Prerelease:Asterix & Obelix XXL (PlayStation 2, Windows, GameCube)

This page details pre-release information and/or media for Asterix & Obelix XXL (PlayStation 2, Windows, GameCube).

To do: Arrange the Timeline via month and date order.

Though not evident at first, Asterix & Obelix XXL has seen a lot of changes during its development process, from level design to gameplay changes.

Development Timeline

2001

In early 2001 Infogrames, a company responsible for many releases of older Asterix games, decides to delegate the development of a new Asterix game to Étranges Libellules, who at the time was finishing working on Pink Panther: Pinkadelic Pursuit. A tech demo was made to show the basic fight mechanics in a very early version of gaul. During this time the game used to be called Asterix & Obelix: Next Generation.

2002

In between late 2001 and early 2002 the game gets the new name of "Astérix & Obélix - La Grande Aventure". Around this time a huge poster was made and hung in one of the studio's corridor, showing concept arts for two levels, one of which was scrapped. In mid/late 2002 the level geometry has mostly been finalized as well as every character animation, tho many levels severely lack objects. Around this time the first trailer is released.

2003

In early 2003 the game is mostly finished, differences are mostly graphical and with object placement, a number of later trailers are made; in november the game is released for PS2.

Next Generation Tech Demo

An autodemo version of the game, called Asterix & Obelix: Next Generation, was produced in 2001 to show basic gameplay mechanics as a concept. It features a very early and otherwise unseen version of gaul and a normandy-esque scene for the outro.

Levels

The tech demo shows a very primitive version of gaul, most likely built just for that. It starts with Asterix and Obelix sneaking through the forest and then entering an open spot right where the entrance of the village is, where they're attacked by romans.

Normandy is also shown at the end of the demo: the area doesn't seem to exist anywhere in the final game, it features a camp fire (which only appears in Helvetia) and a stick, aswell as Asterix and the gang. There is snow falling and some dead trees and boulders appear in the background.

Models and animations

The game introduces the very first models and animations for Asterix, Obelix, Idefix and normal legionnaires. Obelix's outfit features only 4 big stripes instead of the multiple ones of the final game, also legionnaires appear in two variants, one with the red shield and another with the blue shield.

The animations for the characters are in some cases very different but some others went unchanged until the game was released, specifically:

Asterix looking behind is unchanged Obelix standing is unchanged Obelix walking is unchanged Asterix running is slightly different as he doesn't frown; Asterix also generates a more evident dust trail when he's running Asterix's jump is different while his double jump is about the same Asterix's punching animations when on ground are unchanged; when on air are different as they seem to mimic more the ones when on ground Asterix waiting is different and seems more similar to Obelix's animation Asterix dashing is different (more like Wario dashing for reference) and seems to be used only while under the effects of the magic potion Obelix running is different, with him holding his helmet Obelix very often uses an early version of the club combo, seemingly as a basic attack

Obelix waiting is unchanged Obelix dashing is unchanged Both Asterix and Obelix seem to have an "combat idle" status when they use their guarding animation (that's unchanged) sneaking is unchanged for Asterix and the gang Idefix's attack is the same but less polished legionnaires being idle feel pretty awkward, as they just stand staring at you with their spear up and the shield to the side legionnaires running is very different, as they seem slower overall and they still keep their spear up and shiel down legionnaires being punched and defeated are way different legionnaires being confused is slightly different, they seem to wobble more

The animation and behavior of the magic potion is also way different, featuring a dash attack that eliminates any enemy upon touched. Getting a potion doesn't turn the sky green and getting more in a row doesn't disorient the romans and they don't lose their weapons.

Other

The HUD is nonexistant other than the potion model spinning in the bottom left once Asterix picks it up. Also to note that every sound effect is different, and the game features a music track that is exclusive to it and never reused anywhere.

Early period

In an early trailer, dated around 2002, the game can be seen in the early stages of development: the geometry for the levels is mostly finalized, but they are still barren and devoid of any objects, especially the later levels. Also the HUD is still absent.

Levels

Many levels are seen here for the first time, mostly in their final form geometry wise.

Gaul

• Sector 1 of gaul is shown, starting with the dialogue with the spy (so the main plot for the game has been established at this point), the legionnaire guarding the village's entrance doesn't run away as Asterix gets closer and the village itself seems to be finished in design. The area after the spy's quest features a great amount of crates and the pushable rock with no romans to fight. The rock itself could also be pulled/pushed back to its original position;
• Sector 3 (the camp) is shown, the entrance to the indoor area isn't blocked and there are multiple duplicate wooden support next to it. The first big fight is also very different, featuring no formation, a small centurion, optios and regular legionnaires in the distance. The cannon is shown to be usable even with the fight still in progress and is much slower.

Normandy

• The very start of sector 1 is shown in some prerelease screenshots from around the same time period, they feature the player starting in a different boat placed farther away, not present in the final game;
• The end of sector 3 of Normandy is shown and is barely recognizable due to no objects being present and different background geometry (the mountain is less high and no trees are present);

• Sector 4 also seems to be almost entirely devoid of objects aside from the essential ones to test playthrough.

Greece

• In sector 1 the beach is not present, an optio is guarding the entrance to the fort and no other object other than some enemies is present; a later screenshot shows the catapult being placed to the right of the entrance while in the final is on the left side. After entering the fort two romans are placed where in the final just one is present, the small lift and propeller are present with the basic setup to blow up the gate, altho the TNT barrel is placed farther away, the fireplace is in a different location... and there's no gate to blow up since in its place a sliding door is present. The lion fight features no archer and tamer, and the door to the thermae is missing alongside any other object;
• In sector 2 the water isn't present in the crane area and in the third one Asterix can swim in it. As for objects only the crane itself and the propeller are present, enemies are absent;
• Sector 4 features different textures for windows and stairs. And no objects again.

Helvetia

• Sector 1 features a lot more rubberbands, that are also placed differently, a fight with jetpack romans and the blockage on the road missing (tho the campfire is still there as a source to lit the ones protected by the romans);
• Sector 4 (the small town) features the manual cable car and a batch of legionnaires, the stairs are slightly different. Also to note that legionnaires have no bushes camouflage in this level;
• Sector 6 (the mountain) is completely devoid of any enemy or object (not even campfires).

Egypt

• Sector 5 is shown and devoid of objects and enemies.

Rome

• The first sector of Rome can be seen, the trailer shows the area after the three doors, and it's devoid of objects and enemies. Prerelease screenshots from around that time show the very start of sector 1, with the aquaduct, some romans (including rocket romans) and the wall propeller to open the three doors.

• 

  An overview of the starting area of the level, with a batch of romans prepping to attack the player

• 

  Asterix and Obelix fighting the initial group of romans at the start of sector 1

• 

  Two rocket romans next to the propeller and spinning platform that brings Asterix on the aquaduct

Combat

Asterix doesn't perform the special multiplier move when Obelix launches a legionnaire at him, which implies it was added sometime later in development. Also during this phase development Asterix and Obelix were able to grab centurions. Combos seem to be finalized, tho romans still don't lose their weapons when hit.

Visual

• Sam Shieffer (the spy) appears to have yellow moustache and hair, similarly to the GBA version, while in the final these are red;
• Obelix still has the early outfit from the Next Generation autodemo;
• legionnaires are seen with blue shields (same as the GBA version), the same ones used by formations;
• lions lack their metal claw on their left paw;
• animation still seem a bit rough as they play delayed (very apparent with the lion fight in Greece);
• the overall rendering is still a work in progress, as some textures (like the background ones for helmets) don't seem to render properly.

Pre-final period

A number of trailers and screenshots were released around 2003 when the game was nearly finished. All levels were now populated with objects and enemies.

Visual differences

An early version of the HUD now shows up! Way more elements show their 3D model by being tilted slightly. The font used was also different.

During the late phase of development the outfits for Asterix and Obelix were made and were actually shown in an interview with the developers, but some never made it in the final game.

Some levels featured different camera angles, Egypt for example, which featured a much wider view of the first fight area.

Levels

All the levels are mostly finalized with the occasional differences in object placement.

Gaul

In the first big fight of gaul Asterix was still able to use the cannon even if the fight wasn't finished.

Normandy

In the box art for Kick Buttix, two early screenshots of Normandy are featured: one being of the sector 1 area where the spinning platform is, which features a lot more romans attacking the duo, and another showing one of the two slides, which features metal spiky obstacles instead of the icy variant. The area in sector 1 also features a mountainous background not present in the final version.

A later screenshot shows the beginning of the first slide near the wooden cottage, the spiky boulders are placed differently, the multiplier and helmets don't have their glowing texture.

Another shot of sector 4, which shows Asterix wearing a scrapped version of the swimsuit outfit (final one is blue, this one is also featured in one of the in-game gallery pictures) and the save druid being placed outside, where the respawnpoint is, rather than inside the cavern.

Helvetia

In a prerelease screenshot from the same period shows the beach with no fog and a background with mountains and town lights in the distance.

Gameplay

In the Game Presentation Disk Trailer Idefix is seen biting romans in first person, something not possible normally. Through modding it is possible to play as Idefix but you're unable to harm enemies.

At some point late in the development stage you could disarm romans by hitting them while swinging, as seen in a prerelease screenshot of gaul.

Music

On LaForest's website two unused tracks for the game were found, one being an extended version for the Great Map's theme and the other being a different rendition of "Deserted Lands". The latter was used in a later trailer for the game.

Also, the early 2002 trailer features an extended version of the title screen's music, which was most likely made just for that.

(Source: LaForest)