Ariel The Little Mermaid

Ariel The Little Mermaid
a game by The Walt Disney Company, Blue Sky Productions, Capcom, and BlueSky Software, Inc.
Genres: Action, Arcade Classics, Educational/Kids, Platformer
Platforms: Sega GenesisGenesis, Sega Master SystemSega Master System, NESNES, GameGear
Editor Rating: 7.4/10, based on 7 reviews
User Rating: 7.3/10 - 9 votes
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See also: Disney Games, Quest Games, 2022 Movies, 2023 Movies
Ariel The Little Mermaid
Ariel The Little Mermaid
Ariel The Little Mermaid

Once upon a maritime, Hans Christian Andersen wrote a fairy tale called "The Little Mermaid". Then, Disney produced a blockbuster animated movie of the same name. Now, Capcom brings the seafaring saga to the NES.

As in the movie, our heroine, Ariel falls for her prince, Eric, and leaves the sea to become human. However, in this five level action/adventure game, there'll be no happily-ever-after until Ursula, the sea witch, is dealt with. She's taking over the oceans, so Ariel must become a mermaid again in order to save her fishy friends.

Bubble Trouble

The Little Mermaid looks excellent! The characters are top notch Disney reproductions. The animation's similarly splendid; Ariel's movements are practically graceful!

She's also a 'maid to order for her adventure. Her powerful flipper tail stirs up a mess of trouble for the bad guys in the form of bubbles... air bubbles, that is. Two swishes trap the finny fiends.

ProTip: To kill two birds with one stone... er, two fish with one bubble, snare a fish and use it like a shield or shoot it into another fish.

Keep an eye open for Magic Shells. You can chuck them at bad sea things or use them to break open Treasure Chests, which usually contain pearly power-ups.

  • Some enemies can only be defeated with shells. If you just carry a shell into enemies, it lasts longer.

  • Search the seas top to bottom to find seashells. Swish your tail along sandy areas and you might even find other bonuses, too.

Nautical Naughties

The Little Mermaid features average, multi-scrolling action that's repetitive, but it won't make you sea sick. Every level leads to fishy bosses, that you fight basically the same way: capture the fish guards and toss them at the boss.

Level One is the Sea of Coral, where Ariel teaches a school of fresh fish a lesson and meets a shark with a taste for mermaids. The Sunken Ship in Level Two looks scary, but don't be afraid of no floating ghosts. Level Three is the Sea of Ice, where frozen fish and a wily walrus try to shiver your timbers. Level Four's the Undersea Volcano where eyes in the sand mean danger and a Spanish galleon hides the sneaky Soldierfish. Finally, Ursula's Castle is a maze of dragon tunnels leading to the witch's den. As in the movie, the she-serpent blows big trouble in a titanic underwater battle.

  • To tip the scales in your favor versus Level Two's eerie eels, wait at the bottom and strike when you see the whites of their eyes.

  • To beat Ursula, stay below her body and wait for her to fire fish. Capture one and you can figure out the rest.

A Sea Breeze

The Little Mermaid's a class act all the way. However, experienced seafaring gamers will sail right through the game, and average NES swimmers will get an average work out. The game's target audience, little kids, should find it a great catch, though, especially with the "no damage" option. For some players, The Little Mermaid will make a big splash!

Download Ariel The Little Mermaid

Genesis

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
  • Game modes: Single game mode

Player controls:

  • Up, Down, Left, Right - Arrow keys
  • Start - Enter (Pause, Menu select, Skip intro, Inventory)
  • "A" Gamepad button - Ctrl (usually Jump or Change weapon)
  • "B" button - Space (Jump, Fire, Menu select)
  • "C" button - Left Shift (Item select)

Use the F12 key to toggle mouse capture / release when using the mouse as a controller.

Sega Master System

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
NES

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
  • P-200, 32 MB RAM
GameGear

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP

Game Reviews

  • Manufacturer: Capcom
  • Version: Nintendo Entertainment System

First, the bad news: with only five levels of not-too-dissimilar action, Capcom's The Little Mermaid seems far too short, and it's doubtful that this cartridge could provide the experienced gamer with much more than an afternoon's pleasant diversion.

Ah, but there's a good reason why this game (based on the popular Disney feature) does not attempt to overwhelm the player with complex play mechanics or wild graphics. Capcom has already proven that they can take Disney characters and successfully integrate them into video games of intricate challenge (Duck Tales) and wacky intensity (Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Hangers). This time, they've come up with a game that's more likely to appeal to a different audience - a young, female audience.

That's not to say that the aforementioned titles were made for boys, but it's been obvious for years that the video-game marketplace is predominantly male. There are a number of factors that have contributed to this unhealthy state, but the key is probably the fact that most videogame characters have been male, from the mustachioed Mario to the gun-wielding muscle heads and ninja warriors who populate the majority of NES titles. Can a ten-year-old girl really identify with Rambo?

Maybe so, but she'll probably enjoy the adventures of Ariel the mermaid a lot more. Unlike the daydreaming waif who made the film so charming, the game features a much more aggressive Ariel who makes her way through the perils of the sea in a conscious attempt to defeat the evil Ursula. With a swish of her tail, Ariel can capture certain sea creatures inside bubbles, which can then be used as weapons to fight off other enemies. Certain power-ups extend the range and strength of the bubbles, and there are also bonus items like snarfblatts and dinglehoppers that add points to your score.

Though it's a bit disappointing that Ariel's friends Scuttle, Sebastian and Flounder appear only in the game's brief intermissions, Ariel herself looks just fine. With her long red hair swirling behind her, she swims and spins as gracefully as you'd expect a mermaid to do. There are some really nice graphic effects in certain areas, like the spots where Ariel can dig in the sand with her tail or the places where she leaps out of the water and flops around on land before diving back in with a splash.

Other parts of the game are notable for their background graphics - Levels 4 and 5 are surprisingly atmospheric for an 8-bit NES game, as is the "boss" battle at the end of the first level. And the final confrontation with the huge, buxom Ursula is wonderful - her grinning, purple-skinned visage is as wicked as it was in the movie.

In case you're wondering, yes, the game does include an electronic rendition of the film's most memorable song, "Under the Sea". Of course, it's not quite the same without Sebastian's throaty Harry Belafonte-style vocals, but I believe that this is the first video game ever to include an Oscar-winning tune in its soundtrack. Hey, that should count for something!

The Little Mermaid proves itself to be a respectable entry in Capcom's fascinating library of Disney-licensed titles. Kids will find it a treat, and video-game veterans may be surprised at the way it evokes pleasant memories of earlier undersea contests like Fathom, Dolphin or Seaquest.

  • Machine: Nintendo

When Ariel left her ocean home to be with Prince Eric at the end of Walt Disney's hit movie The Little Mermaid, all was well in the deep blue sea. But times have changed, and the evil witch Ursula is now taking control of the entire ocean. When Ariel's friends - Rounder, Sebastian, and Scuttle - warn her of the danger, Ariel discards her human form and returns to the sea to stop Ursula.

In the Nintendo version of The Little Mermaid, Ariel discovers that everything really has changed. The friendly guppies she used to play with have turned mean, and the bigger fish seem determined to make fish food out of her.

During your search for Ursula, you must guide Ariel safely through five underwater stages: the Coral Sea, a sunken ship, an icy ocean, Volcano Bay, and the Palace of Gloom. Your best defense against attackers is Ariel's tail.

Swish it twice to snare a fish in a bubble, then swim up and grab the bubble. If you can throw the bubble at another enemy before it bursts, you'll eliminate two fish at once.

As you swim along, search the sandy bottom, the coral reefs, and rock ledges for magic shells. These shells will let you do more than listen to the roar of the ocean. You can toss them at enemies to stop them in their tracks, or use them to open sunken treasure chests.

When you open a treasure chest, a gleaming ball will float out. Red balls will make your bubbles faster and stronger, able to snare even the biggest fish. Green balls will give you extra strength to leap, dive, and push things out of your way - even boulders.

You'll encounter many dangers as you search each stage, but the bosses guarding the exits are the most dangerous foes of all. To defeat them, catch smaller enemies in your bubbles and throw them at the boss's weak spot. This trick even works during your final showdown with Ursula.

Sparkling graphics, colorful characters, low-key violence, and an enchanting story make The Little Mermaid a good family game. And while the game play is easy enough for beginners, it's challenging enough to test more experienced players as well.

  • Manufacturer: Capcom
  • Machine: NES
  • Number of Levels: 6
  • Theme: Action
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Number of Players: 1
  • Available: July 1991

Under the Sea...

Now you can take on the evil Ursula right in your own home! Help Ariel defeat Ursula and her vile vermin followers. Ursula has placed a spell on the sea creatures and only Ariel can save them. Perhaps if she ends Ursula's threat forever, she may yet find happiness with her true love Prince Eric.

Ariel has a bubble power that can encase enemies in bubbles or push heavy objects from their perch. Her other weapon is the sea shell, which will wipe out most enemies and unlock chests. Ariel will have to traverse six rough areas and beat six bosses to destroy Ursula's reign of terror. Show her the way!

  • Type: Action
  • Available: 1991
  • Levels: 6
  • Difficulty: Moderate

Now you can take on the evil Ursula right in your own home! Help Ariel defeat Ursula and her vile vermin followers. Ursula has placed a spell on the sea creatures and only Ariel can save them! Perhaps if she can end Ursula's threat forever, she may yet find true happiness with her true love, Prince Eric. Use Ariel's Bubble power to enclose enemies and knock them out of commission. Watch out for the bosses!

People say:

5

I've got to review this game with the right attitude, because after all, it is for little girls. Beyond the fact that the action is really toned down, there aren't a lot of bad things to say about Mermaid, other than it does get somewhat boring after awhile. Little girls should love it. I don't.

7

I have to give Capcom credit for going after a niche market. For that purpose, they have succeeded as it is a decent game. Serious players don't have to be warned about game as the title says it all. For the younger player this is a must have as it is a great nonviolent game.

7

A NES cart based on a romantic cartoon? Weird theme, but Capcom continues to deliver a solid game no matter what the theme. Decent graphics and sounds. Game play that is easy to grasp for younger players. A good game that is a little too easy because of its target players.

8

Ahhh...Finally, a true family game kids and adults of all ages and sex can enjoy! Little Mermaid has a near perfect blend of action and adventure. The music is upbeat, the graphics are good clean fun, and the theme is, of course, excellent. A must for young NES owners.

Ariel (The Little Mermaid) is a game developed by BlueSky Software and released by SEGA back in 1992. The game was available for SEGA Game Gear and it was considered an "Action" game. Ariel is actually the protagonist of "The Little Mermaid", a movie from 1989, and is based on the protagonist of "The Little Mermaid" story, written by the famous Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen.

In this game you can control two characters, Ariel the Mermaid or her father, King Triton. Both characters have to follow their own stories in the game, and back in 1992 players used to choose both characters and play both of the stories.

However, the stories are almost similar. If you pick Ariel, King Triton has been kidnapped, and if you pick the father, you have to rescue The Mermaid. There are four stages in this game, and making it through requires a bit of assistance from several other characters. Sebastian the crab, Flounder and the digger-fish will help you if needed along all the levels.

The player will have to fight villains such as the Lava Master, the Shark Boss or the Medusa, while the final challenge, in the last level, will be against Ursula. If the player manages to rescue her, the kidnapped character will be saved. The player can collect pearls and buy different things from the seagull called Scuttle.

Ursula, which is the main villain of the game, plans to rule the Merkingdom, and is turning people into little polyps under the reign of King Triton. Not only this is not acceptable at all for the crown members, but by kidnapping one of the royal members Ursula has the upper hand. You can rescue the kidnapped character by swimming into the victims, as they can be found in fixed places under the water. The player will have to dodge attacks and enemies like eels, clams, sharks or other sea fishes. If you can't cope with so many enemies, do not forget, you always have the helping hands of a friend.

The game wasn't received very well at that time, and got fairly poor feedback after the release. Being rated on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the best, Ariel was offered the following ratings after different criteria: Gameplay - 1.8, Graphics - 2.8, Personal opinion - 2.2 and Sound/Music - 2.5. Therefore, the game has an overall feedback of 2.3 out of 5, which is not that much.

There are not so many statistics about how many copies of the game were sold, but considering the game was not very popular, it seems SEGA didn't earned as much as wanted after developing and publishing this game.

Released in 1991, this single player side-scrolling action game was published and developed by Capcom Co., Ltd.

In Disney's The Little Mermaid for the Nintendo Entertainment System, you take on the role of Ariel. Ariel has already met Eric, and they are planning to have a wedding, but Ursala, the sea-witch, has taken control of the entire ocean and now Ariel has to become a mermaid once more and sets off to save the ocean. The game play takes place from a side view and Ariel is able to shoot bubbles to trap her foes and after that can throw them into each other. Also, she can dig through sand in search for treasure and pick up seashells to open chests using them. Usually there are only bonus points in the treasure she finds, but the treasure in chests increases her bubble's power and range.

Snapshots and Media

Sega Genesis/Mega Drive Screenshots

NES/Famicom/Dendy Screenshots

Sega Master System Screenshots

GameGear Screenshots

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