If you've never heard of Astro Boy, then it's up to us to give you the scoop on the most popular comic character in the history of Japan! I love dramatic openings, but it's true. Astro Boy, in addition to starring in thousands of comics since his debut in the 1950s, starred in his own ubiquitous animated show in the 60s and quickly attained nationwide popularity in Japan and cult status in America.

Set to coincide with his upcoming movie (penned by Samurai Jack's Genndy Tartovsky), Sega is readying the release of two games starring the boy robot with soul. A couple of weeks ago we brought you impressions of his PlayStation 2 debut, and while that was all well and good, we're here to give you the scoop on Astro Boy: Omega Factor for Game Boy Advance. Folks, this is why we play games.

Developed by Treasure, the same folks behind classic titles like Gunstar Heroes on Sega Genesis, Astro Boy: Omega Factor concentrates on what you'd expect from a game with a star that has an arm cannon, leg jets, and (ahem) butt guns (technically they're his hips, but come on). These powers definitely come in handy, especially when you face baddies that can take up more than half of the screen. But don't worry, Astro Boy is equipped with 1,000,000 horsepower strength. That's a lot for a boy.

The game drops you right in the middle of the action as you fight your way through slews of enemy robots while meeting classic characters from the series, including Tezuka, Zoran, and Dr. O'Shay. The game stays true to the comic characters, even having a library of the people you meet along the way. It's also one of the cool bonus features of the game, and something aficionados of the series will really enjoy.

But we're here to talk about the action, and Astro Boy: Omega Factor isn't at all in short supply of that! At first glance, the game is your basic side-scroller, but wait until the enemies start coming at you. Astro Boy will have his hands full with tiny enemies from just a few pixels tall to those that can knock you out in a couple of swoops. Even with his powers, It can be quite a challenge.

In fact, we were floored by how quickly we died in the early going. Even the first boss dispatched us at least several times. For a gamer world-renowned for putting the whomping on any new title that comes across his desk, that's quite a feat. And I'm not overstating it.

But is it too tough? Actually, not really. The game ratchets up the difficulty but it also upgrades Astro Boy's abilities to match. Every time you meet someone new, you'll also be given a chance to upgrade one of your abilities by one level. Some of the time this is needed to accomplish specific tasks (like to be able to see invisible enemies), but most of the time it just gives you more power. Always a good thing.

As for the graphics, they are impressive for the small screen. Bright, vibrant graphics give way to huge enemies, and while some may complain about the pixilated look, you have to be impressed by the sheer size of some of them. Definitely some of the biggest enemies I've ever seen in a game, and it gives you a nice sense of scale. It also makes it so much more satisfying when you kick some robot heads.

We were able to play through the game, and the levels are very impressive. They range from wintery scenes in a main street setting to a downtown bustling with flying cars and huge skyscrapers. The game's levels can also be long, but in a very good way. We were playing for hours on end every night, and while some gamers may get frustrated by the challenge, it left us very satisfied.

Another great thing about the levels is the way they'll change up. Most of the time, you'll find the levels are a side-scrolling actioner, but it's great to see some old school shooter action as Astro Boy takes to the skies to dispatch enemies, old school. It's a great way to keep the game fresh throughout, and kudos to Sega for including that nod to the past.

Overall, we had a blast with Astro Boy: Omega Factor. The action is fast and frantic, the visuals are a sight to see, and you'll have many hours of fun. This could be one of the best Game Boy Advance titles in recent years, and we'll be following its progress until it releases later this summer.