Review

Centipede: Origins

Common Sense Media says

New take on old classic includes aggressive purchase push.
Age
6
Quality
 
Learning
1
  • Ease of use3
    The touchpad is a good substitute for the arcade's trackball -- certainly better than the joystick ever was. Centipede was always a very difficult arcade game, and that remains true here, but it's still an easy game to pick up and learn. 
  • Violence2
    Players try to destroy attacking insects via a gun (which doesn't make traditional gun sounds) and bombs. No gore is shown, and it's all done in a less-than-cartoon-like fashion. 
  • Sex0
    Not applicable.
  • Language0
    Not applicable.
  • Consumerism4
    The game actively promotes in-app purchases, specifically encouraging players to purchase power-ups and additional levels. These tools aren't necessary, however. 
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking0
    Not applicable.
  • Privacy & safety4
    Some privacy concerns. Players can opt in to Apple's Game Center to track scores and achievements, and for some games, challenge friends. Players can send and receive friend requests using an email address or Game Center nickname, revealing the first and last name associated with each party's Apple ID and, in the case of email requests, the sender's email address. With iOS 5, players can opt to have a private or public profile, which can include a photo. With a public profile, your real name is visible to all other players, and Game Center will recommend you to other players using your real name. With a private profile, only your friends can see your real name, and Game Center will not recommend you to other players.
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Centipede: Origins is a new look at the old arcade classic. The gameplay remains the same -- shoot the centipede and other insects before they hit the bottom of the screen -- but it now has a barely-there story on top of it. The app is low cost, but parents should know it aggressively pushes in-app purchases, which kids might not realize are unnecessary. Players can share high scores via the Game Center social network, but participation is optional.

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