Capcom（卡普空）於 1991 年 7 月 19 日在任天堂 Famicom（紅白機）上推出《小美人魚》（The Little Mermaid / リトル・マーメイド），改編自迪士尼同名經典動畫的動作遊戲傑作。當時 Capcom 擁有一系列迪士尼動畫改編權，如《唐老鴨俱樂部》與《松鼠大作戰》，每款都保證高品質。而本作以其夢幻的海底視覺效果與流暢的游泳操作，成為無數女性玩家與迪士尼粉絲心中的紅白機神作。

在技術表現上，充分發揮紅白機的色彩表現與捲軸捲動效果。畫面充滿粉紫色與海洋藍的夢幻色調，愛麗兒（Ariel）的點陣圖動作優雅，尾巴擺動自然流暢。背景場景包括珊瑚礁、沉船、冰海以及烏蘇拉陰森的巢穴，每個畫面都帶有鮮明的海底世界特色。音樂方面完整收錄並改編奧斯卡金曲《Under the Sea》與《Part of Your World》，當熟悉旋律以 8 位元音效響起時，帶來強烈的沉浸感。考慮到主要受眾可能年紀較小，遊戲難度設計適中，操作直覺，玩起來非常舒適。

故事劇情忠於電影前半段，講述愛麗兒嚮往人類世界並愛上艾力克王子，但邪惡的海妖烏蘇拉企圖奪取川頓國王的三叉戟並統治海洋。在海底展開冒險，不僅收集貝殼與寶藏，還要擊敗烏蘇拉派出的各種海洋惡靈，最終在海底宮殿深處與巨大化的烏蘇拉決戰，打破詛咒並奪回海洋的和平。

操作機制上，Capcom 為愛麗兒設計一套創意十足的「非直接傷害」戰鬥方式。在畫面上八個方向自由游動，操作極其流暢，避免水下關卡常見的笨重感。她不直接攻擊敵人，而是用尾巴扇出泡泡將小魚或螃蟹包裹起來，然後將它們抱起並當作投擲武器對付其他敵人或 Boss。遊戲中散落著隱藏貝殼，用泡泡擊開或收集升級道具，例如紅色心形增加體力、綠色貝殼提升泡泡距離或威力。還能挖開沙堆尋找道具，或利用水流進行快速移動，使玩法充滿變化與探索樂趣。

在市場上獲得高度評價，被認為是紅白機末期的「療癒系」精品。評論家讚賞 Capcom 完美抓住迪士尼動畫的靈魂，即便關卡不多（共五關），每一關的特色鮮明，Boss 戰設計巧妙有趣，如雙胞胎電鰻與巨大烏蘇拉。由於畫風可愛且操作簡單順暢，吸引許多平時不玩動作遊戲的玩家，全年齡層都能享受其中。歷史上，《小美人魚》被公認為紅白機上最好玩的水下主題遊戲之一，它證明不需要暴力的砍殺，單靠優雅的泡泡與游泳也能創造出極佳的動作體驗。

這款遊戲最令人難忘的瞬間，莫過於最後擊敗烏蘇拉後，愛麗兒變成人類與王子在夕陽下重逢的美景。你還記得當年為了收集隱藏在沙堆裡的叉子而在海底翻找了多久嗎？

Capcom released The Little Mermaid (リトル・マーメイド) for the Nintendo Famicom on July 19, 1991. This action game is an adaptation of Disney’s classic animated film and is widely regarded as a masterpiece of the Famicom era. At the time, Capcom held the rights to several Disney properties, such as DuckTales and Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers, ensuring a high level of quality in each release. The Little Mermaid stood out for its enchanting underwater visuals and smooth swimming mechanics, becoming a beloved title for female players and Disney fans alike.

Technically, the game makes full use of the Famicom’s color palette and scrolling capabilities. Its visuals feature dreamy shades of lavender and ocean blue, while Ariel’s sprite animations are elegant and fluid, particularly in the natural movement of her tail. Backgrounds depict coral reefs, sunken ships, icy waters, and Ursula’s eerie lair, immersing players in a rich underwater world. The soundtrack faithfully adapts Oscar-winning songs like Under the Sea and Part of Your World, and their 8-bit renditions create an unparalleled sense of immersion. The game’s difficulty is moderate, designed for a younger audience, and its controls are intuitive and comfortable, making it a smooth and enjoyable experience.

The story closely follows the first half of the film. Ariel longs for the human world and falls in love with Prince Eric, while the evil sea witch Ursula seeks to seize King Triton’s trident and dominate the oceans. Players guide Ariel through underwater adventures, collecting shells and treasures while battling Ursula’s minions. The ultimate goal is to confront a giant Ursula in her lair, break the curse, and restore peace to the ocean.

Gameplay mechanics are creative and distinctive, emphasizing indirect combat. Ariel can freely swim in eight directions with smooth, responsive controls that avoid the sluggishness common in underwater stages of other games. She attacks by blowing bubbles to encapsulate small fish or crabs, which can then be picked up and thrown at other enemies or bosses. Hidden shells and upgrade items are scattered throughout the levels: red hearts increase health, and green shells enhance bubble range or power. Ariel can dig through sand to find items and use underwater currents for rapid movement, adding layers of exploration and strategy to the game.

The Little Mermaid received high praise as one of the Famicom’s “soothing” titles. Critics lauded Capcom for faithfully capturing the spirit of the Disney animation. Though the game only contains five levels, each stage is distinct, and the boss battles—such as the twin electric eels and giant Ursula—are fun and well-designed. Its charming visuals and intuitive controls allowed players of all ages, including those who rarely played action games, to enjoy it. Historically, the game is recognized as one of the best underwater-themed Famicom titles, proving that elegant swimming and clever bubble-based attacks can deliver an outstanding action experience without resorting to violence.

Perhaps the most memorable moment is the ending, when Ariel defeats Ursula, transforms into a human, and reunites with Prince Eric under the sunset. Fans might also recall the challenge of searching through the sand to collect hidden forks, an iconic part of the game’s exploration.