Introduction Story & Setting Gameplay Platforms Legacy Fun Facts
In the pantheon of arcade classics, few titles command as much respect and nostalgic fervor as the original Centipede. Released in 1981, it defined the "fixed shooter" genre with its frantic pace and iconic trackball controls. However, as the gaming industry transitioned into the third dimension in the late 1990s, Atari and Hasbro Interactive sought to revitalize this legendary IP for a new generation of players. The result was the 1998 reimagining, often referred to as Centipede 3D, which took the core concepts of the mushroom-filled garden and expanded them into a fully realized adventure. This version moved away from the abstract top-down perspective, placing players directly into the thick of the action with updated graphics and a narrative-driven campaign.
The narrative of this remake introduces us to the whimsical yet threatened world of the Wee People. These peaceful, humanoid beings have lived in harmony for generations, but their tranquility is shattered when the ruthless QueenPede launches a full-scale invasion. The QueenPede is a monstrous entity determined to destroy or enslave the Wee People, and she is not alone. She commands a vast army of destructive subjects, including venomous spiders, relentless scorpions, and bothersome fleas.
In the midst of this chaos, an unlikely hero emerges: Wally. Far from a seasoned warrior, Wally is the village’s humble bean counter. However, when the colony’s survival is at stake, he is quickly recruited to man the village’s specialized bug shooter and sent off to save the colony. The setting spans various 3D environments, moving beyond the simple forest floor of the original to include diverse biomes where Wally must navigate treacherous terrain to confront the QueenPede in her own domain and secure the safety of his race.
The gameplay of Centipede 3D is a significant evolution of the arcade formula. While the goal remains to blast segments of the centipede as it winds through a field of mushrooms, the perspective is now a third-person "behind-the-cockpit" view. Wally’s bug shooter is agile, allowing players to strafe and dodge while returning fire. The classic mechanics are preserved in clever ways: mushrooms still act as obstacles that can be destroyed, and shooting a centipede in the middle causes it to split into two smaller, faster-moving threats.
To help Wally face the QueenPede, the game introduces a variety of new weapons and power-ups. Instead of a simple single shot, players can acquire rapid-fire upgrades, spread shots, and powerful secondary weapons. The behavior of enemy bugs has also been updated for the 3D space. Scorpions crawl across the landscape, turning healthy mushrooms into poisonous ones that force the centipede to descend rapidly, while fleas drop from the sky to plant new mushrooms, cluttering the battlefield. The game is structured across multiple worlds, culminating in challenging boss encounters. For those who crave the old-school experience, the game even allows skilled players to discover and play the original arcade version within the game.
This game was released on several platforms, including the Sega Dreamcast and the original PlayStation, bringing its unique brand of 3D insect hunting to home consoles.
The legacy of this version of Centipede is viewed as a snapshot of the late 90s era, where developers were experimenting with bringing 2D sprites into the 3D polygon world. While it didn't replace the arcade original, it was praised for its creative level design and for successfully capturing the "feel" of the original’s frantic pace. It paved the way for other Atari reimagining projects during that period, such as Frogger and Combat. Today, it is remembered as a bold attempt to give a classic arcade protagonist a personality and a world to explore.
Games
Centipede
Seller: retrogameplace
Country of origin: Spain
Status: loose
Description: Jeu Centipede pour console Playstation (PS1) Prêts... show more Jeu Centipede pour console Playstation (PS1) Prêts à écraser du mille-pattes plus vite qu'un pneus chaud sur un asphalte brûlant ? Bienvenue dans l'univers déjanté de "Centipede" sur Playstation ! Pré... show less
