is a NES/Famicom

platform Platform may refer to: Technology * Computing platform, a framework on which applications may be run * Platform game, a genre of video games * Car platform, a set of components shared by several vehicle models * Weapons platform, a system ...

video game, published by

IGS IGS may stand for: Computers/Video Games * Information Global Service, Japanese video game company *Initial Graphics Exchange Specification, file extension .igs *InteGraphics Systems a former chip manufacturer *Interactive geometry software * ...

in 1991.

Gameplay

The player controls a yellow

armadillo Armadillos (meaning "little armored ones" in Spanish) are New World placental mammals in the order Cingulata. The Chlamyphoridae and Dasypodidae are the only surviving families in the order, which is part of the superorder Xenarthra, al ...

with a red hat named Billy the Shell. Between levels, the player moves around on a map screen, similar to '' Super Mario Bros. 3''. The map screen consists of many small squares, which the player can "capture" one at a time, after which they're crossed out and can be moved across freely. There are also some larger squares with pictures on them, and if the player is on them, they can choose to begin an action stage, which has to be cleared before the player can pass it. There is also another character moving around on the map screen, and if the player is on the same space as them, they can start a

boss Boss may refer to: Occupations * Supervisor, often referred to as boss * Air boss, more formally, air officer, the person in charge of aircraft operations on an aircraft carrier * Crime boss, the head of a criminal organization * Fire boss, a p ...

battle, which has to be cleared to move onto the next world. The player can walk around and jump, and roll into a ball. While rolled up in ball form, the player can roll and bounce around. Control in this form can be slippery, but it is the only way to attack enemies. Also, while rolled up in a ball, the player can bounce higher (by holding the Jump button) than ordinary jumps would allow. There is also a two player mode. Two players (player one has a red hat, player two has green) take turns moving around on the same map and playing the stages when they reach them. If the boss is defeated, both players will move on to the next world. A bonus life is awarded every 30,000 points. There were plans for ''Armadillo'' to be released in North America, as well as a sequel, but both were cancelled. A sequel called ''Armadillo Gaiden'' was also in the making for the Nintendo

Game Boy The is an 8-bit fourth generation handheld game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was first released in Japan on April 21, 1989, in North America later the same year, and in Europe in late 1990. It was designed by the same te ...

, however it instead got relicensed and sold as ''

Ultraman ''Ultraman'', also known as the , is the collective name for all media produced by Tsuburaya Productions featuring Ultraman, his many brethren, and the myriad monsters. Debuting with '' Ultra Q'' and then '' Ultraman'' in 1966, the series is ...

Ball''. Among some

NES The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is an 8-bit third-generation home video game console produced by Nintendo. It was first released in Japan in 1983 as the commonly known as the The NES, a redesigned version, was released in American ...

enthusiasts familiar with unlicensed bootleg game cartridges, this game is also known as ''Super Mario IV'', in which the armadillo's character sprites have been edited to look like

Super Mario (also known as and ) is a platform game series created by Nintendo starring their mascot, Mario. It is the central series of the greater Mario (franchise), ''Mario'' franchise. At least one ''Super Mario'' game has been released for every m ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Armadillo (Video Game) 1991 video games Fortyfive games Information Global Service games Japan-exclusive video games Nintendo Entertainment System games Nintendo Entertainment System-only games Platform games Video games developed in Japan Multiplayer and single-player video games Fictional armadillos