It's easy to take the level of excellence that's been seen in the rich offerings on the Game Boy Advance for granted. Many GBA developers cut their teeth back in the golden age of 16-bit 2D, and the level of polish and playability found in today's GBA titles is often a direct result of that experience. However, even among the impressive titles that have hit the GBA this past year, one game stands tall: Astro Boy: Omega Factor, a side-scrolling 2D action game that calls to mind the best experiences offered by the 16-bit consoles. And with good reason--the game, starring the venerable anime hero of the cowlicked hair and hot pants, was developed by Treasure, the company behind some of the best 2D experiences of the 16-bit era.

Although Treasure's portfolio has obviously expanded to encompass 3D offerings, Astro Boy on the GBA proves the veteran developer still knows how to work sprites like no one's business. The 2D game puts you in control of the eponymous young robot as he battles his way through an action-packed story that finds him meeting a plethora of familiar faces from the Astro Boy canon. But while the narrative does a fine job of weaving in a sizable number of cameos, the real star of Astro Boy is the gameplay. Treasure's winning formula blends equal parts beat-'em-up, shooter, and action RPG into a cohesive package that is simply outstanding. Intuitive controls make it easy to hop into the game and start kicking tail, while the varied gameplay features a great mix of variety to keep you on your toes. And it's a testament to the game's charm that, even after you've gone through it twice to unlock its true ending, you'll find yourself going back to its time attack mode to beat your previous records.

One of Treasure's trademarks over the years has been its awesome blend of style and substance in its 2D visuals, and Astro Boy is as an excellent reminder of that prowess, with detailed graphics that push the GBA to new heights. Massive scaling sprites and some of the richest color we've seen on the platform ensure that the adventure looks as good as it plays.

Few games came close to the complete package Astro Boy offered, and none surpassed it, which is why it is clearly the finest title the Game Boy Advance had to offer this year.