Asterix & Obelix XXL 3: The Crystal Menhir

Asterix & Obelix XXL 3 is the third installment in the series: it introduces the local multiplayer mode, but sacrifices the variety of gameplay.

Asterix & Obelix XXL3: the Crystal Menhir, invites you to experience a brand new story of the two Gauls. In it, we can find what makes the soul of our heroes' adventures: travelling and slapping Romans. On this aspect, the contract is fulfilled. Each level has a different atmosphere, and the graphics add to the feeling of seeing a comic strip come to life. The sound effects and the dubbing also play a major part in the immersion. However, even if the combat phases are rather intense, the repetition of exploration/camps is tiring in the long run and we are eager to move forward. Fortunately, the co-op mode, even if not flawless, manages to reinvigorate the title. You will quickly forget the storyline and have fun, as long as you play with a friend, and a controller.

Asterix & Obelix XXL 3 moves on a awfully thin line. Despite its being fun both on single and cooperative play, and a good conversion of the atmosphere of the original comicbook series, too many times this game stops only to “snack fun”. It seems that there was a “change of mood” from the previous games of the series, which came to avoid all the exaggeration and satire that made the XXL brand well-known, to follow the recent road digged by the CG animated movies about the character. For irreducible fans only, more than ever.

As an adaptation of the world-renowed french comics, Astérix & Obélix XXL3 does quite the job but the level design in general lacks of inventiveness, especially in co-op mode. The solo mode is not very engaging either because we can't give orders to the second character, not to mention that the AI is very defective.

This action game holds part of the charm of the original comic, but can´t manage to offer a good balance on the gameplay side. Too tedious, too hard for a family friendly game.

After a sub-par XXL 2 remastered, we hoped Asterix & Obélix XXL 3 would be a vast improvement, but we were wrong as the gameplay still insn't satisfying enough, with a fixed camera and many other problems.

Despite its charming and humorous atmosphere, Asterix & Obelix XXL 3: The Crystal Menhir suffers from technical, gameplay and variety issues that negatively impact the overall experience.

A forgettable Asterix and Obelix adventure only recommended for unconditional fans.

The gameplay covers the basics and not much more. It’s a colourful but visually simplified game; offers a slightly engaging and quite repetitive gameplay. [01/2020, p.73]

The story's fine, as is the game's co-op mode. However, that's about it as far as the game's positive elements are concerned, as a mediocre technical performance and severe lack of originality are the main causes for Asterix and Obelix's downfall.