Ariel the Little Mermaid

n/a

Mega Drive Game Gear Master System
Ariel the Little Mermaid
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear, Sega Master System
Publisher: Sega (US, Europe) Tec Toy
Developer: BlueSky Software Disney Software
Distributor: Majesco Sales (US re-release) Hent Gruppen (SE rental) Tec Toy (BR) Samsung (KR)
Licensor: The Walt Disney Company
Sound driver: GEMS
Genre: Action
Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code US 1992-12 1041 US ▼ (Sega Channel) 199x SUBsub EU 1992-12-14 1041 DE 1993-02 DM 99.9599.95 1041 UK 1992-12-14 £34.9934.99 1041 SE (Rental) 199x AU 199x BR 199x 043030 KR 199x GM93026JG AS 199x US 1993-02 2411 EU 1992-12-26 2411 PT 199x GGJ2411 UK 1993-02 £29.9929.99 2411 BR 199x 075260 BR 1996-01 R$36.9936.99 026350

Ariel the Little Mermaid is an action game for the Sega Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear, and Sega Master System based on the movie with the same name. The Master System version was exclusive to Brazil.

Story

The game's story has very little to do with the plot of the film. The evil Sea Witch, Ursula, has attempted to conquer the seven seas, turning legions of merpeople into polyps and bewitching various sea creatures. She also kidnaps an important member of the royal family of Atlantica (King Triton if playing as Ariel, and vice versa). It is up to either Ariel or King Triton (depending on the player's choice) to defeat Ursula and restore order to the seas.

Gameplay

Mega Drive version

Map

Scuttle's Magical Collection

The player controls either Ariel or King Triton, who must locate the polyps in each level. Each character has a normal weapon with unlimited uses and a limited-use super weapon. Polyps are restored them to merpeople by either touching them directly or shooting them with the normal weapon. Every polyp must be found in order to access the level's boss whose entrance is hidden somewhere in the level. Ariel and Triton swim in any direction using the D-Pad. They use their normal weapon (song notes for Ariel or fireballs for Triton) with . They use a more powerful super weapon (magical stars for Ariel or thunderbolts for Triton) with .

As the levels are labyrinthe in design, there is a map system that can be accessed by pausing the game with  START . The flashing dots on the map indicate polyps that the player needs to locate, and the red X indicates the boss's location (only marked on the map on Medium difficulty). Also located somewhere in each level is Scuttle's Magical Collection, which is a shop screen where the player can spend collected treasure on various items and on fish friends, characters who can be summoned to help the player.

If the player's health meter is drained completely, one try is used to refill it. If there are no more tries left, the game ends. The player gets four continues in an Easy game, two in a Medium game, and only one in a Difficult game.

The gameplay suffers from frequent slowdown, particularly when there are a lot of sprites on screen at any point.

Fish friends

Fish friend selection

Fish friends are characters who can be summoned to aid the player with specific obstacles. The player must press , , or on the map screen to select a fish friend, then press during gameplay to summon the selected friend. The player can purchase another use of a fish friend for 150 treasure from Scuttle's shop.

	Flounder
	Can be summoned to push rocks out of the way.
	Sebastian
	Can be summoned to scare away sea creatures.
	Digger Fish
	Can be summoned to dig up items from soft mounds of sand.

Items

Items can either be found in the open, inside treasure chests or clams, or purchased from Scuttle's shop.

	Polyp
	Ariel or Triton must find all of the polyps and transform them back into merpeople (by touching them or shooting them with the normal weapon) to open the exit that leads to the boss of the level.
	Key
	Used to open treasure chests. Costs 150 treasure in the shop.
	Treasure Chest
	Contains items, but requires a key to unlock. Float above a chest to open it. This uses up one key.
	Little Heart
	Slightly restores the player's health. Costs 300 treasure in the shop.
	Big Heart
	Completely restores the player's health. Costs 600 treasure in the shop.
	Star or Thunderbolt
	Gives the player another super weapon shot. Costs 50 treasure in the shop.
	Gem
	Adds to the player's treasure count.
	Coin
	Adds to the player's treasure count.
	Sparkle
	Awards an extra try. Costs 1,500 treasure in the shop.
	Scuttle
	Enters Scuttle's Magical Collection, where items can be purchased in exchange for treasure.

Levels

	The Reef
	The Sunken Ship
	Atlantis
	The Cave

Game Gear and Master System versions

Pause menu and map

Scuttle's Magical Collection

The player controls Ariel or King Triton and must find all the polyps in each level and free them by touching them or shooting them. The character and difficulty level can be chosen by the player on the title screen before starting the game. Ariel and Triton change direction or swim in any direction using the D-Pad. They shoot with . They have a normal weapon (musical notes for Ariel and magical bolts for Triton), which can be used an unlimited number of times, and a stronger super weapon (stars for Ariel and fireballs for Triton), which has limited uses. The player can switch between the two weapons with + being used to switch between weapon types.

Ariel and Triton are also assisted by a trio of fish friends who can perform helpful tasks for them (but can only be summoned a limited number of times). The characters can collect treasure, which can be spent at Scuttle's Magical Collection, a shop found in each level, to buy beneficial items and fish friends. In the shop, the player can select the desired item with or and purchase it with (or exit the shop with  START  in the Game Gear version or  PAUSE  in the Master System version).

After finding all of the polyps, Ariel or Triton must swim to the level exit, which takes them to a boss encounter. Players can bring up a screen showing their treasure and items with  START  on the Game Gear version or  PAUSE  on the Master System version. Pressing on this screen shows a map of the level, with the position of Ariel or Triton marked by a red dot, the locations of polyps marked by yellow dots, and the level exit marked with a red X.

Characters have a health meter that is reduced when they take damage, and they lose a try (depicted as hearts) when they run out of health. The game ends if the player runs out of tries. The player gets five continues in an Easy game, three in a Medium game, and only one in a Challenging game.

Fish friends

Fish friends are characters who can be summoned to aid the player with specific obstacles. Button combinations need to be pressed to select and summon fish friends. The player can purchase another use of a fish friend for 150 treasure from Scuttle's shop.

	Flounder
	Can be summoned to push rocks out of the way. Press + to select him, then release while holding to summon him.
	Sebastian
	Can be summoned to scare away sea creatures. Press + to select him, then release while holding to summon him.
	Digger Fish
	Can be summoned to dig up items from soft mounds of sand. Press + to select it, then release while holding to summon it.

Items

Items are found inside treasure chests or clams or purchased from Scuttle's Magical Collection.

	Polyp
	Ariel or Triton must find all of the polyps and transform them back into merpeople (by touching them or shooting them with the normal weapon) to open the exit that leads to the boss of the level.
	Key
	Used to open treasure chests. Costs 150 treasure in the shop.
	Treasure Chest
	Contains items, but requires a key to unlock. Float above a chest to open it. This uses up one key.
	Heart
	Gives the player another try. Costs 900 treasure in the shop.
	Star or Thunderbolt
	Gives the player another super weapon shot. Costs 50 treasure in the shop.
	Gem
	Gives the player 50 treasure.
	Coin
	Gives the player 100 treasure.
	Pearl
	Gives the player 200 treasure.
	Store
	Enters Scuttle's Magical Collection, where items can be purchased in exchange for treasure.

Levels

	The Reef
	Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣
	The Sunken Ship
	Map: 1️⃣
	Atlantis
	Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣
	The Cave
	Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣

Production credits

Mega Drive version

• Game Design: Barbara Michalec

Sega Credits

• Producer: Stewart Kosoy
• Lead Tester: Unni Pillai
• Testers: Marianne Arotzarena, Michael Baldwin, Tom Bryne, Brenda Daverin, Alex Fairchild, Ivan Foong, Richie Hideshima, Lawrence Jeung, Tony Lynch, Matt Macchia, Julio Martinez, Heather Meigs, Jon Van, Gabriel Watts
• Test Manager: Steve Apour
• Assistant Product Manager: France Tantiado

Disney Credit

• Producer: Patrick Gilmore
• Account Executive: Cathy G, Fortier

BlueSky Software Credits

• Programmers: Barbara Michaelec, Karl Robillard, Ron Thompson
• Artists: Dana Christianson, Geoff Knoble, Tom Moon
• Animation: John Roy
• Manual by: Ruth Zultner Writing Services and Arcadian Design

Source:

US manual

Magazine articles

Main article: Ariel the Little Mermaid/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

FI advert (1993)

Mega Drive print advert in Mega Force (ES) #8: "Diciembre 1992" (1992-xx-xx)

Mega Drive print advert in Mega Force (ES) #9: "Enero 1993" (199x-xx-xx)
also published in:

• Hobby Consolas (ES) #16: "Enero 1993" (199x-xx-xx)

Game Gear print advert in Micromanía (segunda época) (ES) #58: "Marzo 1993" (1993-0x-xx)
also published in:

• Todo Sega (ES) #1: "Abril 1993" (1993-03-15)

Game Gear print advert in Mega Force (ES) #12: "Abril 1993" (1993-xx-xx)
also published in:

• Hobby Consolas (ES) #19: "Abril 1993" (1993-xx-xx)

Mega Drive/Game Gear print advert in Ação Games (BR) #36: "Junho 1993" (1993-06-01)

Print advert in Game Champ (KR) #1993-09: "xxxx" (199x-xx-xx)

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 60 Alaab Alcomputtar (SA) 85 Aktueller Software Markt (DE) 52 Consoles + (FR) 43 Cool Gamer (RU) 60 Computer & Video Games (UK) 46 Game Power (IT) 72 Joypad (FR) PAL 69 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL 61 Mega (UK) NTSC-U 44 MegaTech (UK) PAL 57 Player One (FR) 53 Play Time (DE) 68 Power Up! (UK) 72 Power Play (DE) 40 Score (CZ) 35 Sega Power (UK) NTSC-U 18 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 72 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 79 Sega Force (SE) 65 Sega Force (UK) 80 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 61 Video Games (DE) 36

	58
Based on 23 reviews

Ariel the Little Mermaid

Mega Drive, US (Assembled in USA)
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US (Made in Japan)
Cover
Cart Manual Manual Back

Mega Drive, US (cardboard)(Majesco Sales)
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual PCB

Mega Drive, EU (Alt Cover)
Cover

Mega Drive, SE (rental; Hent; black)
Cover

Mega Drive, AU
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, BR
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, KR
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, Asia
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

{{{{{icon}}}|L}}
Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score Consoles + (FR) PAL 45 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK) 24 Gamers (DE) 53 Joypad (FR) 73 Mega Byte (UK) PAL 61 Mean Machines Sega (UK) 43 Player One (FR) 65 Sega Power (UK) PAL 23 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 71 Sega Zone (UK) PAL 65 Sega Force (UK) PAL 65 Supergame (BR) 73

	55
Based on 12 reviews

Ariel the Little Mermaid

Game Gear, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, PT
Cover

Game Gear, BR
Cover
Cart

Master System version

Master System, BR
Cover
Cart File:DisneyAriel-SMS-BR-Manual.pdf Manual

Technical information

Main article: Ariel the Little Mermaid/Technical information.