The adventures of our beloved comic book heroes Asterix and Obelix continue in their latest video game outing, Asterix & Obelix Slap Them All! 2. It’s been a couple of years since the original game tried to win our hearts, offering us a journey of punches, kicks, and slapping the daylights out of countless Romans. Now, with the second installment hitting shelves, the question begs: Is it a fistful of fun or just a slap in the face for fans of the genre?
Story: A Classic Tale of Gauls Against Romans
Our story kicks off with a young lad named Justforkix dropping by with some troubling news. His dad, Doublehelix, got snatched up by the Romans for a crime he didn’t do. This eagle made of gold has gone missing, and Doublehelix is getting the blame. As you might guess, Asterix and Obelix aren’t having that. They lace up their warrior shoes and set out to make things right.
This is where our punching party begins. We trek through forests, army camps, and big cities, slapping around anybody who looks at us funny – mostly Romans, naturally.
Presentation: Like Walking into a Comic Book
If you’re a fan of looking at things – which I hope you are – you’ll find plenty to feast your eyes on here. The game is beautiful, and I’m not just saying that to be nice. It captures the comic’s style so well that you’ll feel like you’ve been sucked into the pages. There’s a downside, though. After a while, you start noticing the same baddies showing up over and over. It’s a bit like going to a costume party where everyone showed up as the same two or three characters. A little variety wouldn’t hurt.
Sound: Music to My Ears
The tunes are great! They fit the setting like a glove. Plus, slapping noises and the oofs and ouches coming from your foes make each whack feel pretty good. Voice acting here is top-notch, too. These folks are talking their hearts out, which makes the story bits a bit more lively.
Gameplay: Simple Yet Satisfying
Alright, so here’s the meat and potatoes of the game. You move from left to right, and anything that moves – you slap. Sometimes you’ll jump over things or duck, but mostly, you’ll slap your way through. There’s more depth than I might be letting on, but it’s not brain surgery. You’ve got your short levels, some boss fights, and a clear path from start to finish.
Now, this isn’t a game trying to make you feel like you’re piloting a spaceship with a thousand buttons. It’s easy to get the hang of, whether you’ve been playing games for ages or just started yesterday.
The controls have had a bit of a tune-up since the last game. Our boys Asterix and Obelix are a little more balanced now, which means you’ll actually want to play as both of them. Special moves don’t eat up energy anymore, and that’s a welcome change. There’s this thing called Fury mode – when the going gets tough, you light up like a bonfire and deal out extra hurt.
But let me tell you, it’s not all rainbows and Roman punching. Sometimes, the screen gets so full of characters that you can lose sight of yourself. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like feeling like I’m playing Where’s Waldo while trying to fight off baddies. There are times when enemies box you into a corner and slap you silly, and that’s truly annoying.
Got a buddy to play with? Good. The game’s more fun when you’re not alone. It’s also handy when that irksome Roman giving you a hard time catches a punch from your co-op partner instead. If you play solo and want to switch between characters, well, that’s a bit hit or miss due to a small mix-up in the control department.
Verdict
To wrap it all up, Asterix & Obelix Slap Them All! 2 won’t flip the world of side-scrolling beat ’em ups on its head. It’s got its fair share of hiccups, but if you’re here for the ride and not some revolutionary experience, you’re bound to have a solid time. The game is a sight for sore eyes, delivering those nostalgic comic book vibes. You’ll feel powerful, commandeering two of Gaul’s mightiest warriors as you lay the smackdown on a sea of same-faced Romans.
It doesn’t sit at the grown-ups table where kings like Streets of Rage or the Scott Pilgrim game eat their lunch. But it doesn’t have to. It’s got charm, it’s got fun, and it’s got the boneheaded audacity to let you become a whirlwind of violence in the name of good, clean fun. Keep a buddy on speed dial for this one, because while going solo can get old fast, the co-op makes up for it in heaps.
In closing, if the idea of stepping into the oversized shoes of Asterix or the equally oversized fists of Obelix tickles your fancy, then jump on this. There’s enough pep in this sequel to keep you entertained, and maybe – just maybe – we’ll see these slapping superstars again down the line.
