Thirty years after its initial arcade debut, Namco's unique racing title Armadillo Racing is set to receive its first-ever home console release. Hamster Corporation, known for its Arcade Archives collection, will bring the 1997 oddity to modern platforms.
Developed by Bandai Namco, Armadillo Racing places players in control of a speeding armadillo navigating obstacle courses and pure racing sprints. The original arcade version utilized a trackball for control, but the Arcade Archives release will be playable with standard controllers. For those seeking to recapture the intended experience, a USB trackball can be connected.
Hamster Corporation describes the gameplay as follows: players control an armadillo that gains speed as it rolls, aiming for the finish line through unique event-filled obstacle courses or dedicated sprint courses. Achieving first place unlocks a bonus game.
Ryoichi Kaku, lead at Bandai Namco Research Institute and a member of the original development team, expressed personal significance in bringing the game back. Armadillo Racing joins a growing list of Namco arcade classics re-released by Hamster Corporation, including titles like Ridge Racer and the original arcade version of Tekken, many of which were originally powered by Namco's System 22 and Super 22 arcade boards.
Armadillo Racing is scheduled for release on July 23. The Arcade Archives version will be available on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 for $14.99. An upgraded Arcade Archives 2 version will also be released on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S for $16.99. Players who purchase the initial Arcade Archives release will have the option to upgrade to the Arcade Archives 2 version at a discounted price of $2.99.