Treasure's a hit-or-miss developer, but Astro Boy: Omega Factor on the GBA is a thrill of the highest caliber.

Based on the original manga series (not the new TV series), Astro Boy is full of personality and very addictive. This fast-paced action game is somewhere between Mega Man and Double Dragon, with crisp and intuitive controls on the Game Boy Player. The A button makes Astro jump, while pushing it again initiates his rocket jet boots for a brief burst in the direction of your choice. The B button is your standard punck/kick attack, though sometimes it Astro will shoot a small laser instead.

Damaging foes increases your special attack energy bar--when it is filled, the special attack reserve counter is increased. The three special attacks each use one point. Pushing R causes Astro's arm to turn into a giant beam canon for a giant blast straight in front of him. Pushing A and B together launches a screwdriver attack with Astro's jet boots, and can be directed in any of the eight directions. Pushing L initiates a hilarious butt machine gun attack, in which Astro moons the world while shooting in all directions. The game focuses on melee action: attacks can hurt multiple enemies, and you can punch one enemy into others for a domino effect.

The moves are varied, but the levels are even more so. In every area, Astro must destroy all enemies before continuing on his mission. Some levels are standard platform-fighter fare, with Astro jumping and fighting hordes of robots, gangsters, or whatever else is giving him beef. I played a moon base level with low gravity where Astro's jump and jet packs went farther. One Low-G room was filled with smoke and electrified floors and walls. Even more awesome were the flying sections, where Astro must fight thugs on flying platforms and avoid spiked balls. Many of the better boss battles took place in midair.

And Astro Boy is brimming with bosses. I fought a giant metal bug machine of some sort, another robo-man, giant bad dudes on flying bricks, and more in the first four stages of the game. Like the rest of the levels, though, they were surprisingly easy and were vulnerable most of the time. It is understandable that Treasure and Hitmaker would want to make an easier game for the younger players, but the lack of difficulty comes as a minor disappointment. Hopefully later levels are more challenging. Stages are short, and the game’s pace suggests it is fairly short...but what Treasure game is longer than a few hours, anyway?

Astro Boy has excellent presentation, though it isn't the prettiest game around. The still-frame cut scenes setting up the story are detailed and full of personality, while the main sprites are well animated and pleasing to the eye. Many of the enemies, especially the large ones, are highly pixilated, but it never bothered me. I was too busy having fun pummeling them to care. The game seems to follow the manga's story, though only those familiar with the franchise will ever be able to follow the abbreviated plotlines. The plot even ties loosely into the gameplay: when you meet or save an important character from the manga, you can upgrade one of Astro's abilities, such as his health, laser, or jet boots.

Astro Boy is not a shameless money-making monstrosity. It is Treasure at its finest, and one for beat-‘em-up platforming fans to seriously consider.