Asterix and Obelix Heroes. Developed by Gamexcite and Published by Nacon. Promising a delightful romp through Gaul, Asterix & Obelix Heroes aims to capture the magic of the original source material. While Asterix & Obelix Heroes does provide moments of excitement and nostalgia. It falls short in several key areas, hindering its potential to become a true gaming gem.
Lack of motivation
Asterix & Obelix Heroes is plagued by frustrating mechanics despite its engaging storyline and charming characters. Unintuitive controls of just selecting the next card to play, no actual knowledge of what the enemy will do, and the fact that after every battle, you lose motivation. Detract from the overall enjoyment of the experience. Furthermore, a lack of clear tutorials or guidance results in confusion about specific mechanics, leaving players to struggle throughout Asterix & Obelix Heroes.
While initially entertaining, the combat system soon devolves into repetitive and uninspiring battles, lacking depth and variety. The potential for a more engaging and strategic combat experience is regrettably squandered.
The cards are not that interesting, and you will inevitably use the same card multiple times throughout during each battle. The only interesting aspect is that each character has a unique ability; however, should you use it that turn, your character will not be able to play any cards.
When completing a battle, you shall return to the main board and begin again to choose which path to take. The worst part here is trying to maintain your characters’ motivation. Regardless of winning a fight, you shall lose 8 motivation, and if it dips below 60 (mind you only start at around 80), then your character will be hitting and healing a lot less.
It’s often hard to avoid this; you must ensure that your support character has ways to increase motivation and heal during battle, as outside of it, the only way to replenish them is through a fireplace, which doesn’t come often. You have the option of healing 25%, getting 20 motivation, or eating snacks, which could do both.
While there is access to a shop, this is only outside of the level and the cards or items you can purchase there change each time you complete a chapter. It would be helpful if it showed up during your time on the board, making choosing a snack at the fireplace more worthwhile.
Do all animals sound the same?
The sound design in Asterix & Obelix is one area where the developers have thought about only for the world you are in. From the moment you start Asterix & Obelix Heroes, the music instantly transports you to the area you are in. Whether in Egypt helping Cleopatra, Britain helping the Saxons, or anywhere else. The theme plays nicely into each area, fitting the tune you would expect to be playing. However, this does get repetitive as each area has 8 chapters (except the Nordic land, which has 4), and you begin to hear the same music so often.
It feels better to play on mute. Then, when it comes to sound effects, things get even worse. Every human makes the same grunt noise when they are hit. Then, when it comes to animals, you shall fight boars, crocodiles, and wolves, all making the same squealing noise. Then, if you fight an animal as a boss, it makes the same noise as the humans. It takes you out of any sort of immersion you might have otherwise had.
Different Landscapes with Missed Opportunities
While Asterix & Obelix Heroes features vibrant and visually appealing environments, the level design often lacks variety and creativity. The Gaulish villages are beautifully rendered, and the attention to detail is commendable. However, the gameplay quickly becomes repetitive due to the lack of diverse challenges or exploration opportunities.
The levels themselves feel linear and predictable, failing to capture the essence of the beloved comic’s adventurous spirit. With a missed opportunity to incorporate intricate puzzles or hidden secrets, the level design falls short of leaving a lasting impact. The best you get is each character has different traits, and there are specific paths you can only take if you have that character on your team. Nevertheless, this doesn’t add to the story it just allows you to unlock some treasures.
They have the right look but not really the mannerisms.
Asterix & Obelix Heroes successfully translates the charming cartoonish art style of the original comics. The character designs are faithful to their paper counterparts, but that is where the joy ends. There are no distinctive traits or charm, such as Madame Fulliautomatix always having a face of thunder. Even when she gossips, which she loves to do.
The movements of each character are a bit off; you can see Obelix’s arm click out of its socket as he punches. The Romans all look the same, but they occasionally dress like a tree. Every character reflects the source material at first, but on further inspection, it’s only one layer deep. No facial animation, no movement as they talk, and no voice acting to at least give some feeling, the lack of depth in the supporting characters limits the game’s ability to truly immerse players in the world.
The Gaul’s game is nearly ghoulish
Asterix & Obelix: Heroes delivers pockets of excitement and nostalgia amongst its flaws. The sound design effectively pulls players back into the wonderful world of Gaul, while the character design authentically captures the spirit of the comic book series. However, the lack of innovation in the level design and repetitive mechanics overshadow these positive elements, preventing Asterix & Obelix Heroes from realising its full potential. With a stronger level design that encourages exploration and offers more varied challenges, Asterix & Obelix Heroes could have been a standout entry for these beloved characters.
Asterix & Obelix Heroes Trailer
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