Roman Formation (Asterix & Obelix XXL)

## Roman Formation

The Roman Formation is the third enemy the player comes across in Asterix & Obelix XXL and in the Remaster Asterix & Obelix XXL Romastered. The Formation is first spotted in stage two of Gaul blocking a Roman road.

## Characteristics

The Roman Formation consists of multiple Legionnaires using their shield as armor with their pilum outside of the Formation. The position of the pilums changes from time to time. They can be pointed upwards, but also sideways. In rare cases, the pilums are sticking out of every angle of the Formation. The Roman Formation is mostly protected by Legionnaires and Centurions. They don't remain stationary and always move around quickly or slowly. The player gets harmed if they touch the Formation's pilums. They can also be used as some sort of Trampoline to reach specific spots. They don't just consist of a rectangular shape. They also show up in a circular, triangluar shape and as a Pyramid. None of them change in terms of attacking but in terms of design.

## Combat

As a defense, the pilums of the Legionnaires inside the Formation stick out of the top of the sides of the Formation. If they run into the player with their pilums, they create massive amounts of damage, which not rarely removes an entire shield if the attack was critical. If a Formation runs at the player very quickly it may instantly kill them. The Roman Formation can only be destroyed if the pilums do not point sideways and the player keeps hitting the shields over and over again. The pilums changing position is indicated by drums playing. The player can damage Formations by swinging enemies into them, but they may accidentally bump into their pilums, taking damage and throwing the enemy away. Formations also can be destroyed with cannons. The Formation's health is indicated by their change of design when enough damage is taken. The shields will be badly damaged and some of the Legionnaires' eyes change their colour to pink.

## In Gaul

The first Roman Formation in the game takes the form of a rectangular shape. The Legionnaires stick their pilums out of the sides or the top of the Formation.

## In Normandy

The Roman Formation is now present in a circular shape. The pilums are now continuously being pointed out of the Formation's side and top. It's destroyed by jumping into the middle of the Formation and keep on hitting it. One specific Formation in Normandy also has a feature, that's not present in any other region. A Formation must be destroyed for a total of five Legionnaires to spawn. Another Formation must be destroyed by using the cannon since pilums are not only outside and on top of the Formation, but also on the inside of the Formation. If the player jumps into the middle, they'll be stuck in the middle, being continuously hit until they die.

## In Greece

The same Formation as in Gaul is also present in Greece and attacks and looks exactly the same.

## In Helvetia

Helvetia introduces the player to the triangular shape of the Roman Formation. The pilums are outside at all times on the sides and on top of the Formation. These Formations can only be destroyed under the influence of magic potion since there's never a cannon spawning near them.

## In Egypt

Egypt is home to the last variant of the Roman Formation, which is a pyramid. The pyramid is as tall as three Legionnaires stacked on top of each other. They move the quickest out of all the other Formation variants. They can only be destroyed if the pilums aren't positioned on the lowest level of the Formation.

## In Rome

In Rome, the rectangular and pyramid Formation is used in a fight alongside Optios and Legionnaires. Both are destroyed by continuously hitting the Formation when the pilums are on top or on a higher level of the Formation.

## Gallery

Circular Formation: 50% or less healthCircular Formation: 100-60% healthPyramidal Formation: 50% healthPyramidal Formation: 100-60% healthTriangluar Formation: 50% or less healthTriangluar Formation: 100-60% healthRectangular Formation: 50% or less healthRectangular Formation: 100-60% health
## Trivia

* The shield texture is taken from the legionnaire's beta model.
* The triangle formation is the only formation where the pilums always stick out, unless the player is under the magic potion's influence.
* The triangle formation is the only formation present in only one location
* Despite the Roman formation only having 2 combat locks in the game, the PS2 version features a 3rd combat lock in Normandy after the first slide. The player needs to destroy 3 Circular Formations to access 1 of 4 buttons for a hidden laurel.
* The player does not deal or receive damage if they land on a formation while performing power hammer combo. Instead, they will bounce on it and the combo's animation will loop, until they touch the ground.
* The combo bar can be filled up very quickly if the player dashes against the formation. Instead of blocking the attack, they'll receive damage.
* Formations are instantly destroyed with the Mole Combo.
* The Formation makes another appearance in XXL 2, however in only one variant.