Overview and Gameplay
Billy, a cowboy-hatted armadillo from Texas, sets out to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend in this Japan-only Famicom platformer. Six rounds lead through locations such as Arizona, Las Vegas, Mexico, and the Amazon, combining branching map routes with short action stages, special encounters, and boss battles.
Billy can walk upright or curl into a ball. Rolling lets him attack enemies, break obstacles, rebound from surfaces, and build momentum, though the movement can feel heavy and slippery. Capsules also grant temporary transformations, including kangaroo and penguin forms with different abilities.
Controls And Mechanics
- Directions: Move, steer in midair, roll, and interact with climbable terrain.
- A: Jump while standing or bounce in ball form. Holding it increases jump or bounce height.
- B: Switch between standing and ball forms. Holding it after uncurling makes Billy dash.
- Two players: Players take alternating turns on the shared map and in stages.
Version Notes
The licensed release appeared only in Japan as アルマジロ, romanized as Arumajiro. The later pirate game called Super Mario IV is an unauthorized character hack, not an official regional edition.
Release And Credits
- Release: August 9, 1991
- Developer: AIM
- Publisher: Information Global Service
- Original platform: Family Computer
