Having vaguely heard of the “Astro Boy” universe, I jumped headlong into this new game eager to be educated. Now, replace the word educated with inundated and you’ll have a better understanding of how much detail the game presents about the world surrounding Astro Boy. At first dizzying and seemingly disconnected, playing through the first seven chapters will unveil the game’s grander design. A familiarity with creator Osamu Tezuka's work is not necessary to enjoy this game, but fans of his works will be delighted by the abundance of character appearances packed in the storyline. * Gameplay: What begins as a series of unrelated events eventually come together to form several subplots, bound by one grand plot. The rpg-ish elements are simplified for younger audiences and don’t really effect the gameplay in any significant way. There are lots of secret characters to unlock and having a good memory of where they are is essential since you will have to revisit many of them. Some of the boss levels are really, really tough, and it takes a lot of trying and dying to learn their patterns. As frustrating as it can be to die over and over, exploiting the weaknesses and defeating these bosses can be very satisfying. Many is the time I shouted a hearty, “YESSS!” after a battle, but only after about a hundred curses and finger gestures aimed squarely at the screen. You’ll have to judge your own temperaments as to whether games of this type are satisfying. * Graphics: Simply stunning. ‘Omega Factor’ looks better than a lot of SNES games. The cutscenes skillfully reproduce the manga-style of Tezuka’s universe. Lasers flash brilliantly, backgrounds move in multiple, parallax layers and bosses aren’t afraid to expand past the borders of the screen. Mechanical objects such as robots and vehicles have rendered highlights. There were only a couple of places where the frame rate dropped noticeably, but not enough to affect gameplay. * Sound: Rousing and cheerful during most of the game, suspenseful and dire during the boss battles. The background beats are catchy and may stick in your head for a while. A nice feature for fans is the pre-game lyrics that go along with what I am assuming is the theme song. * Value: Unlocking all the game characters is a lot of fun but not very challenging. Only a few are actually hidden; the rest pop up as you uncover extra areas. A separate game screen details trivia about the numerous characters, unlocking more information as you get deeper into the game. A “best time-hi score” feature allows you perform time trials if that’s your thing. The real reason to replay this game over and over is to become more familiar with the characters. It can be overwhelming to try and soak the whole game world in on the first play-through. * Tilt: I’m a big fan of Japanese animation but Astro Boy is completely new to me. This game did spark my interest in learning more about the world Tezuka created, and I now have a deeper appreciation for his creations.
Other Helpful Reviews for Astro Boy: Tetsuwan Atom - Atom Heart no Himitsu
The Good: Offers a refreshing challenge that isn't insurmountable; great level design that encourages the player to use all of their abilities; seamlessly alternates between the gameplay of a beat-em-up and a shoot-em-up... Read Full Review
Astro Boy was created by Japanese manga artist Osamu Tezuka in 1963, and over forty years later, he's still going strong. Very strong, if the quality of the new Game Boy Advance game Astro Boy: Omega Factor is any indic... Read Full Review
