an order. I love all things Atari, but was a bit dubious about the ability to convert a fast-action arcade game into a turn-based board game.
The game is very nicely produced and packaged. The game board is much smaller than the box - typically the board fills the box with a single-fold board. In the case of Centipede, the manual is the largest insert inside the box. The manual is 8.5x11 inches and contains 16-pages of full color images of various aspects of the game.
You can play with 2 or 4 players who take the roles of either centipedes or gnomes. As you might expect, game play is more complicated than simply rolling a trackball and shooting mushrooms and insects. If you like turn-based games, then you'll probably like the dynamics of the gnome versus the centipede and the options available to both from a strategic standpoint.
Atari Centipede Board Game - Box and Packaging
The packaging is typical for most board games. It contains the board and a full size manual created in comic book style and has plenty of storage for all the game pieces.
Couldn't resist a picture with an actual Centipede video game. Pictured is the Atari 5200 version of Centipede.
The back of the box depicts a game-play scenario with a description of the story line. It also outlines the contents of the box.
Atari Centipede Board Game - Board & Cards
The Centipede board game comes with 2 decks of eleven Centipede cards, one gnome control card, a dice pool card, and a creature speed reference card.
The six dice each relay multiple moves for the gnome. The player selects one of the die and carries out the actions for moving and shooting. Alternately, you can choose to use the aGnome Control card instead of the dice on each turn.
Players take turns placing the Mushrooms on empty squares with no more than three per column. The game pieces appear to be wood - definitely not plastic. This is a nice touch that adds to the enjoyment of this game as a collection piece. A Centipede iron-on patch is also included in the box.
The Centipede game board and playing pieces.
Atari Centipede Board Game - Instruction Manual
This full size 8.5 x 11 inch manual is the largest inclusion in the box and features 16 pages of full-color images and explanation about playing Centipede.
Centipede Board Game instruction manual - page 2
Discover the Centipede story line and summary of game play.
Centipede Board Game instruction manual - page 3
Game components and 2-player set up..
Centipede Board Game instruction manual - page 4
Gnome player and Centipede player set ups.
Centipede Board Game instruction manual - page 5
Game play and the gnome.
Centipede Board Game instruction manual - page 6
Learn how to interpret the dice - they're not like normal 6-sided ones. And then figure out the movement of the gnome character.
Centipede Board Game instruction manual - page 7
Get you gnome to shoot and learn how to use the move cards.
Centipede Board Game instruction manual - page 8
Understanding the Centipede and how to use the Centipede cards.
Centipede Board Game instruction manual - page 9
Spawning centipedes, using Mushroom cards and ... Berserk!
Centipede Board Game instruction manual - page 10
Moving your Centipede.
Centipede Board Game instruction manual - page 11
More insights on moving your centipede.
Centipede Board Game instruction manual - page 12
Moving the spider and the flea.
Centipede Board Game instruction manual - page 13
Sometimes bad thing happen to good gnomes... When the Gnome gets eaten by the Centipede. How to win the game.
Centipede Board Game instruction manual - page 15
Centipede Board Game instruction manual - page 15
More insights on the 4-player version of Centipede.
Centipede Board Game instruction manual - page 16
An ad for the next two atari board games from IDW Games - Asteroids and Missile Command!
