Asterix & Obelix XXXL – The Aries of Hibernia is the new game featuring the adventures of the two famous Gauls, after Le Menhir de Cristal and Baffez les tous! Asterix and Obelix return in a family and colorful game, trying to get closer to comics with the added voices of characters from the latest films. But is that enough to make the (magic) potion take?
The Adventures of Asterix and Obelix in Ireland
Very quick reminder of the facts: Asterix and Obelix are two Gauls residing in Armorica, in the last village still and always resisting the invader. How ? Thanks to the help of the magic potion prepared by the druid Panoramix and conferring superhuman power. If Astérie has to drink a sip of it to benefit from it, Obélix benefits from it permanently, having fallen into it when he was little.
Their reputation crosses seas and continents. So much so that many peoples come to ask for help from the village, which sends its two best warriors. In Asterix & Obelix XXXL – Le ram d’Hibernie it’s Kératine, the daughter of Irishcoffix, a village chief from Hibernie (Ireland) who needs help. His lucky ram was stolen by the Romans and he must be found.
This is therefore an opportunity for you to stretch your legs and your fists through 6 levels of exploration, fighting and reflection in the company of the Gauls. You can also play solo or cooperatively. In the first case it is possible to switch from one character to another in order to solve certain puzzles. Without forgetting Dogmatix which follows you everywhere.
Asterix & Obelix XXXL – The ram of Hibernia: not the slap of the century
With Asterix & Obelix XXXL – The Ram of Hibernia, you (re)discover a top-down view game as was XXL 3 The Crystal Menhir. The use is quite simple: there is a button for the weak move, a button for the strong move (chargeable) and one for the special move. These three buttons will be used to slap the Roman legions on your way to Hibernia. There is also a button for dasher, which is used to cross gaps.
You will find many objects on the ground to pick up, essential to trigger your ultimate blow when the appropriate bar is filled. Allowing you to hit multiple Romans at once. It’s great fun to experiment with the different animations depending on whether you’re picking up a shield, paddle, hammer, or fish. Sometimes you will come across a few beefier Romans but nothing too bad as a rule.
The game follows a unique pattern: you go through a level in which hides a few puzzles based on levers on which you press, sometimes in the right order. You give a few slaps to the Romans on the way. Collectors can even pick up the 5 hidden helmets per level. Then, you must raze an entire camp, with optional objectives to earn gold medals. Repeat this 6 times and you have all the content of the game.
A game that lacks a bit of soul
Asterix & Obelix XXXL – The ram from Hibernia, but something is missing. Admittedly, the possibility of playing two is great, but the action is sometimes difficult to read because of the risky camera placements. For example, we would have liked a button to send Dogmatix to bite the calves of the Romans. Maybe a map, to find your way around the slightly labyrinthine levels?
The challenges when you have to raze the Roman camps are quite difficult, especially to get the gold, while the game itself is quite simple. The sets may be pretty, but they lack a bit of diversity, life and interaction. Most of the time, we run through them, hitting the Romans.
On the other hand, mention well for the voices in VF of the two heroes. Voices that are often used, as characters often speak during levels. And there are cinematics, certainly frozen, with graphics reminiscent of comic strips. We find the spirit and humor of the series, with anachronistic names and jokes (like this bard who parodies Freddy Mercury) to make knowledgeable players smile.
Despite all that, the game struggles to convince. It’s fun for one level per game session, in duet with a little brother, a little cousin or other for an afternoon. Unfortunately, with its lack of diversity, its somewhat short lifespan and its lack of replayability, it will have a hard time establishing itself as a classic in your toy library. Asterix & Obelix – The Ram of Hibernia is available on playstation4, playstation5, Xbox One/Series X as well as on top Switch.