Astro Boy: Omega Factor

When you say a licensed game based on an anime, most players picture a soulless quick cash-in. Astro Boy: Omega Factor is the exact opposite — and behind it stands a name that commands respect in action circles: Treasure.

Studio Treasure, masters of Japanese action and authors of the legendary Gunstar Heroes, set out in 2003 to adapt a classic work by Osamu Tezuka, the founder of modern manga. And they didn't take it lightly. Omega Factor is a loving tribute to Tezuka's oeuvre that brings in dozens of characters from his sprawling universe, not just from Astro Boy himself.

In terms of gameplay it's a masterful blend of genres. The core is a brisk beat 'em up where Astro punches and kicks hordes of enemies, but Treasure interlace it with passages reminiscent of a shmup, where you hurtle through the air spraying the screen with fire. The fights are fast, readable and full of ideas — exactly the kind of action that won't let you go.

The biggest surprise, though, awaits in the story. Omega Factor hides a time-loop mechanic: after the first completion a new layer of narrative unlocks, where with newly gained abilities you travel back in time and change characters' fates to avert a tragedy. What at first glance seems an ordinary action game thus becomes a story with unexpected emotional depth and meaningful replay value.

Visually the game is a gem. Detailed sprites, fluid animation and colorful backgrounds show what the GBA can do in the hands of true craftsmen. Treasure, as always, pushes the hardware where others give up, and the result still looks spectacular years later.

And yet Omega Factor remained one of the most underrated games on the console. It didn't get the attention it deserved, and today it's something of a hidden gem that enthusiasts swear by. If you like action with an idea and a soul, it's a must.

Why play: Treasure at full tilt — a genre blend of action and shooting with a surprisingly deep story about time, loss and hope.