Play Centipede Online

Summary

The Game Boy version of Centipede, first released by Accolade in 1992 and later re‑issued in 1995 with Super Game Boy support, adds a few surprises that the original arcade never had. When you pop the cartridge into a Super Game Boy, the title screen greets you with a catchy background tune and the sound effects are tweaked to feel a bit richer than the plain handheld version, giving the classic shooter a modest but welcome audio upgrade.

Gameplay stays true to the arcade roots: you control the Bug Blaster at the bottom of the screen, blasting darts at a winding centipede that slithers through a field of mushrooms. Each shot turns a segment into a mushroom, and hitting the head splits the creature, spawning independent pieces that race down. Fleas, spiders and scorpions add extra hazards, while destroying mushrooms and enemies nets points that eventually earn you an extra life at 12,000 points. The handheld’s simple controls capture the frantic, addictive feel that made the original a favorite among both casual players and competitive high‑score hunters.

Storyline

Centipede on Game Boy drops the player into an Enchanted Forest where insect enemies swarm in endless waves. Armed only with a magic wand, you fire sparks at the approaching bugs by pressing the controller button, and holding the button switches the wand to rapid‑fire mode. The game starts you with three magic wands; each time an insect bites you you become temporarily paralyzed and lose one wand. Survival depends on keeping the wand firing and avoiding bites as the forest’s critters keep coming.