With so many current generation Japanese characters getting their own games, Sega decided to go back to the genre's roots and give Astro Boy his due. Developed by Sonic Team for the PS2, this throwback to one of manga's most beloved poster boys is shaping up to be a surprise hit of 2004.

Created by the late and legendary artist Osamu Tezuka in1951, Astro Boy is a classic Pinocchio-esque tale of a man (Dr. Tenma) who creates a mechanical boy to replace his dead son. However, while Tenma has evil intentions, Astro Boy knows only goodness, and through his love for humanity, he uses his special abilities (X-ray vision, lasers, rocket boots, and his fists, among others.) to save the world from various threats.

While Astro Boy is a cute little son of a gun, he's merely the centerpiece from which a myriad of different characters were born, and in Sega's game, you'll be able to interact with many (Including his adopted father, Dr. O'Shay.). This also means you'll be going toe to toe with some evil robots, but don't let Astro Boy's passive-looking face deceive you. He's more than capable of frying anything that gets in his way, but this isn't a standard shooter. Utilizing his special boots, you'll be able to fly around Metro City, which adds an interesting play mechanic to the gameplay and should make for some intense air battles. You'll also be able to throw objects such as cars. The game makes good use of the same Havok Physics Engine that made Max Payne 2 so enjoyable, so expect things to react realistically, whether you're chucking a car, or whether a bad guy's taking it in the face.

Sega's definitely hit the mark in the visual department, as Astro Boy and the characters in his universe have been painstakingly recreated in the game world, and the environments they live in look absolutely incredible. The game features 10 non-linear areas to explore, including outer space, a volcano, and Metro City, a futuristic wonderland full of futuristic buildings and other glorious structures. Better yet, you can fly wherever you'd like, meaning you won't run into as many invisible walls. The sense of scale is truly amazing, and should make for some cool Superman moments. It should also make for some incredible boss battles. The creatures are huge and menacing, and the combat is a colorful bouquet of laser blasts. You can even see the fire erupting from Astro Boy's feet and the trails left behind as he soars through the air. It's definitely one of the PS2's best looking games.

Going back to the game's open ended nature, besides staying on course, Astro Boy features numerous side quests as well as areas to explore that are opened up by collecting trading cards. You'll also get hints from newsflash updates, which may come in handy when tackling the game's enormous bosses. Throughout the adventure, Astro Boy will encounter some of his most nefarious enemies including Atlas, Magnamite (A Power plant!), the Blue Knight, and Acheron. Each can be defeated in various ways, and you'll need to see which of Astro Boy's powers are the most effective. For example, when battling the robot Denkou, you'll need to take advantage of Astro Boy's X-ray vision because the enemy uses camouflage.

While the game looks pretty and the action sounds intense, I'm very concerned with how the camera is going to work. Often a 3D game's Achilles heel, Astro Boy's camera angles will determine whether his flying is a blast or an exercise in frustration.

Everything about Astro Boy looks fantastic. This may be pound for pound one of THE BEST action games of 2004, and it should satisfy the fans who've been hungering for a faithful interactive Astro Boy adventure. Sonic Team appears to be on the verge of another hit, and when the game releases this summer, it should be a welcome sight whether we've been hit by a software drought or not.