Asterix and the Magic Cauldron (Commodore 64)

Asterix and the Magic Cauldron
Also known as: Ardok the Barbarian (US) Developer: Beam Software Publisher: Melborne House Platform: Commodore 64 Released internationally: 1986 This game has unused text. This game has regional differences.

Asterix and the Magic Cauldron is part of the Asterix Series, where Asterix needs to recover 7 pieces of Getafix's Magic Cauldron.

Of the three platforms the game was released on, the Commodore 64 version has the world in a chaotic spaghetti layout, in the same way Zork uses "You are in a maze of twisty passages, all alike." Those interested in this game are better suited to play the ZX Spectrum or Amstrad CPC version.

Unused Text

The text table contains entries for Asterix, Obelix, and Gaul. The game doesn't open the encounter window when you touch these entities, thus the text will never be displayed.

Unused Ending

Because of a bug that hides the magic cauldron piece behind a building, the game is unwinnable. As such, normal players will never see the ending text:

By Touatis you have done it

Only those who use POKE 18014,14:POKE18015,152 before launching the game will get to see the ending. They even misspelled "Toutatis"!

(Source: The C64 Adventure Game and Walkthrough site)

Regional Differences

In the US, the game was retitled as "Ardok the Barbarian".

Asterix's title is typical cartoony style, while Ardok is darker and receives a title-screen-only sword.

Asterix and the Magic Cauldron	Ardok the Barbarian
(Red border)	(Blue border)

The following text gets changed among the two versions. In addition, "Not so open forest" receives a left alignment, as opposed to being centered.

Asterix and the Magic Cauldron	Ardok the Barbarian
Roman Dungeon	Dingy Dungeon
Roma	Rome
Outskirts of Roma	Outskirts of Rome
Camp Totorum	Camp Nonamus
Camp Aquarium	Camp Fishtankum
Camp Compendium	Camp Conglomeration
Gaulish Village	Pagan Village
Deciduous Epilepticus Eucalyptus	Not so open forest
Asterix	Ardok
Obelix	Bogg
Boar	Wild Pig
Legionary	Soldier
Centurion	Warrior
Gaul	Pagan
Piece of Cauldron	Piece of shield
Golden Splonders	Golden Coppers
Ham	Dead Pig
Asterix Surrenders	Ardok Surrenders
By Touatis you have done it	By Odin you have done it