Slapping Fun? Asterix & Obelix: Slap Them All!

How bad – or good for that matter – can a game about slapping Romans be? Well, if you decide to play Asterix & Obelix: Slap Them All! today you will be pleasantly surprised. While simple on the surface, the game brings along tons of humor, some decent depth in the combat, and a ton of levels to enjoy.

For 39.99 CAD, the latest entry in the Asterix & Obelix series can be yours. For those unfamiliar, these two loveable Gaulish soldiers have long been heroes of their own comic strip, which I learned recently was insanely popular in Quebec, Canada. I’ve had the priveledge to read some of these cartoons, and the writing is generally phenomenal throughout. Whether you like the gameplay and mechanics of the average Asterix and Obelix title, there is one thing almost everyone will agree on – the writing is fantastic.

And it is. From the briefly voice acted moments before each level, to the comments within the level, to the dialogue between levels, there is a certain level of charm and wit throughout. Stopped carrying a potion keg? Why not tell the commander it’s just warm beer. Who wants warm beer?!

I’ve never been a huge fan of Asterix and Obelix games, and as I started this review I figured I was in for more of the same. The combat is good. At first I thought all I could do was do light hits and heavy hits, but soon I realized that using specific directions on the joystick with button combinations would do a variety of different things. A jumping spin attack that sent enemies sprawling, a ground pound of sorts for Obelix, and a kick to the face. Once I began comboing these things together, I began to enjoy the game just a bit more.

It wasn’t however, until I play Multiplayer that I really realized what made these games so much fun – playing with others. I played for hours with my son Lochlan, and we had a blast knocking down Romans and bandits, and saving the various nearby villages. It was fun, competing for high scores, fighting over coins (points) littered on the ground, and more. I quickly realized that the best way to experience and Asterix and Obelix game – and a way I never played before – was to load up multiplayer and have a go with a friend.

If you enjoy 2D, side scrolling beat-em-ups then Slap them All! will be a game you’ll likely get a kick out of. While the fantastic writing won’t be enough to draw you in, it will be enough to keep you playing, which is pretty high praise for the writing team if you ask me!