Armadillo (video game)

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Armadillo
Developer(s)	IGS
Publisher(s)	IGS
Platform(s)	NES/Famicom
Release date	August 9, 1991
Genre(s)	Platformer
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer

Armadillo is the name of a Famicom video game, made by IGS in 1991.

The player controls a yellow armadillo with a red hat. 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 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, he can choose to be sent into a boss battle, which has to be cleared to move onto the next world.

The stages themselves play like a platformer. The player can walk around and jump, and he can also roll into a ball. The player is able to move around when in a ball as usual. While control in this form can be slippery, it is the only way to get rid of enemies, for the player will die when touching them in regular form. Also, the player has only one jump height in standard form, but he can bounce higher in ball form by holding the jump button.

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 go on to the next board.

A bonus life is awarded every 30,000 points.

Armadillo was a rather unpopular game with a limited release in Japan. There were plans for it to be released in North America, as well as a sequel, but neither happened.

Among the NES pirated community, this game is also known as Super Mario IV, in which the armadillo's character sprites have been edited to look like the far more recognizable Super Mario.^{[citation needed]} Several videos of this pirate can be found on YouTube. Recently the pirate was sold in an original NES cartridge with Famicom stickers placed on it for a price of $150.00 USD. The game eventually went to the single bidder for $149.99 USD^{[citation needed]}.