17. Another Review 2-Pack! Frogger and Centipede
We're continuing down this whole cartridge arcade-port rabbit-hole with a review of two early 80s ports for the C64.
Centipede is a 1983 release by Atarisoft and is a conversion of the arcade original released 3 years prior. The player must shoot a centipede rapidly approaching from the top of the screen while dodging a variety of additional enemies such as spiders and scorpions.
So I'll just put it out there in no uncertain terms - my first aesthetic impressions of this Centipede port were pretty poor. The graphics, while practically arcade-perfect, lack the smooth animation and movement afforded by the original, and are still probably on the weaker side of the what the C64's hardware had to offer. Meanwhile, the C64's lower resolution and smaller playfield also create frustration, as the centipede is on top of the player within seconds of a round beginning.
Though the game does replicate the sound of the original quite reliably, I think I would've been happier if it such attempts been left out. The constant repetition and unnerving intensity feel more like a long alarm than anything spurring enjoyment.
To its credit, Centipede is best viewed as an evolutionary step beyond Space Invaders with a few additional quirks (the mushrooms, spiders, ability for upward movement) to create a shade of complexity that enhances the depth of the game. Out of context, it feels more like a historical curiosity, but as the latest and greatest addition to an early 80s arcade, this game was designed to inhale quarters and performed quite well in that regard.
Decades later, I don't feel the original arcade release of Centipede has stood the test of time quite as well as other classics of its day, and I also don't think that this port adds anything to reverse that downward trajectory. It's not irredeemably bad by any stretch, but it comes off as dated, and I'm of the opinion that there are many better choices available within the C64's library of coin-operated contemporaries.
Now, Frogger.. that's a different story, entirely.
Parker Brothers' conversion of the 1981 arcade release is a fast-paced race against time to guide the titular character across a highway full of heavy traffic, over a river filled with logs running in varying speeds and directions, and into one of five homes. (It should be noted that Sierravision also released a Frogger port for the C64. Both are generally well-regarded and play similarly, though I think the Parker Brothers version looks and sounds a little nicer and therefore chose to review this variant).
Again, you're not getting the resolution or color quality of the arcade original on the C64, but I'd argue that Parker Brothers did a great job of translating the feel and mechanics of the arcade original to a home computer, and the slightly larger sprites feel oddly favorable to the more-detailed yet diminutive ones of its forebearer. Similarly, while music no longer plays in the middle of gameplay (only jingles at the beginning and end of rounds), the SID chip makes for comparatively pleasant listening against the tinny sound of the coin-up cabinet. The game feels a little faster than the original, and the joystick controls are nice and loose.
The gameplay is better than anything I've reviewed for this website thus far - it's maddeningly addictive, easy to understand, and universally appealing to gamers of all backgrounds and skill levels. The difficulty ramps up very steeply, with level 1 usually only taking a single life to complete (if any), but level 2 and 3 bringing increased speed and additional challenges such as snakes roaming the logs and blocking your way. Points are hard to come by, and by the time you hit level 3, every little maneuver means something. Any unplanned twitch-reaction or misstep means instant death. The stakes are raised real quick-like. This also means every frog landing at its goal feels like an epic victory. It's the epitome of primitive lizard-brained risk vs. reward decision-making at its finest.
The sum total of all these elements is a satisfying, well-crafted game great for both younger/casual gamers (the game includes both a "slow"/easier mode as well as a 2-player mode) as well as obsessive high-score chasers. It's not the deepest or most elaborate title you'll see on a Commodore computer, but it doesn't need to be - you'll just play it over and over and love every minute, regardless.
Think you have a shot at beating my high score in either of these arcade classics? Check out our High Scores page and submit a screenshot to earn your spot in Hank's hall of fame!
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