In the latest installment of the long-running Asterix & Obelix series, Asterix & Obelix – Slap Them All! 2, the iconic Gauls find themselves embroiled in a new adventure. The tranquility of their village is disrupted when Justforkix seeks their help, revealing that his father, Doublehelix, has been wrongly imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. The golden emblem of the Roman legions, the Lutetia Eagle, has been stolen, leading Asterix and Obelix on a journey filled with slaps and humor – we took the journey on a PlayStation 5.
The game features an original storyline that takes players to various locations, including forgotten ruins in a murky forest, the largest Roman camp ever, and the bustling city of Lutèce. The journey is a typical Asterix & Obelix one, filled by encounters with Romans, pirates, and other adversaries, all ready to be generously slapped around. The narrative unfolds through animated scenes that bring the story to life, staying true to the beloved comics that started the franchise.
Visually, the game maintains the gorgeous art style of its predecessor, which we reviewed two years ago. The comic style in animated scenes also carries over to the actual gameplay, which looks lovely as a result. Players who played the previous game might experience a sense of déjà vu though, as many enemies look identical this time around. What’s nice is that the environments are new and generally larger and more detailed than they were in the first game though, so there’s enough to explore that you haven’t seen before.
One notable improvement in Slap Them All! 2 is that the gameplay feels better paced and more balanced in terms of difficulty this time around, providing a more enjoyable experience for both solo and co-op players. The movesets of Asterix and Obelix have been refined, and we no longer had a clear favorite between the two of them. What’s also nice is that special attacks no longer require energy – instead giving you charged up supermoves for a bit of extra power. The addition of Fury mode, which can be activated during combat, is nice, and there’s an Ultimate Attack as well – this is sequel that’s clearly learned from other games in the genre.
But while the game is a clear improvement over its predecessor, it’s not without its frustrations. The screen can become overly crowded with enemies at times, making things look a bit chaotic, especially in co-op mode with both heroes on screen at once. Some enemies can also feel a bit annoying until you figure out a good tactic to get rid of them before they can drain your health bar.
In conclusion, Asterix & Obelix – Slap Them All! 2 isn’t a revolutionary entry in the side-scrolling beat ’em up genre that turns the original upside down. It does build upon its predecessor in several ways though, offering a visually appealing and entertaining experience with a couple of refinements. The game succeeds in delivering hours of fun, especially for fans of Asterix and Obelix, and while it may not dethrone the best in the genre it’s a fun romp that has us hoping we’ll see more of the Gaul duo in the future.
Score: 7.1/10
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