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Armadillo

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Armadillo is the name of an NES/Family Computer platform video game, published by IGS in 1991. The player controls a yellow armadillo with a red hat named Billy the Shell. Before each level, the player gets to move around on a board game-type screen, reminiscent of Super Mario Bros. 3. There a...

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Developer
AIM

Released on
1991

Size
1–2 Players

Version
NES

Requirements
Nintendo Entertainment System

Downloads
Platform

Publisher
Information Global Service

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

Armadillo is the name of an NES/Family Computer platform video game, published by IGS in 1991.

The player controls a yellow armadillo with a red hat named Billy the Shell. Before each level, the player gets to move around on a board game-type screen, reminiscent of Super Mario Bros. 3. There are a lot of small squares, and the player can move on them one at a time. There are also some larger squares with pictures on them, and if the player is on them, he/she 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 board, and if the player is on the same space as him, they can choose to be sent into a boss battle, which has to be cleared to move onto the next world.

Armadillo

Overview & History

Developed by Irem and released exclusively for the Family Computer (Famicom) in Japan in 1991, Armadillo is a charming yet challenging platformer that flew under the radar of many western gamers. The storyline follows a plucky, cap-wearing armadillo named Armadillo who must rescue his kidnapped animal friends from the clutches of an evil insect syndicate across a variety of whimsical, hazard-filled worlds. While it shares conceptual similarities with Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog or Irem's own Spelunker, the game carves out a distinct identity through its momentum-based puzzle-platforming and aggressive rolling mechanics.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike standard platformers where jumping is the primary offense, Armadillo relies almost entirely on his ability to curl into a hard-shelled ball. Players navigate vibrant stages by curling up and hurtling into enemies, ricocheting off walls, and launching through narrow pipe systems. The controls require precise timing: holding down the run button builds up rotational speed, allowing Armadillo to scale steep vertical inclines and break through fragile barriers. Scattered throughout each level are sparkling stars that act as currency, which can be spent at shops between stages to acquire power-ups like extra health, temporary invincibility, or faster rolling speeds. The level design cleverly incorporates pinball-like bumpers, springboards, and slippery ice physics, forcing players to master the game's unique inertia to avoid bottomless pits and hazardous spikes.