Overview
Disney's The Little Mermaid is a Capcom developed and published side-scrolling action game for the NES and Game Boy, released in 1991. The game's plot immediately follows the movie: shortly before marrying Prince Eric, Ariel meets Sebastian the crab who informs her that Ursula is back and is brainwashing all the fish in the ocean. She decides she must turn back into a mermaid and fight Ursula to release her friends from her spell. The game uses cutaway scenes to tell its story in-between action levels.
This game is not to be confused with Disney's Ariel: The Little Mermaid, which was exclusive to Sega systems and played similarly to Ecco the Dolphin.
Gameplay
The game largely takes place in the ocean, with Ariel swimming across a series of underwater stages. Similar to other Capcom licensed games like Chip 'N Dale: Rescue Rangers, Ariel can stun her enemies with bubbles, then pick them up and throw them at others. Players can also dig for sea shells and find hidden treasure, eventually earning power-ups to the number and size of bubbles that Ariel can use as projectiles.
Story
The story of the game takes place after the events of the film. In the game, Ursula, the evil Witch of the Sea, has cast a spell on all watery creatures. In order to save her friends, Ariel dives into the sea, becoming a mermaid again. But the water is full of jellyfish, lobsters, eels, and blowfish.
Stages
The following stages, and their boss fights, are specific to the NES version of the game.
- The Sea of Coral. Boss: Great White Shark.
- Sunken Ship. Boss: Eels.
- Sea of Ice. Boss: Walrus.
- Undersea Volcano. Boss: Captain Seahorse.
- Ursula's Castle. Boss: Ursula. (and then Giant Ursula)
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