If you read the title closely, you realize that this game has to take place before Disney’s Little Mermaid movie because ... well, Ariel couldn’t live under the sea by the end of the movie. Among other things, this means that Ariel doesn’t know the sea monster Ursula who nearly ruins her life in the movie.The problem facing Ariel and the other denizens of the deep is that strong undersea currents have wreaked havoc throughout King Triton’s realm. Triton instructs his daughter Ariel to go help his subjects, and Ariel decides to take it a step farther and solve the problem itself. (Yes, this is the headstrong Ariel we’re familiar with.)
Ariel’s primary tasks are to collect groups of things that have been scattered about, to rescue creatures who are endangered by the currents, and to use some of the items she collects. There are about six tasks of each of these three types, plus a final, climactic task.
Meanwhile, there are plenty of other things to grab Ariel’s attention. Sebastian the crab asks her to find the missing members of his band. As she finds members (and instruments), Ariel can use the various instruments that she finds to play along with the band. (With wireless DS’s, you can jam with other player’s, perhaps putting together your own little all-Ariel band.)
Unlocking chests is an activity all by itself. Some chests contain clips from the movie. Other chests can only be unlocked by singing to them. Yep, singing. The DS has a microphone, so you’ve got to warble your best to get the chest open. (As my Buena Vista guide put it, “Ariel’s all about singing, so we had to include singing in the game.”)
You can also dig up items. Digging, carefully brushing away the sand, then polishing the resulting treasure: all of these are accomplished with the touchpad. The best finds, of course, are transferred to your storehouse of treasures.
Ariel’s Undersea Adventure is short, especially for adults. An adult can probably finish it in two to four hours. Sometimes you’re stuck wandering randomly, wondering where the last two rocks (or crabs, or lobster traps) are lurking. However, this might be the best sort of game for Buena Vista’s target audience — kids as young as five years old. It certainly isn’t challenging for an adult, but it may have just the right degree of difficulty for a first or second grader.
David, the dad: Got my start in gaming with Steve Jackson Games (paper gaming), first as a tester, then as a developer and editor. Was GURPS and Car Wars system guru for awhile, then edited and developed for TSR (AD&D) and FASA (Mech Warrior, Renegade Legion), before turning to computer games. Spent six years as Origin Systems Publications Manager, then our department spun off into its own little company, Incan Monkey God Studios (IMGS). Since 1997, we’ve been a freelance content and design house, specializing in strategy guides. We created the first strategy guides for MOGs (Ultima Online, EQ: Ruins of Kunark) and now create the best MOG guides (IMHO, of course).
I like to analyze and optimize while playing games, so I much prefer games that require thought rather than action.
Evie is twelve years old and is an avid reader, especially of fantasy. Favorite authors include J.K. Rowling (of course), Brian Jacques, Cornelia Funke and Tamora Pierce. These reviews are her first published writing.
Will is nine years old and loves to investigate, especially dinosaurs and astronomy. These reviews are also his first published writing.
Jesse is seven years old and has just started reading chapter books. He likes Hank the Cowdog and cartoon books, especially Calvin & Hobbes, Baby Blues and Donald Duck.
If you're interested in the (roughly) thousand-year-old triceratops stone in our pic, check out the Dino Art. Some of the accompanying text can be a bit strident, but it's still a puzzle why Central and South American Indians knew pretty precisely what dinosaurs looked like over a thousand years ago.
