Asterix & Obelix XXXL: The Ram From Hibernia, a review of the new and crazy adventures of the Gauls

publisher in recent years. microids He decided to devote time and resources to a series of titles devoted to the adventures of Asterix and Obelix, and this has clearly attracted the attention of those who appreciate the work of René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. The ups and downs of the world’s two most famous roosters actually now have a good history, considering comics blew out comic’s first sixty candles in 2019.

The making of new video games from a popular franchise should make everyone happy; however, our readers, first in 2019 with a review of the Asterix & Obelix XXL 3, more recently Asterix & Obelix: Slap Them All! In fact, just a year later, we are grappling with a third iteration that is little more than a pleasant experience.

read ours Asterix & Obelix XXXL: Aries from Hibernia review to understand what is new, what is recycled, and the reasons for our confusion in general.

Subject and structure: These Romans continue to be crazy

The developers chose to suggest rather than take a cue from Asterix & Obelix XXXL: The Ram From Hibernia and one of the numerous comics from the golden age of Goscinny and Uderzo. History It dreams of appealing to an audience of unpublished and carefree, perhaps occasional gamers, or in any case excellent connoisseurs of the initial narrative context. In fact, the plot seems devoid of any pretension and boasts a few innovative elements of interest even for historical fans: In Hibernia (modern-day Ireland), the Romans are almost a step away from conquering the Irishcoffix rooster village. who later sent his daughter Keratin to seek help from the continent’s cousins.

Keratina explains that much of the problem has to do with the disappearance of Irishcoffix’s beloved golden horned ram; Frankly, in Gaul, Asterix and Obelix sometimes do not consider leaving as the only representatives of an impromptu relief expedition, because any excuse is good for beating some Romans. It doesn’t take long to reach the final credits of Asterix & Obelix XXXL: The Ram From Hibernia. four to five hours, depending on your game speed. The conversation is different if you try to get all the gold medals of each level. In this case, you will have to replay them one by one (and possibly more) respecting a set of parameters, for example completing them in a given minute.

There structure the design of the product is extremely simple and linear: the story connects a series of scenarios (six in total) simply lined up next to each other; on individual playgrounds, each level in turn does nothing more than juxtapose other explorable lands. In this context, the player must clear a certain area from all available Romans, unlock access to the next one, and continue to the bitter end: no more, no less. The simplification is truly remarkable, though the level design isn’t overly poor compared to the last 3D chapter split into the historic duo; At the same time, a certain lack of creativity and willingness to experiment is evident.

Gameplay: barrel from orbit seen from above

Following the aforementioned previous episode, Asterix & Obelix XXXL: The Ram From Hibernia also inherits a bird’s-eye perspective: so you’ll basically find yourself playing on the side. Gameplay, an action title with an isometric look similar to that of the newer Diablo. You can control both Asterix and Obelix and switch between them at any time, but you cannot switch between other characters; This is rather strange considering that the production is basically designed for sessions with up to four players at the same time. Only locally, because apparently the internet has not yet reached Gaul.

None of the characters can jump, the mechanic is not really there; but ideas, although repeated to the end, are in no case incomplete. at least peculiar features one of the two roosters was retained: Asterix is ​​much lighter than Obelix and can therefore shoot through the air towards other raised platforms to make its way along the way (the larger comrade will eventually cause them to collapse); However, Obelix can move huge elements of the scenario because he is the one who fell into the magic potion pot as a child because of the two of them!

All levels they involve crazy fights against these crazy Romans: all you have to do is defeat them from start to finish by eliminating field tents that allow them to be constantly regenerated. Therefore, everything remained unchanged compared to the past, except for the possibility of picking up various types of objects from the ground and then using them as weapons. There’s not much difference between chicken legs, fish, and spears: From your own weapon to your improvised weapons, all weapons deal the same damage and wear out the same, for better or worse. Even Romans, stunned by the blows of roosters, can be challenged by being held by their feet and used as blunt tools.

A few other features combine to make Asterix & Obelix XXXL: The Ram From Hibernia a not-so-memorable title. Passes for the absence of online multiplayer, also for a level of difficulty that is deliberately set downwards: the repetition of situations is excessive, the enemies are always the same, there is no gradual improvement in the skills of the heroes, and in general the whole adventure – clear from all this – can also be completed in a short time .