The Little Mermaid II: Pinball Frenzy TV Commercial for Game Boy Color - GBC - 2000

Release Date: September 24, 2000 (North America), March 16, 2001 (PAL regions) Developer: Left Field Productions Publisher: Nintendo Genre: Pinball Platform: Game Boy Color Story: No prominent storyline; based on Disney’s The Little Mermaid (1989) and The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (2000). Focuses on pinball gameplay with themes and characters from both films. Gameplay: 2D pinball game with two tables, one for Ariel and one for Melody (Ariel’s daughter). Features traditional pinball elements: flippers, multiballs (up to three balls), bonus multipliers, bumpers, and targets. Players aim for skill shots, follow on-screen arrows for combos, and bump the table (left, up, right) to influence ball direction. Includes 16 minigames (8 per table) unlocked by earning points or completing tasks, such as hitting frogs in the “Kiss the Girl” sequence or freeing Melody from ice. Tables: Ariel’s Table: Features Shark Attack, Kiss the Girl, Trident Kickback, Flotsam ‘n’ Jetsam, Treasure Hunt, Find Scuttle, Extra Ball, Ursula’s Lair, Storm Multiball, Ursula Revealed. Includes Ariel’s grotto, Ursula’s cave, and characters like Flounder and Sebastian. Melody’s Table: Includes Undertow Chase, Bear Attack, Trident Kickback, Cloak ‘n’ Dagger, Trident Hunt, Find Dash, Extra Ball, Iceberg Lair, Volcano Multiball, Morgana Revealed. Features film elements like shipwrecks and Morgana. Minigames: 16 total, tied to film scenes (e.g., saving King Triton, escaping a burning ship). One life per attempt; successful completion unlocks replay via main menu. Controls: D-Pad/buttons for flippers and table nudging. Adjustable settings: 3 or 5 balls per game, ball speed (Turtle or Rabbit). Features: Supports 1-4 players in alternating mode. Battery-powered rumble feature (requires AAA battery, toggle on/off). Game Boy Printer compatibility for printing high scores and minigame images. Graphics: Vibrant, colorful tables with Game Boy Color’s palette. Detailed film references (e.g., starfish spinners, seahorse bumpers). Flickering lights and mid-table animations add polish. Sound: Background scores remix film soundtracks, evoking The Little Mermaid’s atmosphere. Sound effects mimic real pinball machines, enhanced by rumble. Difficulty: Forgiving for kids with kickback saves and returned balls, but floaty physics reduce challenge. Adjustable ball count/speed suits beginners and pros. Reception: Mixed; GameRankings score 74% (6 reviews). GameSpot praised vibrant tables and music, predicting appeal for kids. IGN called it a “nice diversion” for female gamers but criticized floaty physics (slower than Pokémon Pinball). Pittsburgh Post-Gazette found it “surprisingly detailed.” Choice of Little Mermaid for pinball divided critics. Sales: Available used on eBay from $10 (loose) to $40 (CIB). Amazon Renewed: ~$25.64. Legacy: Compared to Pokémon Pinball (1999) due to similar mechanics but uses a unique engine. Aimed at younger audiences, especially girls, per Disney’s strategy (Green Bay Press-Gazette). Source code released by developer Dave Ashley in 2020. Nostalgic among fans on Reddit/X for its Disney charm.