How to play the snake game in the terminal (with examples)

The nsnake command is a snake game that can be played directly in the terminal. It provides a simple and nostalgic gaming experience for users.

Use case 1: Start a snake game

Code:

nsnake

Motivation: Playing the snake game can be a fun and entertaining way to pass the time. By starting the snake game using the nsnake command, users can enjoy the classic gameplay right in their terminal without the need for any additional installations or setup.

Example output:

########################
#                      #
#                      #
#                      #
#    @           #     #
#                      #
#                      #
#                      #
#                      #
#                      #
#                      #
#                      #
#                      #
########################

Score: 0

Explanation: Running the nsnake command without any arguments will start the snake game with a default configuration. The snake, represented by @, is placed on a grid, and the player’s objective is to eat the food represented by # and grow as much as possible without colliding with the boundaries or the snake itself. The current score is displayed at the bottom.

Use case 2: Navigate the snake

Code:

Up arrow key
Down arrow key
Left arrow key
Right arrow key

Motivation: In order to control the movement of the snake, the user needs to know which keys to use. The snake can be navigated in four directions: up, down, left, and right. By using the corresponding arrow keys, the player can guide the snake towards the desired direction.

Explanation: When the snake game is running, the user can press the arrow keys to change the direction of the snake. The up arrow key moves the snake upwards, the down arrow key moves it downwards, the left arrow key moves it to the left, and the right arrow key moves it to the right.

Example output (after pressing the right arrow key):

########################
#                      #
#                      #
#                      #
#    @               # #
#                      #
#                      #
#                      #
#                      #
#                      #
#                      #
#                      #
#                      #
########################

Score: 0

Use case 3: Pause/unpause the game

Code:

p

Motivation: Sometimes, during gameplay, the user may need to pause the game temporarily. This can be useful when the player wants to take a break or address any external interruptions without losing their progress in the game.

Explanation: While the snake game is running, the user can press the p key to pause the game. This will freeze the movement of the snake until the game is unpaused.

Example output (after pressing p to pause):

Game Paused

Use case 4: Quit the game

Code:

q

Motivation: If the user wants to exit the game completely and return to the command line, they can use the quit command.

Explanation: When the snake game is running, the user can press the q key to quit the game. This will immediately terminate the game and return to the command line.

Example output (after pressing q to quit):

Game Over!
Score: 10

Use case 5: Show help during the game

Code:

h

Motivation: It can be helpful to have a reference of the game controls or some tips while playing. The help command provides this information to the user during gameplay.

Explanation: While the snake game is running, the user can press the h key to display a help screen. This screen will provide information on the controls and rules of the game.

Example output:

=================================
nSnake - Snake game in the terminal
=================================

Game Controls:
-------------------------
- Use the arrow keys to navigate the snake.
- Press 'p' to pause/unpause the game.
- Press 'q' to quit the game.
- Press 'h' to show this help screen.

Objective:
-------------------------
- Eat as much food ('#') as you can to grow the snake.
- Avoid colliding with the boundaries or the snake itself.

Scoring:
-------------------------
- Each food eaten increases the score by 1.

Enjoy the game!

Press any key to continue...

Conclusion:

The nsnake command provides a simple and enjoyable snake game experience directly in the terminal. By using the provided commands, users can navigate the snake, pause and quit the game, and access helpful information during gameplay. So, challenge yourself and have fun playing the snake game in the terminal!