Asterix (1991)

Asterix is a side-scrolling platformer game for the Sega Master System released in 1991.

## Story

The story takes place in 50 BC, where Gaul is occupied by the Romans and could easily fall without the magic potion made by the druid Getafix. However, Caesar orders his legionnaries to abduct Getafix and take him to Rome. Asterix & Obelix set out to rescue Getafix. As they travel from the village to Rome, they have to find the keys in each level to move on to the next stage and fight Julius Caesar.

## The Game

### Gameplay

For most of the game the player can choose between Asterix or Obelix. Round 1-1 consists of 2 levels where the player is locked to playing as Asterix and Obelix in the respective order. Other levels come in different variants depending on the selected character, the player can choose between different characters and, therefore, level variants.

In 2 Players mode the players are locked to their characters and take turns completing levels, e.g. Player 1 plays the Asterix variant of level N, then Player 2 plays the Obelix variant of the same level.

Asterix and Obelix have similar abilities but with some differences. Both characters can punch, pound, crouch, swim, climb vines and ropes, enter warp pipes and throw certain objects to attack enemies or clear paths. Asterix’s direct attacks can only take out enemies, while Obelix is additionally able to smash some blocks, he can also break them with his head. It can be difficult to move in certain places as Obelix due to his size. The characters can't drown, but swimming down and disappearing from the screen in the wrong places will result in death.

The player can take a few hits before losing a life, the health is shown with red squares. If the life counter reaches 0, this will be the last life. In case of Game Over the player can restart the game completely, or continue from the last level, but their lives, score points and bones will be reset.

Some levels contain boss fights.

The final Round 8-1 is an obstacle course taking place in the Colliseum, where the player must avoid pilums from above and spikes from below.

### Collectibles

The player will occasionally find collectibles. They can be laying around, kept in pots or sometimes dropped from smashed blocks and defeated enemies.

#### Throwable Objects

Some collectibles give the player things to throw or drop. Their supply is infinite until the level is over or another throwable is taken. To throw objects up, press Attack while holding Up, to drop them nearby press Attack while holding Down.

* Red potions and menhirs are used to smash blocks and get rid from enemies. Asterix collects red potions, they explode a few seconds after touching the ground. Obelix collects menhirs which are used similarly, but they break upon impact. When any of these objects explodes underwater, it creates a splash which works as a short-lived platform. Asterix and Obelix do not take damage from their own weapons.
* Brown potions need to be thrown onto liquid surfaces to create temporary platforms, such as lava (Round 2-3), sewage (Round 5-2) and strong water streams (Round 6-2). They can be collected by both characters.
* Fire potions melt the hard ice that can't be blown up or broken by Obelix (Round 3-2), or light up dark areas and hurt enemies (Round 7-2).

#### Life and Health

* Piece of meat: restores 1 hp, or gives bonus points if health is full
* Vase: restores 2 hp, or gives bonus points if health is full
* Helmet: extra life
* Heart: fully restores health and extends it by 1 unit

**Bones**

50 bones grant access to a bonus stage. When the player collects enough bones over the course of gameplay, they will enter a bonus stage once they finish the current level. Before playing the bonus stage they select one of the 3 difficulty levels in a way similar to a slot machine. In this level they control Dogmatix and need to pop as many bubbles as they can by jumping on them and changing their colour, they pop after turning red and being jumped on. Falling on spikes will briefly stun the player but there is no damage.

**Money**

Money gives bonus points.

**Keys**

Keys are required to open doors with keyholes. They're found in pots.

Explosive potionMenhirPlatform potionFire potionPiece of meatVaseHelmetHeart1 bone3 bonesCoinSack of goldKey

## Trivia

* The collectible which gives 3 bones only shows 2.