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Atarisoft Centipede -Colecovision
Retro Gaming Review
 |
| Title: | Centipede |
| Manufacturer: | Atarisoft |
| Platform: | Colecovision |
| Release Date: | 1983 |
| Part #: | 70004 |
| Rating: | 4.5 out of 5 |
| ESRB Rating: | N/A |
Rating: 
Atarisoft Centipede Screenshot: 
Few games are as iconic as Centipede and few game consoles of the early 80's could handle arcade ports as well as the Colecovision. So, we have a great game on a great console. Centipede is often cited as a great "shooter" which always catches me off guard. It is a shooter by all standards, but when you're shooting mushrooms... hey, does that count? It does and the space-battle fanatic in me needs to get over the backyard-insect vibe of Centipede.
I'll admit that I was never really into Centipede in my arcade days. The trackball on Missile Command was awesome. On Centipede the trackball just didn't jibe with me and I often passed on playing it. Of course once it came home to the 2600 and Colecovision, I'd sit in front of the TV lamenting the fact that my joystick wasn't as good as a trackball. Oddly, I was fine playing Missile Command in my living room with joystick. I was a quirky kid. :)
Centipede Story Arc
Once upon a time... a colony of good elves lived happy lives in the Enchanted Forest until their mushroom garden became infested by a large centipede,spiders, scorpions and fleas. These creatures were poisoning the mushrooms. An elf named Oliver discovered an unusual stick in the garden that seemed to ward off (or kill) the various pests. Not only that, his magical stick changed the mushrooms back into... I don't know - salable produce? Anyway... Oliver's new job was to ward off the vile insects from the colony's mushroom garden.
Holy shit! Check this out...
In 1998, Hasbro-owned Atari Interactive released a new version of the game for the PC, PlayStation, and Dreamcast. This version looks and plays very differently to the original game, with free movement around the map, 3D graphics, and a campaign which can be played in single-player or multiplayer mode. The original version of Centipede is available in this version, with slightly updated graphics.
In 1998, Hasbro-owned Atari Interactive released a new version of the game for the PC, PlayStation, and Dreamcast. This version looks and plays very differently to the original game, with free movement around the map, 3D graphics, and a campaign which can be played in single-player or multiplayer mode. The original version of Centipede is available in this version, with slightly updated graphics.
Centipede Game Play
The Colecovision was the definitive home console for playing arcade ports. Centipede is no exception. It looks great and plays wonderfully. Back in the day, I played the Atari 2600 version a lot, but it looks much better on the Colecovision. There's a lot more definition in the details. The mushrooms actually look like mushrooms.
The Colecovision has a trackball called the Roller Controller. I've never used one, but I've read various things about it's compatibility with different games. It shipped with a Centipede clone game called Slither. I'm not sure if the roller controller works with Atarisoft's Centipede on the Colecovision.
If you haven't played Centipede: Infestation on the Wii or 3DS, give it a try. You'll be surprised at how the game plays in this modernized reboot. I've never played Hasbro's update for the Dreamcast in the late 90s - it may be similar.
Final Judgement:
Atarisoft Centipede
is a delight to play on the Colecovision. The graphics are crisp and more detailed than many home ports of Centipede.« Return to Retro Video Game Reviews
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