Millipede Retro Arcade Game Review

Gameplay & The Perceived Goal

Millipede puts you in control of a tiny bug-blaster at the bottom of the screen, tasked with fending off waves of insectoid invaders. The primary threat? A segmented millipede that weaves its way through a mushroom-laden field, getting faster and more erratic with every shot. But that’s just the beginning. Spiders, beetles, bees, earwigs — it’s like the designers took a stroll through an entomology textbook and decided, “Yeah, let’s throw all of this at the player.”

The goal is simple but satisfying: survive as long as possible and rack up those points. The better you get, the more the game throws at you. You start to feel like a one-person bug apocalypse, and there’s something immensely gratifying about that.

Challenges

If Centipede was a stroll through the garden, Millipede is a full-blown infestation. The addition of new enemies not only increases the difficulty but also keeps the gameplay fresh. Those darn bees drop mushrooms in your path, altering the playfield and creating more chaos. The earwigs poison mushrooms, which force the millipede to dive straight down when it touches them — cue the panic mode!

Then there’s the DDT bomb, a new addition that adds a strategic element. Shooting it creates a cloud that wipes out anything it touches. It’s a lifesaver if used wisely, but if you’re like me, you probably detonated it too early half the time, leaving you to face the oncoming swarm without a safety net.

The Ultimate Ending (Or Lack Thereof)

Much like many arcade games of its era, Millipede doesn’t exactly have a traditional “ending.” The game just gets progressively harder until you inevitably meet your doom. Your ultimate reward? High score glory. If you could scrawl your initials at the top of that leaderboard, it was a moment of pure, unadulterated victory. And if you ever saw “AAA” or “ZZZ” above your score, you knew a random passerby had bested you — or worse, the machine had been reset. Tragic.

Tips & Tricks

Clear the Mushrooms Strategically

• Focus on clearing mushrooms in the center columns. This creates an open lane that gives you more time to eliminate incoming segments before they reach the danger zone.

Target the Millipede’s Head

• Always aim for the head of the millipede when possible. Hitting the head reduces the number of segments that continue advancing.
• If you hit the middle of the millipede, it will split, creating multiple smaller segments that are harder to track and kill.

Use the DDT Bombs Wisely

• Timing is key: Wait for the millipede to be near a DDT bomb and then detonate it by shooting the bomb directly or allowing an enemy to trigger it.
• Use DDT bombs when you’re overwhelmed by swarms, especially during flea and spider attacks.

Manage the Fleas Early On

• Fleas drop down mushrooms rapidly, cluttering the field and making it harder to maneuver.
• Strategy: Kill fleas as soon as they appear to prevent too many mushrooms from piling up. A single flea can drop multiple mushrooms before leaving the screen, making it essential to act fast.

Control the Mushroom Density

• Keep the bottom area relatively clear of mushrooms to prevent the millipede from reaching you too quickly.
• Don’t clear too many mushrooms too fast, though — leaving a few strategic obstacles can help guide enemy movement.

Master Spider Movement Patterns

• Spiders move in erratic zigzag patterns, but they stick to a loose three-zone pattern: top, middle, and bottom.
• Tip: Kill spiders for bonus points — spiders award more points the closer they are to the bottom of the screen.

Beetles and Mosquitoes

• Beetles crawl from the bottom of the screen and change mushrooms into indestructible blocks.
• Mosquitoes fly down in erratic patterns — kill them before they clutter the bottom with too many mushrooms.

10. Dragonflies and Earwigs

• Dragonflies move horizontally and clutter the playfield with mushrooms.
• Earwigs move horizontally and mutate mushrooms into poisonous versions that make millipedes more dangerous — kill them fast.

Maximize Bonus Lives

• You gain an extra life every 15,000 points in Millipede (in most versions).

DDT Explosion Glitch

• In some versions of Millipede, if you hit a DDT bomb with perfect timing right as a millipede segment is passing through it, you can trigger an extended explosion that clears almost the entire playfield.

Fun Facts to Chew On

• Millipede was one of the first arcade games to offer a “continue” option, allowing players to drop in another quarter and pick up where they left off. It was a genius move — both for players and arcade owners.
• Colorful Chaos: Millipede’s vibrant, almost psychedelic color palette was a standout feature, especially compared to the more muted tones of Centipede. It felt like a living, breathing ecosystem — albeit one trying to kill you.
• Easter Eggs: Some versions of the game include hidden messages or developer names that appear if you hit specific mushrooms in a certain order. It’s a neat little nod to the creators’ sense of humor.

Review and Ultimate Score

Millipede offers an intense, fast-paced experience that builds perfectly on its predecessor. While not as universally celebrated as Centipede, it deserves respect for upping the ante and delivering a fresh, challenging twist on a beloved formula.

Ultimate Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 stars)