Asterix (Arcade) Playthrough - NintendoComplete

A playthrough of Konami's 1992 license-based arcade beat 'em up game, Asterix.
Played through on the machine's default difficulty setting.
With the release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 1989, Konami unleashed the first of what would quickly become a huge stable of high quality, license-based arcade action games. From G.I. Joe to The Simpsons, Aliens to Bucky O'Hare - and beyond - no matter what it was, they had the golden touch.
But with so many titles being released within the span of a few short years, some were bound to fall through cracks and go unnoticed, no matter how good they might've been. While games based on the better known licenses (like TMNT and X-Men) regularly drew huge crowds and are still popular today, those based on lesser recognized franchises have never been able to attract the same level of attention or fandom.
Asterix, for those of you who aren't familiar, is the starring hero of the French comic "Astérix le Gaulois," or Asterix the Gaul. Asterix and his flamboyant friend Obelix generally busy themselves with protecting Gaul from invading Roman forces, and their adventures are chronicled across several volumes, many of which have been adapted into feature films.
But as popular as Asterix is in French, he has always been a fairly obscure character America, and this probably contributed to it being among the least known in Konami's celebrated line of quarter-munching games.
All that aside, Asterix plays a great deal like the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Mechanically, most of the moves and controls are similar between them: you get the expected selection of punches, jump kicks, and dash attacks, though Asterix gives you a wider selection of grappling moves and a few special team-up moves if you're in two-player mode. Those boosts in the repertoire are a real God-send, because let me tell you - Asterix is not an easy game. The enemies like to box you in and take advantage when you're distracted by thrashing you from behind, and they hit hard. The boss fights also tend to be merciless affairs if don't have some sort of strategy going in, but though it's difficult, Asterix plays so smoothly that you probably won't mind the practice it requires to master. It's fun, even when it's gleefully curb-stomping your ego.
And finally, those graphics! Konami games always looked good, but with this one they managed to nail the look and feel of the property's characters better than just about any other license-based game they made at the time. The animation for the main characters is liquid smooth, and the attention to detail is just ridiculous - check out everyone's facial expressions at random moments, or at the sheer amount of stuff packed into the backdrops. My favorite flourish had to be the way the enemies react when they see Asterix getting a kiss Falbala, the blonde hottie - some of them look so dejected.
The soundtrack is no slouch either. It's not as memorable as what you'll hear in Sunset Riders or Lethal Enforcers, but it has a fun bit of FM-synthesized symphonic flair, and it's plenty upbeat and dramatic enough to keep pace with the action. I especially loved the ending credits theme.
Asterix has never been ported to any other platform, so unless you have access to an original machine, MAME is the only viable way of playing it these days, but if you haven't yet had the pleasure, I'd highly recommend spending a few hours with this classic.
And if you're interested in seeing more arcade games in action, feel free to peruse this playlist of the ones I've recorded: • Arcade Playthroughs
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No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (www.nintendocomplete.com/) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!

[@mcurran6505]

Albert Uderzo (1927-2020), Rest in Peace.

[@NintendoComplete]

Whether or not your familiar with the comic, Konami's Asterix is a fantastic arcade beat 'em up - its quality is right up there with TMNT, X-MEN, and The Simpsons.

[@HrvojeGrahovac]

I'm familiar with the comic. US residents that were deep into comics have read some of the books back in the late 70s/early 80s. I believe this particular game was ported (if you can call it that since it ends with Spain) by Infogrames and Bit Managers in 1996 for DOS, SNES, Game Boy & Color

[@POLE7645]

@@HrvojeGrahovac Nope. What you mentioned is a completely different game. A platformer instead of a beat-em up.

[@HrvojeGrahovac]

@@POLE7645 but the level order is somewhat similar only in that platformer there is a Greece & Switzerland level added but no India

[@raulcontreras8297]

Years ago, Cartoon Network used to broadcast Asterix's movies on Saturdays at 23:00 and I stayed up to watch them. And I got to play this game years later. A great beat'em up. Love from México.

[@luciebureau6815]

As a french girl, i appreciate that video. Even if i never played that game in particular. All i can say is that the graphics of the comics are well reproduced. Too bad Astérix isn’t well known in english speaking countries. PS : now, i know that Falbala’s english name is Panacea.

[@stainlesssteelfox1]

THe Asterix books were easily available here in the UK. I must have read dozens of them.

[@MinbadTheFourth]

Je l'ai connu quand il est sorti. On était comme des fous :)

[@phantomzone2725]

The comic are widely known here in Brazil and even has a cult following

[@DenkyManner]

I played this in an arcade in the UK and in Ireland during the early 90s. I was a big fan of the books growing up and it was always sad this game never got a home console port. It's amazingly faithful to the art and spirit of the comics. Konami were doing some incredible, deep research in those days to make sure they got everything just right. I wonder how popular Asterix is in Japan!

[@jamesborlan2850]

It’s a shame this asterix game never got the recognition it deserves this looks like a fun arcade styled beat em up Btw the 12 tasks of asterix is a really good movie

[@IndysGameplayVids]

One nice thing about Asterix is that the series is one of the more English-friendly comics from Europe, unlike some of its contemporaries like Lucky Luke, which is ironic since that series is set in the American Wild West. Personally, I don't care if something wasn't released in America, as long as it's in English (dubbed, subbed, or literally) and if it's any decent, I'm happy.

[@yusakug]

Quite possibly Konami's most obscure licensed beat 'em up in America, which is too bad, since it's one of their most beautiful.

[@TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

I got to play this game back in the early 2000's, this brings back nostalgia

[@hanchiman]

Haha to this day, this comic is still even used and referenced during history class in School about Roman period, here in Europe. Although obviously not historical accurate but it shows geographical areas that Rome has conquered..but wait, not entirely... One small village of indomitable Gauls still holds out against the invaders

[@MarlondaVeiga]

Definitively one hidden gem! Greetings from Brazil.

[@MinbadTheFourth]

Omg I love this game! It was everywhere in France when it came out. I used to play it at the mall :p

[@knuclear200x]

Asterix has the timeless appeal of Popeye crossed with a 90's Video game mascot

[@teddybeer6206]

By far my favorite Asterix game. The character/franchise is widely known in all english speaking countries, just not in the US. Very nice playthrough, otherwise

[@Marvincmf]

Welcome to the Konami Cartoon Parade, Asterix

[@SoulStreak64]

You could say that this beat em up really kicks some Asterix!

[@SonicTheHedgehog17]

There was an actual Asterix arcade machine in Poland and I got the pleasure of playing with my friend one day after school. I was Asterix and he was Obelix. We made it to the second stage, but we ran out of lives before the boss fight. Still, it was a fun experience ^^

[@sharpester7277]

I like how this game was Junya Nakano's debut game for composing for Konami.

[@evandrolimadelira6353]

-NintendoComplete. Presents Asterix.-Good Work.

[@josephdawson7937]

those Gauls are Gods.

[@guidadiehl9176]

I'm guessing you're American, Alex, because Asterix is far from obscure in all of the English-speaking world - Asterix books are widely-read in the UK and Australia!

[@NintendoComplete]

Really? I spent a good deal of my childhood in England and I remember it being around, but I don't ever remember it being a big thing.

[@guidadiehl9176]

@@NintendoComplete They were everywhere when I was a kid (along with Tintin), and I grew up in both countries at different times... maybe I was just lucky🙃

[@NintendoComplete]

Ah I remember Tin Tin quite well :)

[@hanchiman]

Actually it pretty big here in Sweden too, also other European comics like of Tintin, Marsupullami, and Lucky Luke are pretty well loved. Not to mention The Phantom is still strong here in Sweden, despite it came from US and totally forgotten over there in US

[@Chris30C]

It would be great if the game gets ported to switch, ps4, ps5, Xbox one, and Xbox series X

[@HrvojeGrahovac]

I think that I've read somewhere that the US & Japan are the only places where Asterix is not that known

[@mr.fearingtoon3549]

These Romans are crazy!

[@DavideGendo]

This had escaped me - coincidence has wanted you to publish the video about a month after Albert Uderzo's death. The game was fairly common in Italy as Asterix is popular there too (I grew up with the comics and for many years the animated movies were one of the staples of TV around Christmas), and makes me think it was produced with some strict supervision from the French publishing house: except of course the necessary nerfing of Obelix's strenght, the fidelity is impressive and having been produced during Konami's golden age helped, of course. The franchise has had some great games over its history, others much less; unfortunately due to Atari/Infogrames going down the drain it hasn't received some "big" production for a long time. It is telling that the best over the last decade has been the 2018 remaster of 2005's Asterix & Obelix XXL 2 (by the way, despite some noticeable flaws it's one I recommend).

[@weemadangus1834]

Sadly not arcade I did not see in the wild growing up. I have played it at Four Quarters arcade bar in London!

[@Batman43221]

This game needs a re-release of some kind.

[@johnjohnson392]

Why does Asterix have a sword that he never uses?

[@DavideGendo]

The only element I find a bit jarring is the "ABOUT TO DIE" appearing over bosses, especially considering it's a series with only slapstick violence; only one to die in the game is the bull.

[@NintendoComplete]

At least it's better than the "Dead soon!" warning you get in Metamorphic Force, don't you think?

[@hebelenchamorro-um4oe]

Este videojuego lo tango

[@RickAstleyLetMeDown]

I had to adjust the cabinet settings cause i could not continue after lvl 3 :D what a shit setting is that ffs :D

[@NintendoComplete]

Yeah, it's super hard. This is set to five. I've not been able to deal with it set any higher. 8 is probably just there to laugh at you.

[@fargeeks]

Wackiest beatem game ever

[@SocietyFilth]

What a cozy beat em up.