Ariel's World is an old-school platformer game that is an exclusive for the Windows Phone Store. You play the role of Ariel as he ventures across the globe to battle his arch nemesis Magnus, the Viking Mage. The game includes twenty challenging levels where you out-run avalanches, battle monster bugs and navigate an underwater maze. You will also face five difficult bosses as you work your way through the game.
Ariel's World is today's AdDuplex HERO App. The HERO Apps program is a promotional campaign for Windows Phone and Windows developers on the AdDuplex Network and partners AdDuplex with myAppFree, AppDeals, PluralSight and Windows Central to deliver a host of benefits to the top apps and games each month. Our role in the HERO App campaign is to offer a little exposure to these titles by sharing them with you, our readers.
Today, we shine the spotlight on Ariel's World.
The primary menu for Ariel's World is simple and straightforward with only one option, jump into gameplay. The game centers on a global map with each of the twenty levels of play represented by doorways. The levels are progressively unlocked and can be replayed should you see the need to better your score.
Gaming controls are laid out across the four quadrants of the gaming screen. The controls include ducking, jumping, an action button (punching, using a weapon, etc.) and your directional movement. You do have the option to use traditional on-screen buttons if you prefer, but the quadrant system is a little more forgiving, offering a larger target area.
Additional gaming screen features include your score, game timer, lives and green flame counter displayed across the top of the screen.
Gameplay reminds me of the classic Super Mario Brother's games. Each level calls for you to travel across the platform, navigating around obstacles, avoiding or smashing monsters and eventually arriving at the exit point. The assortment of monsters includes those that can be jumped on and crushed while others will need a weapon to dispatch. Obstacles range from walls to jump over, gaps to jump across, and raised platforms to jump up to.
You also have green flames that are scattered about like gold coins that you can collect and a few power-ups sprinkled around the platform levels. Much like the Mario games, Ariel's World has a few hidden worlds you can pop into to collect extra green flames.
Ariel's World does have pop-up tutorial windows throughout the game to offer you hints on gaming strategy as well as explaining gaming features as they become available. The game does a really good job walking you through game play and avoiding any surprises.
Gameplay is timed and you will have in the neighborhood of seven minutes to complete each level. Ariel's World will test your sense of timing, speed and reflexes. While it is easy to compare the game to the Mario line of video games, Ariel's World has a little more bite to it than the older Mario series of games. I think you will find Ariel's World a bit more challenging than the classic games.
Graphics are nicely drawn up, sound effects and music have an old-school arcade feel and gameplay will keep you on your toes. All in all, Ariel's World is a great game to have tucked away on your Windows Phone for the times you are in the mood for a little platform action.
Ariel's World is a free gaming title and, at last check, has a 4-star rating with reviews that describe the game as "beautiful", "addictive" and "delightful". We found the Windows Phone game to be a wonderful addition to the Windows Phone Store and if you've tried Ariel's World, let us know what you think of things in the comments below.
Download Ariel's World from the Windows Phone Store
AdDuplex HERO Promotion
AdDuplex is a fantastic resource for the cross-promotion of Windows Phone and Windows apps. AdDuplex has launched a new program designed to help developers promote their apps even further with free access to various tools and resources from AdDuplex.
The HERO Apps promotion partners AdDuplex with Windows Central, myAppFree, AppDeals and PluralSight to provide additional benefits to the top apps every month that include:
- Vouchers to advertise on AdDuplex
- One month subscription to Pluralsight Plus
- A featured campaign with myAppFree
- A featured campaign with AppDeals
- A review here on Windows Central
If you are a Windows or Windows Phone developer, you can sign up for the HERO Apps program here at AdDuplex's website. To participate in the program, you will need to apply within thirty days after your app or game has launched on the AdDuplex network.
Windows Central is already partnered with the myAppFree campaign and is proud to be partnering up with AdDuplex with the HERO Apps program. It is another excellent opportunity to help promote both the Windows Phone and Windows platform.
Keep in mind that the HERO Apps are different than what you find with the myAppFree deals. The HERO Apps are free, ad-supported titles that often have the option to remove the ad-support via in-app purchases. The myAppFree deal delivers a paid app or game at a discounted price or for free.
