'Allo, 'Allo: Asterix and Obelix headed to PSP and DS

We have a soft spot for French attempts to keep Mickey Mouse from over-running France, mainly thanks to fond memories of the Asterix comic strip.

Where Mickey spouts helium-fuelled platitudes and has a difficult time making a cup of tea, Asterix and Obelix hold off the Roman Empire. Surely they're France's best hope against Disney too?

Well, the potion-swigging Gallic duo are moving with the times and following the Disney hordes into games.

Indeed, their first pocket game is a sequel: Asterix and Obelix XXL 2 for the PSP and DS is a conversion of a low-profile console and PC game that promises to take advantage of the handheld consoles' special features.

We haven't played the original versions, so we're a bit in the dark (please do add a comment below if you have!) As we understand it, they were 3D action adventures that parodied the world of games. (Don't we all?)

The PSP version is being enhanced with a two-player wi-fi mode that handles up to four players at once in a mighty arena scrap. You pick your favourite Asterix character and let battle commence (unless the sky falls on your head first, as they say in the comic).

The DS version employs the stylus and touchscreen in both the main and various mini-games, and it gets two wi-fi multiplayer games too.

Asterix and Obelix XXL 2 is being converted to PSP by Tate Interactive and for DS by Mistic Software. It should be out in Europe by November 2006.