Get Better at Centipede: Tips and Strategies for High Scores

Centipede is a fast-paced arcade classic that started in 1981 that tests your reflexes, precision, and strategy. Looking to improve or aiming for a high-score run takes practice and the right approach. Here are some tips to help you improve your gameplay and climb the leaderboard.

Enemies and Their Behaviors:

Centipede: Moves side to side and drops when it hits a mushroom or the screen’s edge. Breaking it into smaller parts makes it much more challenging to beat.

Spider: Jumps around the lower part of the screen unpredictably. It’s worth a lot of points but is very dangerous.

Flea: Drops straight down, leaving a trail of mushrooms. It appears more often when fewer mushrooms are at the bottom of the screen 

Scorpion: Moves horizontally across the screen, poisoning mushrooms, which cause the centipede to dive down when touched.

 

2. Master Your Shooting Technique

Since Centipede is all about precise shooting, improving your fire rate and aim is crucial to getting better.

Tap the fire button rapidly instead of holding it down. This helps you control your shots better and avoid wasting limited bullets.

You should focus on clearing mushrooms near the bottom to make more open space to maneuver.

Aim for headshots on the centipede to prevent it from splitting into multiple smaller segments.

 

3. Control the Battlefield

The structure of mushrooms decides how the centipede moves. You can use this to your advantage:

Destroy the poisoned mushrooms whenever it's  possible to prevent the centipede from diving down unpredictably. 

Keep the lower screen clear to give yourself more reaction time when enemies appear.

 

4. Deal with Enemies Efficiently

Each enemy you face requires a different approach to avoid losing precious lives:

Spiders: Move erratically but can be baited into predictable patterns. Avoid staying in one place for too long of a time period.

Fleas: Shoot them quickly before they drop too many mushrooms, which make the centipede harder for you to manage.

Scorpions: Stay away from poisoned mushrooms and eliminate them when possible, but don’t chase them at the risk of missing centipede shots.

 

5. Stay Mobile and Predict Enemy Movements

Don’t stay in one spot for too long at a time. Moving side to side helps avoid scary incoming enemies.

Pay attention to centipede movement. Predict where it will go next based on the mushroom placement, practice will improve this skill.

Use controlled dodging. Instead of wild uncontrolled movements, make small, deliberate moves to avoid threats and enemies.

 

6. Learn Point Maximization Techniques

Killing the spider closer to you rewards more points. The closer it is when you shoot, the higher the score, use this to your benefit.

Destroy centipedes as efficiently as possible. Try to hit their heads first to prevent unnecessary annoying splits.

Take calculated risks for extra points. Going after spiders and scorpions is risky, but they reward high points.

 

7. Practice and Patience

Like any classic arcade game, Centipede requires lots of muscle memory and patience. The more you play, the better you'll get at anticipating enemy movements and reacting quickly to their habits.

You should play in short bursts to avoid gaming frustration.

Watch high-score runs of people online to see how pro players handle different scenarios.

You should definitely experiment with different strategies to find what works best for you.