A GBA Gem and a Treasure Chest for Tezuka fans.
Astro Boy for the GBA is a title I wish I'd had the sense to pick up when it had first come out. It would be nearly a decade before I'd gotten my hands on it, sitting in a bargain bin at an electronics store. In true lost toy fashion, I took it home curious and excited, I proceeded to open it.
The game itself plays like a polished 2D action game. It switches from typical side-scrolling, platforming adventure to side-scrolling shooter. The game's smoothness of play is thanks to its development pedigree. It was created as a joint venture by Hitmaker and Treasure. And if you know anything about 2D action, you'll know these names.
Enough praise cannot be shouted for the game's graphics. The animation is fluid, and explosive. The colors pop and make the chaos of boss fights, flying through the air, and taking down scores of enemies a joy to behold.
And the music! Oh man, this stuff gets stuck in your head even when you aren't playing. There is plenty infectious level and boss music to be found in just about every second of this game.
Technical aspects aside, what really makes Astroboy shine is the way it ties together so much from the universes of Osamu Tezuka. As you go back through the levels to uncover secrets and meet hidden goals, more and more of the worlds Tezuka are revealed to the player. There is so much rich fiction to be had in this tiny cartridge and, when all was said and done, that's what really blew me away.
Astro Boy: Omega Factor is a game worth your time and one of those rare games where you really get a sense of the love put into making it. And that love is incredibly infectious. I defy you not fall in love with it, yourself.
