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Astro Boy: Tetsuwan Atom Heart no Himitsu (GBA/SEGA)
by
tim rogers
03022004
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When I told Brandon Sheffield that Astroboy for Gameboy Advance "might be the most-inspired game Treasure's made since Gunstar Heroes," he didn't believe me.
"I heard it was just based on the Buster's Bad Day engine, and that game is pretty not-great," he replied.
"I never played Buster's Bad Day. Is it that bad?"
"I never played it, either."
And there you go. Chances are, if you only think you've played Astroboy -- or if you only think you've seen the cartoon or read the comic book -- you haven't. It's almost like one of those works of significance like Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, or War and Peace, which many people think they've read in high school, only to be revealed as liars to themselves when asked deeper questions. The Tetsuwan Atom series of comics is that important to the Japanese people, and maybe even more important, recently, in that a lot of young college-student types are quick to jump up and say Osamu Tezuka was a homosexual for giving his character that girly grin and long effeminate eyelashes, or a racist for how he portrayed black people's lips (imagine! Japanese living people accusing dead Japanese people of racism!). That Sega has acquired the game rights to all of his properties is a joyous occasion; it will amount to seeing all of these nigh-literary works of significance reinterpreted by some of the most-talented game designers in the world. I, as a rather distant fan of Tezuka's works (I personally regard him as one of history's great graphic designers as opposed to great animator, artist or author) will gladly review each of Sega's games in turn, starting with this one and then moving on to the dubious Dororo, and hopefully, soon, I'll be able to see what's up with the PlayStation2 Atom. First, however, I will conclude my writing on this game:
I thought I played this game at Tokyo Game Show, and it turns out I hadn't. Instead, I really did play it one night thanks to a Bunny Girl who neglects to bring the game every time I meet her. In game stores across Tokyo, it's 4380 yen, and that's about $44, with the yen's conversion rate these days. Used, it's 3980 yen, which is the difference of about two and a half cans of Coca-Cola. It's too expensive for me, so I suppose I'll wait out the American release, which should be $15 at Target or somewhere. And buy it I will -- and buy it you must. Because this is the best action game on Gameboy Advance, and maybe even the most honest game you can play on the go since PC Engine GT battery packs cost less than 20,000 yen and Devil's Crush HUCards were stocked in places outside Akihabara's FURENZU.
--tim rogers
still doesn't have virtua fighter 4 evolution
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Capsule review:
Classic robot anime explodes onto your Gameboy Advance with Astroboy Tetsuwan Atom: Atom Heart no himitsu (Secret of the Atom Heart), an explosion you can hold in your hands! History's favorite little skin-tone robot can fire finger-lasers of doom at little cute robots bent on destruction -- he sure does look surprised to be so alive! Unravel a plot of anti-intrigue as you itch to blast, kick and punch through some levels that even see you flying! Play while listening to your favorite MD dance megamix, or chewing your favorite powerfully minty gum! insertcredit.com gives it a 101 out of 108!
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concept:  -- a game based on a classic anime/manga; like Gunstar Heroes before it, it pushes players to get close to their enemies. Like Radiant Silvergun, it gives players many weapons which are used with minimal button presses, yet never feels like it's relying on a gimmick, like Silhouette Mirage or Dynamite Heady often do.
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content:  -- lots of levels, lots of episodes, some of them centering around single Alien Soldier boss-fight parades. It's a little short, though God knows a Treasure game is about replaying more than playing. There's a story, too, about robots and the people who make them. It's pretty safe to say no one is going to take anything out of the themes of this story. The game is more than mostly about beating things until they explode, and it's good on that.
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execution: -- just about flawless. It's possible to beat the game using only one of the attacks (the finger laser) if, like me, you like that sort of thing. The graphics are smooth, the animations are enough to accomplish their purpose, and the sounds are loud enough though the music is, alas, far from interesting. Sometimes Astroboy, when hit, flickers so much he effectively disappears from view, which serves as a very twisted incentive not to get hit. Developers -- even Treasure -- have something to learn about developing for GBA: rooms in complete darkness are not fun. The attack level-up system is cute, like it was in Guardian Heroes, and it works simply and effectively enough. There's a certain satisfaction in kicking one flying enemy into another, repeatedly, making you feel like you just grabbed a falling bomb and threw it back at a guy with a rocket-pack in Gunstar Heroes -- or better yet, just scored a Tetris in Tetris.
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