Obelix
Developer(s)Atari, Inc.
Publisher(s)Atari, Inc.
Designer(s)Suki Lee
Programmer(s)Suki Lee
Artist(s)Dave Jolly
Composer(s)Andrew Fuchs
Jeff Gusman
Platform(s)Atari 2600
Release
Genre(s)Shoot 'em up
Mode(s)Single-player

Obelix is a 1983 video game developed and published by Atari, Inc. for the Atari 2600. It is centred around the characters Asterix and Obelix created by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo.[1][2]

Gameplay

The player controls Asterix whilst Obelix marches back and forth at the top of the screen carrying a menhir on his back. The player must temporarily stun Roman legionaries and centurions so that Obelix can throw a menhir at them to kill them.[2] If the menhir misses, the stunned Roman may wake up, in which case the player can either attempt to escape to a lower level in the game or drink a magic potion to escape through the enemy soldiers.[3]

Development

The game was released shortly after a similar game called Asterix, and was developed on the same licence.[4] The game was written by Suki Lee with graphics by Dave Jolly and audio by Andrew Fuchs and Jeff Gusman.[5] Lee previously wrote Math Gran Prix for the Atari 2600.[6]

Reception

A review in the February 1984 edition of the German magazine TeleMatch rated the graphics as good-to-satisfactory, praised the sounds, but also found the game overly similar to the (then recently-released) Atari 2600 game Asterix. They summed up the game as one that people would find enjoyment in playing.[2] A review in the January–February edition of the French magazine Tilt was generally positive about the game and complemented the graphics.[3]

In a retrospective review in 2018, Kieren Hawken praised the innovative gameplay and sound, giving the game 8/10 overall.[4]

References

  1. ^ Weiss, Bret (20 December 2011). Classic Home Video Games, 1972–1984 A Complete Reference Guide. McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers. p. 86. ISBN 9780786487554. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Obelix". Telematch. No. 2/84. February 1984. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Asterix". Tilt. January–February 1984. p. 46. Retrieved 21 February 2021. nb. – the title of the review is "Asterix" but by the description and the accompanying picture this is clearly the game "Obelix"
  4. ^ a b Hawken, Kieren (2018). The A-Z of Atari 2600 Games: Volume 3. Andrews UK. ISBN 9781785389092. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  5. ^ "Atari 2600: Obelix". Atari Computer Museum. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  6. ^ "Suki Lee". Moby Games. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
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