‘Astro Boy’ does cartoon icon justice

“Astro Boy: Omega Factor”

••• (out of four)

Format: Game Boy Advance

Players: 1

Category: Action

Rating: E (Everyone)

$29.99, www.sega.com/games

Astro Boy may not be as well known in America as in Japan. But you don’t need any familiarity with the character to enjoy this great new game.

In Japan, Astro Boy is as much a part of pop culture as Mickey Mouse is in America. The cartoon hero has been around since 1952, and he is insanely popular in Asia.

He’s a robot with a human brain, charged in this game with reuniting humans with his robotic race. Astro is quite the armored stud, with a machine gun that sprays bullets wildly, a laser that rips through enemies. He punches, kicks and has rocket boots that allow him to soar through the air.

He’s drawn in classic anime fashion (think “Speed Racer,” which, for some odd reason, is more familiar to me). And the action also reflects the classic anime pace. There’s lots of shouting, energetic music and cut scenes with an overindulgence in exclamation points.

“Astro Boy: Omega Factor” is a two-dimensional, side-scrolling game – a style that most games have given up for something much more elaborate. But because each level is so very polished and different, the technique doesn’t look old at all.

I’ll dock it a star because it is yet another platformer/ action game for the Game Boy Advance, and there are already plenty of those. But this one is as good as it gets as you work your way through 13 levels.

There’s a role-playing element to the game, too. Astro meets four dozen or so characters who help him upgrade his Omega Factor, boosting six attributes such as life, power and sensors.

Overall, “Omega Factor” is a great game. If you don’t already know Astro Boy, it’s time to get acquainted.