I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, the love for arcade games will never die! No matter how much the industry evolves, gamers will always yearn for the thrill of simple hard-hitting competitive titles. Shoot-’em-ups always get the blood pumping, thanks to their elements of chance and skill. Centipede Recharged has appeared out of nowhere and hopes to capture players’ imaginations like the original did all those years ago.
Developed by Adamvision and SneakyBox and published by Atari, this is a retro fixed-screen shoot-’em-up title. Using the vivid and boxy aesthetics that older gamers will love, Centipede Recharged brings retro gaming to a new generation with its modern polish and smooth gameplay.
Centipede Recharged is all about the competitive edge.
Arcade gaming is all about the competitive edge! You play to be crowned the champion of the leaderboard and to outperform your friends. Luckily, Centipede Recharged has captured this in its simple yet moreish gameplay. The single-player or couch co-op action is split across two modes, each as frantic as the last.
Arcade mode rekindles everything you loved about the original. Creatures fall from the sky while moving left to right. They ricochet off any obstacles and this makes their movement unpredictable. The beasts move closer to the bottom as you try to blast them with your weapons. A successful shot reduces their size and improves your score. Your blocky ship has one life and death results in the end of your run. It’s brutal, challenging, and will keep you on your toes.
The audacious challenge section mixes up the gameplay across thirty outlandish objectives. The twist on the standard action asks you to concentrate on key quests while attempting to stay alive. It’s brilliantly thought out and adds fresh impetus for a modern audience. I loved how minor changes have big implications on how you approach each level. Whether it was destroying mushrooms, killing enemies, exploding bombs, or staying alive, it pushed you to think outside of the box.
Power-ups and better with a friend.
Shooting the centipedes and other nasties with your basic weapon was all well and good. However, it’s much more enjoyable when you use power-ups. With twenty OTT enhancements to find, you’ll be chuckling like a maniac as you shoot bombs, lasers, explosive bullets, and more. The extra power can go to your head and aggression takes over, so more haste and less speed is always a wise move.
The solo action is great fun as you get to see how you compare on the leaderboard. Yet, where Centipede Recharged excels is the local co-op option. The competition is brutal as each player attempts to survive the longest while outgunning their rivals. I loved how simple it was to play with another gamer and the developers capture the essence of arcade gaming perfectly.
Centipede Recharged is a neon-infused treat.
A debate about the best screen ratio to use has rumbled on for years. However, Centipede Recharged has gambled with a 16:9 field of play. This detailed space allows you to see all the action while retaining the old-school aesthetic. Moreover, this allowed me to enjoy the simplicity of the imagery and the neon-infused colour palette. The crisp lines and basic creature design had a modern finish that worked nicely with the dated theme.
The developers have incorporated a unique soundtrack that fills the gameplay with energy while retaining some of the original charms. This was complimented nicely by the booming sound effects of weapons firing and your enemies exploding. It was a little OTT, but it matched the arcade influence and will make older gamers feel nostalgic vibes.
Move and shoot.
It doesn’t take long for the frantic action to overwhelm you. With a steady wave of creatures to defeat, your only chance of survival is to move and keep shooting. The fast-paced action is handled brilliantly by the responsive and well-mapped controls. Its user-friendly approach has been designed around original arcade machines and this makes it a joy to master.
This ticks every box for an addictive and fun experience. It’s excellent to play solo but better with friends! It captures the moreish nature of arcade titles and gamers will want to compete to be the number one player. If you are a completionist, you’ll have your work cut out to finish this. Thanks to its challenging achievement list, it will test your skills and won’t be easy to get them all.
Centipede Recharged is a wonderful blast from the past.
People scream about the lack of originality, but sometimes a trip down memory lane is all we need. With its heavy dose of nostalgia blended with a modern finish, Centipede Recharged is a fantastic casual arcade title. I enjoyed it and recommend you to buy it here! Go it alone, or bring a friend to tackle the unforgiving waves of creatures that want to kill you!
