Welcome to our weekly feature, Virtually Overlooked, wherein we talk about games that aren't on the Virtual Console yet, but should be. Call it a retro-speculative.
Treasure is known for producing super-hardcore action games, from frantic run-and-guns like Alien Soldier and Gunstar Heroes to clever shooters like Ikaruga and Radiant Silvergun. Between original releases, they sometimes take on licensed works, seemingly to pay the bills. One of their best games -- and possibly the best game on the GBA -- combines all of these aspects of Treasure's style. It might be slightly strange to say that a licensed game based on a kids' show is one of Treasure's best, but it absolutely is.
Astro Boy: Omega Factor was developed by Treasure in concert with Sega's Hitmaker division (Crazy Taxi). It's based on the Astro Boy (Tetsuwan Atomu) character created by Osamu Tezuka, Japan's analog to Walt Disney (except with interesting characters). The game was specifically created as a tie-in to the 2003 Astro Boy anime which didn't really take off, but it works perfectly well as a standalone Astro Boy work. It follows Astro Boy from his birth through an original adventure based on years of Astro Boy manga, anime, and even other Tezuka works. Astro must prevent a war between humans and robots, and learn about emotions and humanity, as well as the motivations of his mysterious creator, Dr. Tenma, along the way.
While the characters have been rewritten or given new jobs to appear in the game (Don Dracula, rather than being a vampire living in Tokyo, is now Sharaku's henchman 30,000 years in the past), Tezuka himself would have approved. He frequently "cast" characters from one manga as distinct characters in others. This reuse of characters is known as the Osamu Tezuka Star System.
Mechanically, the game is a brawler. Astro has a punch combo, a kick that knocks enemies into each other, and a weak ranged attack (his finger laser). In addition, he has jets that operate as a multidirectional double jump, and three super attacks which are charged up by hitting enemies. Playing Omega Factor involves stringing these abilities together in order to deal with large crowds of generic enemies. For example, in order to deal with an enemy shooting at you from far away, you can kick another enemy into it, or you can jet through the projectile and then attack directly. Most of the time, with so many enemies, you'll be combining such tactics. You may jump in the air and kick enemies away from one side, then punch the enemies on the other side until dead, and laser the original enemy as you fall. The super moves help you get out of tight situations, but are limited (well, limited in name only in easy mode since you can store 99, but you max out at 5 in normal and 3 in hard mode). Other levels play out as horizontal shooters, with an airborne Astro shooting lasers at patterns of enemies.
Astro Boy: Omega Factor seems to be the perfect licensed game. Not only is the gameplay more than strong enough to make the game worthwhile separate from the license, but it makes sense in the context of the license. Even more importantly (for Astro Boy) in tells a great story in the source material's universe and instills a strong desire to seek out more of those stories.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-10-2008 @ 9:10PM
Roto13 said...
The inclusion of Rainbow Parakeet alone is enough to make this a must-buy.
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4-10-2008 @ 9:49PM
ThekonamiMan said...
I love love love this game. I was so glad I got it. I love Astro Boy and Treasure.
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4-10-2008 @ 10:42PM
Crazylink said...
It's a good game, but It's pretty repetitive trying to find the secret/full ending.
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4-10-2008 @ 11:22PM
GumbyX84 said...
This game is AWSOME!! Very happy to see that you guys took a look at it for Virtually Overlooked. More people need to know about this great game.
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4-10-2008 @ 11:49PM
PyrosNine said...
I love this game's repetition, because It let me beat the crap out of earlier enemies and situations with a souped up Astro Boy, and the entire plot is full of the heartache and idealism of a Tezuka work, and it even has both his characteristic tragic ending, and lets you work for a happy one!
I felt I had accomplished something when i finished, and that was only on easy!
They need to make a sequel or port this sum of a witch!
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4-11-2008 @ 12:12AM
HellsHammer said...
Awesome post. This game is fantastic...not surprising, coming from Treasure.
Also, I recently realized Treasure made Sin & Punishment for N64/VC, which is also a great title.
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4-11-2008 @ 1:54AM
scissors125 said...
Easily one of the best portable games of all time. Everything was perfect about this game. Smooth gameplay, good replay value, good story, lots of challenge on different difficulties, and you can do all of the great things of this game... in public, sitting in a waiting room in a doctors office, or the best yet, TAKING A DUMP!!
This game is a must buy for anyone. Even if you don't like Astro Boy, like myself, you'll love it.
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4-11-2008 @ 2:24AM
xjl said...
This game is the awesome. There's a challenge waiting for those willing to take on Medium or Hard, but if you just want to blast through, it's a great game to veg out to on Easy. And Treasure did a great job of tying in all these diverse characters--that often didn't overlap in their original contexts--into a decent and fairly complex story. Even if you know where the hidden characters are, it's still fun to bust 'em out.
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4-11-2008 @ 6:06AM
Nigeria: Cody ChesnuTT Defense Force said...
I playing this right now - well not right "now", but I am playing this game.
In two weeks I've finally made it to the second world. Saying, it's a bit difficult, is quite the understatement. I like a challenge, but, whoa. This is a bit much. But I'll soldier on.
I really liked the art style in Metropolis, and Astro Boy has that similar "fat leg" look. It is beautiful, for a GBA game. For any console, in fact.
It'd be great if this did make it to the VC. I could use the classic controller and its more comfy D-pad.
Good write up, JC. (I can call you JC, are we on first name basis, yet)
:)
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4-11-2008 @ 7:46AM
IanC said...
If i remember right the western versions "Normal" is the Japanese versions "Hard".
Great game, i got it shortly after I got my DS (for some reason) and couldnt stop playing it!
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4-11-2008 @ 9:23AM
Antonio said...
Great game. Fun from beginning to end and challenging, especially on Hard.
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4-11-2008 @ 1:56PM
Polecat said...
Yeah, this game can be punishingly difficult. It's a credit to treasure's ability to produce quality games that this one stands as such a playable one even on harder difficulties. It's also good to have a game that it takes more than one sitting to K.O.
That been said, Capcom needs to get on the ball and release Street Fighter Alpha 2 for the SNES V.C., Treasure needs to release Mischief Makers for the N64, Technosoft needs to bring out Herzog Zwei for the Genesis/Mega Drive, Capcom (again) needs to release Code Name: Viper (人間兵器デッドフォックス) on the Nes/Famicom, Taito needs to put Parasol on the TG-16/PC-engine, uhh Konami should put the Simpsons arcade game on the C64.... and uhhh..... just plain MORE titles on the NeoGeo....maybe something for the SMS, I dunno.... that system kinda sucked TBH.
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4-11-2008 @ 4:58PM
Ninjatron said...
This is a great, well researched write-up of an amazing game. It truly is one of the best games the GBA provides. I loved the storyline. Much of it is based on a little-known animated TV special from the 70's called "The Marine Express" that features pretty much all of Osamu Tezuka's main characters.
To any Astro-fans out there, check out this site for more Astro Boy info, including all the news on the upcoming animated movie. http://astroboyworld.blogspot.com/
Sayonara.
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4-17-2008 @ 1:58AM
waynski1457 said...
Has Treasure ever made a bad game? I seriously can't think of one. And this game is definitely up there as one of my favorites.
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