Astérix

n/a

Astérix
System(s): Sega Master System
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega CS
Genre: Action
Number of players: 1
Official in-game languages: English Français
Release Date RRP Code EU 1991-12 9008 BX 199x DE 199x DM 89.9589.95 9008 PT 1992 MSJ9008 UK 1991-12 £32.9932.99 9008 AU 199x BR 1992

Astérix is a platform game for the Sega Master System. Based on the French comic of the same name, it tells the adventures of Astérix and Obélix as they attempt to rescue their village elder from Romans. The game can be played in English or French.

Story

“	The year is 50 B.C. Gaul is entirely occupied by the Romans. Well, not entirely... One small village of indomitable Gauls still holds out against the invaders. And life is not easy for the Roman legionnaires who garrison the fortified camps surrounding the village...	„
— European Manual

In an ahistorical telling of the time after the Gallic Wars, the Gaulish warriors Astérix and Obélix defend their village against the Roman legionnaires. The druid Getafix (Panoramix in French) has concocted a magic potion that protects the villagers, so Caesar has sent his best soldiers to capture him. Now Astérix and Obélix must adventure around Europe and fight the Roman Republic to rescue him.

Gameplay

Astérix is a side-scrolling platform game where Astérix and Obélix must navigate through each round to locate a key that opens a door or gate at the end of the round. Some rounds end with a boss who must be defeated. The game can be played alone or with another player. In single-player games, the player can choose to play as Astérix or Obélix prior to each round. In two-player mode, each player takes turns completing the round, with player one playing as Astérix and player two playing as Obélix. Each character moves with and and ducks with . They jump with and jump higher if the button is held for longer. They enter doorways with and go down wells or vats with .

The rounds differ depending on whether the player is playing as Astérix or Obélix. Both characters can attack enemies by punching them with . They perform a downward attack in the air with after jumping. Enemies cannot be defeated by jumping on them. Astérix can find an Explosive Potion item in each round that lets him destroy blocks by throwing a potion and waiting for it to explode. Obélix cannot use the Explosive Potion and instead destroys blocks by punching them, using his jump attack, or hitting them from below with his head. Astérix can use his Explosive Potions in pools of water to create columns of water that serve as temporary platforms. Obélix can find the Menhir item, which can be used in the same way. There are other special potions that both characters can use. Potions and menhirs are thrown a long distance in an arc with + or a short distance while ducking with +.

Obélix, being larger in size, is unable to access some parts of the rounds that Astérix can access. Likewise, Astérix cannot access some parts of some rounds because he is unable to break certain blocks. Because of the differences between the characters, most of the rounds differ to some degree depending on which character is being played, with some rounds having wholly different layouts.

The characters have a life gauge with three blocks. A block is lost if the character is hit by an enemy, and a life is lost if all life gauge blocks are lost or if the character falls down a hole. Rounds are also timed, and the player loses a life if time runs out. The game ends if the player runs out of lives but can be continued from the start of the round. Life can be restored by picking up certain items during the game. When certain bosses are defeated, a heart is obtained that permanently extends the life gauge by one point.

Items

	Jar
	Strike to release an item or potentially multiple items. Some jars expand into a vat that can be used to warp to another area or transform into a man-eating monster.
	Key
	Find the key in each round to open the door or gate at the end.
	Explosive Potion
	Equips Astérix with the Explosive Potion, which allows him to break blocks. When it explodes in water, it creates a column of water that can be used as a temporary platform. Obélix cannot use this item.
	Solid Potion
	Equips the character with the Solid Potion, which can be thrown into water or lava to create a temporary platform.
	Fire Potion
	Equips the character with the Fire Potion, which melts ice blocks and illuminates dark places.
	Menhir
	Equips Obélix with menhirs, which can be thrown into water to create a column of water that can be used as a temporary platform. Astérix cannot use this item.
	Meat
	Restores the life gauge by one block (or gives the player 100 bonus points if the life gauge is already full).
	Life Restore
	Restores the life gauge by half of its capacity (or gives the player 100 bonus points if the life gauge is already full).
	Life Extend
	Permanently extends the life gauge by one block, up to 6 blocks (or gives the player 100 bonus points if the life gauge is already at maximum length).
	Bone
	Gives the player a bone. Collect 50 bones to enter the bonus round.
	Bones
	Gives the player 3 bones. Collect 50 bones to enter the bonus round.
	Coin
	Gives the player 200 bonus points.
	Bag of Gold
	Gives the player 500 bonus points.
	Winged Helmet
	Awards the player with an extra life.

Rounds

	Round 1
	Round 1-1 must be played as Astérix, and Round 1-2 must be played as Obélix.
	Round 2
	Round 3
	Round 4
	Round 5
	Round 6
	Round 7
	Round 8

Bonus Rounds

Bonus round

The bonus round is reached by collecting 50 bones. The bonus round is played as the dog Dogmatix (Idéfix in French), who must jump from bubble to bubble, popping each bubble along the way. A red bubble requires Dogmatix to jump on the bubble just once to pop it. A yellow bubble, when jumped on, turns red and then pops after the second jump. A green bubble turns yellow after the first jump, then red on the second jump, and requiring a third jump to pop. A bonus is awarded at the end of the round depending on the number of bubbles popped. The screen autoscrolls to the right. Dogmatix is invulnerable, though landing on spikes momentarily stuns him and costs the player time.

The bonus round is preceded by a roulette-like difficulty selection. The difficulty cycles between Easy, Normal, and Hard, and pressing or causes it to slowly stop and select a level.

History

Development

During development the game was known as Astérix in Egypt. It was previewed (and in some cases reviewed) under this name in several video game publications of the time, showing simpler (or stylised?) graphics. The name was likely changed because for the vast majority of the game, Astérix isn't in Egypt; Astérix and Obélix start the game in the Gaul region (part of modern day France) and journey across Europe, only arriving in Egypt in round 7.

Legacy

Astérix was very well received and spawned several sequels on both 8-bit and 16-bit Sega gaming consoles, starting with Astérix and the Secret Mission in 1993.

Production credits

• Planner: Tomozou
• Sub Planner: Taku.S, Kyuzou
• Main Program: Taku.S
• Sub Program: Com.Blue, Siva, Wariyuri
• Artist: Kyuzou, Cyouko, Kudor.Yo
• Sound: Takayuki
• Map Edit: Asohy, Yoshio, K.O.B, Tomozou
• Thanks: Bob, Cyouga, Naisugai, Tomarin, and You

Source:

In-game credits

Magazine articles

Main article: Astérix/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

DE TV advert (1991)

DK print advert (1992)

Print advert in Mega Force (ES) #1: "Mayo 1992" (1992-xx-xx)
also published in:

• Mega Force (ES) #2: "Junio 1992" (1992-xx-xx)

Print advert in Ação Games (BR) #17: "Agosto 1992" (1992-08-16)
also published in:

• Supergame (BR) #12: "Julho 1992" (1992-07-xx)

Print advert in Pixel (GR) #96: "Fevrouários 1993" (1993-0x-xx)

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score Consoles + (FR) 78 Console XS (UK) PAL 90 Computer & Video Games (UK) PAL 90 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK) 80 Gamers (DE) PAL 73 Game Zone (UK) PAL 78 Hobby Consolas (ES) PAL 87 Joypad (FR) 96 Joystick (FR) PAL 96 Mega Force (FR) PAL 95 Micromanía (segunda época) (ES) 62 Mean Machines (UK) PAL 80 Mean Machines Sega (UK) 80 Megazone (AU) 88 Player One (FR) PAL 90 Play Time (DE) 72 Sega Magazin (DE) PAL 84 Sega Power (UK) PAL 92 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 90 Sega Pro (UK) 95 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 94 Sega Force (SE) 85 Sega Force (UK) PAL 81 Sega Force (UK) PAL 91 Super Juegos (ES) 64 Supersonic (FR) PAL 94 Video Games (DE) 82

	85
Based on 27 reviews

Astérix

Master System, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, BX†
Cover

Master System, PT
Cover

Master System, AU
Cover
Cart

Master System, AU (Wide sticker)
Cover
Cart

Master System, BR
Cover
Cart Manual

Technical information

ROM dump status

System	Hash	Size	Build Date	Source	Comments
?	CRC32 147e02fa MD5 0feb52e9b0a8cd378fb38902eb4b4100 SHA-1 70e311421467acd01e55f1908eae653bf20de175	512kB		Cartridge (EU)
?	CRC32 8c9d5be8 MD5 6831e9afe139fedb13c81a54926b3c0d SHA-1 ae56c708bc197f462b68c3e5ff9f0379d841c8b0	512kB		Cartridge (EU)	(Alt)

References

Astérix games for Sega systems
	Astérix (1991) | Astérix and the Secret Mission (1993) | Astérix and the Great Rescue (1994)
	Astérix and the Secret Mission (1994) | Astérix and the Great Rescue (1994)
	Astérix and the Great Rescue (1993) | Astérix and the Power of the Gods (1995)