Millipede
Defend the Mushroom Forest
Millipede is a fast-paced fixed shooter where your main goal is to protect a forest of mushrooms from an endless swarm of insects. You play as the Archer, a small elf character positioned at the bottom of the screen. Your job is to shoot upward to destroy the bugs before they reach you or poison your safe zones.
The primary threat is the millipede itself. These long, segmented creatures move horizontally across the top of the screen. When you hit one of its segments, it splits into two smaller millipedes and drops a mushroom below. This creates a tricky situation: you get points for the kill, but you also create obstacles that block your own shots and limit where you can stand.
As the game progresses, other insects join the fray. You will encounter spiders that drop down from the top, bees that fly in erratic patterns, beetles that move quickly, and mosquitoes that hover near the mushrooms. Each insect has a unique sound effect, which helps you identify where threats are coming from even if they are off-screen or hidden by smoke.
One of the most dangerous mechanics involves earwigs. When an earwig touches a mushroom, it poisons it. Poisoned mushrooms turn black and become impassable. More importantly, when enough mushrooms are poisoned, the millipede becomes enraged and charges directly at you instead of moving horizontally. This requires quick reflexes to dodge while still trying to shoot.
To help manage the chaos, you can use DDT bombs. These special items drop from the top of the screen occasionally. If you shoot a DDT bomb, it explodes and destroys all nearby enemies for triple points. However, using them wisely is key because they are limited resources that can turn the tide during a swarm.
The Atari 2600 version captures the intense pressure of the original arcade experience. The graphics are blocky but clear enough to distinguish between the different bug types and the mushrooms. The sound design plays a crucial role, with distinct audio cues for each insect type and the millipede's movements.
Players can choose to start at different score levels: 0, 15,000, or 30,000 points. Starting at a higher score means the game begins with more mushrooms already on the board and potentially more difficult enemy patterns, offering a challenge for experienced players.
The gameplay is straightforward but demanding. You must balance aggression with caution. Shooting too wildly creates more mushrooms that block your path, while being too passive allows the millipede to inch closer to your position. The key is to clear segments efficiently and keep an eye on the side of the screen where new enemies are entering.
Millipede is widely considered a challenging follow-up to Centipede due to the variety of enemy behaviors. The combination of splitting millipedes, poison mechanics, and diverse insect types keeps the action fresh and stressful. It rewards players who can anticipate movements and manage their space effectively.
If you enjoy games that test your reflexes and strategic planning under pressure, Millipede offers a classic arcade experience. The simple premise of ridding the garden of bugs belies the complexity of managing the board state as it fills up with obstacles and threats. You can also try more Atari 2600 games from the same system.