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Asterix and the Great Rescue

Topic: Software

 From HandWiki - Reading time: 10 min

Short description: 1993 video game
Asterix and the Great Rescue
European Mega Drive cover art
Developer(s)Core Design
Publisher(s)Sega
Producer(s)Ken Lockley
Designer(s)Jerr O'Carroll
Richard Morton
Programmer(s)Stefan Walker
Artist(s)Jerr O'Carroll
Composer(s)Nathan McCree
Platform(s)Genesis/Mega Drive, Game Gear, Master System
ReleaseMega Drive/Genesis
Game Gear
Master System
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Single-player

Asterix and the Great Rescue is a video game released by Sega for the Genesis/Mega Drive in 1993 and for the Game Gear and Master System in 1994.

Gameplay

Asterix and the Great Rescue is a side-scrolling platform game. The startup screen offers a choice of difficulty level, as well as the ability to turn off the music and/or sound effects. The Master System and Game Gear versions allow changing characters during a level, whereas the Mega Drive/Genesis version removes this feature in favor of allowing choosing characters at the start of a level.[5]

Plot

This game is based on the long-running, French comic book series Asterix the Gaul. The characters Asterix and Obelix must rescue Getafix (Panoramix) and Dogmatix (Idéfix) from the Romans, who are in the process of taking over Gaul.[5]

Development

Music (Sega Mega Drive)

Music for the game was provided by Nathan McCree,[5] being the first video game music that he composed.[6][7] Prior to that, he coded a music sequencer for the Sega Mega Drive and wrote music on the console to demonstrate how it worked. The Core Designer's manager expressed that he liked it, asking Nathan to write the music for Asterix and the Great Rescue.[6][7] He would later compose music for Asterix and the Power of the Gods, and he would not do any coding in any game ever since.[6] As well, compose music for the Tomb Raider series.[7]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
Master SystemSega GenesisSGG
Consoles +N/AN/A85%[9]
CVG74%[8]N/AN/A
EGMN/A26/50[10]20/40[11]
GameProN/A14.5/20[12]14.5/20[13]
GameZoneN/A74/100[14]N/A
HyperN/A91/100[15]N/A
Joypad89%[16]88%[17]89%[16]
M! GamesN/A59%[18]N/A
Mega FunN/A71%[19]N/A
Video Games (DE)N/A65[22]N/A
Sega Magazine72/100[24]N/AN/A
Sega Power84%[26]78%[25]N/A
Sega Pro74%[27]N/AN/A

Reviewing the Genesis version, GamePro criticized the steep difficulty slope and poor controls, but they ultimately recommended the game to players who like tough puzzles.[12]

The four reviewers of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the Game Gear version a 5 out of 10, saying that the graphics are well done, but the sounds are "a nuisance", and that the controls make the game excessively frustrating.[11] GamePro similarly wrote that the Game Gear version's graphics and animation are good but that controlling the character is extremely difficult.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Ahead of the Game: Asterix and the Great Rescue". Game Players 7 (59): 26. May 1994. https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/48dca5f0-a3ee-4d17-a89e-f6d467905abd. 
  2. ↑ "Game Review: Asterix and the Great Rescue". Mega. Future plc. November 1993. pp. 30-31. https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/9ddf8a8e-fcec-4caa-9d8e-6a8adf29ff02. Retrieved 24 September 2024. 
  3. ↑ "ProDates". Sega Pro. Paragon Publishing. September 1994. p. 8. https://archive.org/details/sega-pro-36/page/n7/mode/1up. Retrieved 24 September 2024. 
  4. ↑ "Master System Review: Asterix and the Great Rescue". Mean Machines Sega (23): 76–77. September 1994. https://archive.org/details/mean-machines-sega-magazine-23/page/n75/mode/2up. Retrieved 4 March 2025. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Sorlie, Audun (2012-08-14). "Astérix and the Great Rescue - Game Gear, Genesis, Master System (1992)" (in en-US). http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/asterix-and-the-great-rescue/. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Interview with: Nathan McCree". Platform Online. 27 November 2013. http://platform-online.net/2013/11/interview-with-nathan-mccree. "My first job was to code a music sequencer for the Sega Mega Drive – I wrote some music on it to demonstrate how it worked and the boss liked the music so much he asked me to write the music for one of their games – it was an Asterix game. So I had a job change overnight and never did another bit of coding. I have been writing music and making sounds for games ever since. 20 years now." 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "[Exclusive Interview with Nathan McCree"] (in en-US). 2016-04-18. https://www.tomb-of-ash.com/exclusive-interview-with-nathan-mccree/. 
  8. ↑ "Supershorts". Computer and Video Games (154): 89. September 1994. https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:CVG_UK_154.pdf&page=89. Retrieved 29 December 2021. 
  9. ↑ Niiico (September 1994). "Asterix and the Great Rescue". Consoles + (35): 140. https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:ConsolesPlus_FR_035.pdf&page=140. Retrieved 29 December 2021. 
  10. ↑ "Asterix the Gaul". Electronic Gaming Monthly (58): 34. May 1994. https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:EGM_US_058.pdf&page=34. Retrieved 29 December 2021. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Semrad, Ed; Carpenter, Danyon; Samuel, Al; Sushi-X (July 1994). "Review Crew: Asterix the Gaul". Electronic Gaming Monthly (60): 40. https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:EGM_US_060.pdf&page=40. Retrieved 29 December 2021. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Gamer, The Unknown (May 1994). "ProReview: Asterix and the Great Rescue". GamePro (58): 48. https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:GamePro_US_058.pdf&page=50. Retrieved 29 December 2021. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Squideo, Captain (July 1994). "ProReview: Asterix and the Great Rescue". GamePro (60): 132. https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:GamePro_US_060.pdf&page=134. Retrieved 29 December 2021. 
  14. ↑ Campbell, Stuart (October 1993). "Asterix and the Great Rescue". Sega Zone (12): 34–36. https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:SegaZone_UK_12.pdf&page=34. Retrieved 29 December 2021. 
  15. ↑ Vandore, Simon (February 1994). "Asterix and the Great Rescue". Hyper (3): 68. https://archive.org/details/hyper-003/page/68/mode/2up. Retrieved 30 December 2021. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Trazom (October 1994). "Asterix and the Great Rescue" (in fr). Joypad (36): 88–89. https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:Joypad_FR_036.pdf&page=88. Retrieved 29 December 2021. 
  17. ↑ Olivier (October 1993). "Asterix and the Great Rescue" (in fr). Joypad (24): 104–105. https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:Joypad_FR_024.pdf&page=104. Retrieved 29 December 2021. 
  18. ↑ "Asterix". MAN!AC: 43. November 1993. https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:MAN!AC_DE_1993-11.pdf&page=43. Retrieved 29 December 2021. 
  19. ↑ Gotz; Ulf (November 1993). "Asterix: The Great Rescue" (in de). Mega Fun: 69–70. https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:MegaFun_DE_1993-11.pdf&page=70. Retrieved 29 December 2021. 
  20. ↑ Mahalia (November 1994). "Asterix" (in fr). Player One (47): 147. https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:PlayerOne_FR_047.pdf&page=147. Retrieved 29 December 2021. 
  21. ↑ Mahalia (September 1994). "Asterix and the Great Rescue" (in fr). Player One (45): 94–95. https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:PlayerOne_FR_045.pdf&page=94. Retrieved 29 December 2021. 
  22. ↑ "Asterix" (in de). Video Games: 105. October 1993. https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:VideoGames_DE_1993-10.pdf&page=105. Retrieved 29 December 2021. 
  23. ↑ Nakamura, Eric (June 1994). "Asterix and the Great Rescue". VideoGames - The Ultimate Gaming Magazine (65): 70. https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:VideoGames_US_65.pdf&page=70. Retrieved 29 December 2021. 
  24. ↑ Guise, Tom; Automatic, Radion (August 1994). "Asterix and the Great Rescue". Sega Magazine (8): 88. https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:SegaMagazine_UK_08.pdf&page=88. Retrieved 29 December 2021. 
  25. ↑ Longhurt, Richard (November 1993). "Asterix". Sega Power (48): 48–49. https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:SegaPower_UK_48.pdf&page=48. Retrieved 29 December 2021. 
  26. ↑ "Asterix and the Great Rescue". Sega Power (63): 76. February 1995. https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:SegaPower_UK_63.pdf&page=76. Retrieved 29 December 2021. 
  27. ↑ "Review Master System: Asterix and the Great Rescue". Sega Pro. Paragon Publishing. October 1994. p. 56. https://archive.org/details/sega-pro-37/page/n55/mode/1up. Retrieved 24 September 2024. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
  18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628. 
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