Astro Boy - Omega Factor is one of those GBA gems that somehow blends shooting, platforming, and brawling into something that just works. You start off blasting robots with finger lasers, then suddenly you're juggling enemies with aerial combos—it keeps switching things up before you get bored.

What's wild is how they weave in all these cameos from Tezuka's other works. One minute you're fighting a robot dinosaur, the next you're helping Black Jack with... whatever shady medical stuff he's into. The sprite work still holds up too—those little jet boots animations when Astro hovers? Perfect.

Just don't expect a cakewalk. Some of those later stages get brutal until you figure out the rhythm of dodging and countering. I definitely got stuck on the spider tank boss for way too long.