Asterix & Obelix XXL 2 Review

By Toutatis! After 10 years your favorite Gauls finally get a new game (or doesn’t a remaster count?) Developed by the French studio OSome (responsible for the great White Night) and published by Microids, Asterix and Obelix XXL2 is a remaster of Étranges Libellules’ Asterix & Obelix XXL 2: Mission Las Vegum that came out in 2005 for PS2, PSP, NDS and PC’s. The game is an old-school action game in which you guide Asterix & some friends in a quest through Las Vegum, the Roman version of Las Vegas, to find Getafix, rescue the kidnapped Gauls and stop the evil Julio Cesar! Let’s go: drink your magic potion and be ready for adventure!

For those unfamiliar with the characters, Asterix is a series of French comics created by Albert Uderzo and René Goscinny in 1959. The series tells the story of a village of Gauls as they resist the Roman occupation during the first century, focusing on the adventures of the protagonists Asterix and his friend Obelix. It’s one of the most popular Franco-Belgian comics in the world, with 13 movies (9 animated and4 live action) and numerous games. So famous that the very first French satellite, launched in 1965,was named after the protagonist. Not bad, not bad at all!

What is Good?

• Visuals: With colorful visuals and a charming created world, this remaster presents very good graphics for characters and the scenarios. It’s a very family-friendly game: violence in combat is presented in a comical way, just like the comics, making it a safe game for children of all ages.
• Sound: The game presents great voice acting (the original voices from the animations) and very good sound effects, but the soundtrack really deserves mention here. The music in each different area is not eye catchy but ear catchy! When large battles take place, the music intensifies dramatically with great beats.
• Gameplay: The gameplay is quite simple: you venture through each of the six different areas of Las Vegum searching for Getafix. When exploring the areas, use Asterix’s small size to enter any tiny passage and Obelix’s strength to destroy any obstacles you came through. Just remember the Roman legionaries promise it won’t be an easy task: they will be protecting each one of these areas, ready to engage any Gaul that comes into sight. So, use your heroes combat skills (and don’t forget to use your dog, Dogmatix), switching between them on the fly.
• Upgrade system: There are several stores located in different areas of Las Vegum where you can buy upgrades for your heroes. These upgrades consist of health upgrades and new skills to be used during combat. With them, you’ll be able to make it rain punches and kicks over your opponents. And talking about them…
• Cameos: Your enemies,the Roman Legionaries, are comical! Except for the standard legionaries with swords,shields and spears, you’re going to see a huge amount of cameos: legionaries dressed (and behaving!) like characters from other games. Expect to see Mario from Mario Galaxy, Sonic, Ryu from Street Fighter, Pac-Man, Rayman and a lot more! My favorite one is the legionary named as Larry Croft. I believe you can guess who he’s inspired by.

Mixed Feelings

• Combat: Combat in the game is really shallow and not challenging. Even when playing in the highest difficulty level, you will only have some trouble when overwhelmed. Otherwise, it’s going to be piece of cake to go level after level. I understand this must have been an option from the developer since the game can also be enjoyed by a younger audience. But when you want some real challenge and play on the toughest difficulty level, the minimum you will expect is a little more challenge, what doesn’t happen in here unfortunately.
• Collectibles: I know this isn’t for everybody, but the game has some collectible items needed to hit 100% completion. Some of them are possible to buy in stores scattered around the game, but others need to be found throughout stages. To help you, there’s a limited number of collectibles in each area, so if you’re going after them, maybe it won’t take so long so you can find it all (just remember to share their locations with me ?)

What is Bad?

• Camera: I understand this game is a remaster of an old PS2/PSP game, but the problems with the camera could have been sorted out. Your camera usually tries to pick the worst possible spot, during combat or in tiny corridors. You can use your right analog stick to reposition it, but nevertheless,its positioning doesn’t help.
• CGs: The CGs from cutscenes didn’t receive the same treatment as the game graphics: the game presents the same bad quality/low definition sequences from 10 years ago. The contrast between the in-game graphics and these CGs causes a strange bad impression.

Asterix & Obelix XXL 2 [Score: 68/100] Asterix and Obelix received a good remaster for Xbox One. The French heroes came back in a fun adventure, it just needed a little more refinement in some details and mechanics to not feel outdated. The most important thing is that a new age of players can have contact with an icon of the Franco-Belgium culture. And who knows what the future holds for the Gaul duo as a new sequel has already been announced.