Centipede
1980 • Atari
8.2/10Atari
Shoot 'em up
The colorful shooter featuring a segmented centipede, mushrooms, and fast-paced action in a garden setting.
Gameplay
Shoot at a descending centipede while managing mushroom obstacles and other garden creatures in the play field.
Historical Context
Co-designed by Dona Bailey and Ed Logg at Atari, notable for having one of the first female video game designers.
Fun Facts
- • Co-designed by Dona Bailey, one of the first female arcade game designers
- • Featured a unique trackball control scheme
- • The colorful graphics were revolutionary for 1980
Cultural Impact
Influenced shooter design with its strategic mushroom placement and demonstrated that women could succeed in game development.
Review
Centipede offered frantic, strategic shooting with unique controls and colorful graphics that stood out in early arcades.