Centipede , released in 1982 , is an action and adventure game where the player is trapped in the Enchanted Forest with only a magic wand to fend off the forest's insect denizens. The player must use the magic wand to shoot sparks at approaching insects to score points by pressing the controller button, holding it down for rapid-fire shots. However, if bitten by an insect, the player will be temporarily paralyzed and lose one of their three starting magic wands.
The game features various insect opponents, including the Centipede, Spider, Flea, and Scorpion, each with its own distinct characteristics and behaviors. The Centipede will attack in 12 waves, gradually increasing in difficulty as it loses body segments to transform into heads, which are worth more points than body segments.
The player can also encounter mushrooms, which can act as obstacles or cover for the player, with added effects to enemy insects. Destroying four mushrooms takes one shot, and there are two types of mushrooms: Magic Mushrooms and Poisonous Mushrooms.
Gameplay offers four difficulty levels: Novice, Standard, Advanced, and Expert, as well as variations for One Player, Two Player Alternating, Dual Player Competition, and Team Play. Scoring is calculated based on the destruction of each insect type, mushrooms, and other power-ups, with bonuses awarded for reaching specific point milestones.