He may be small, but only in size. This free-roaming platform adventure stars the original anime hero: the friendly, atomic-powered, robotic youngster called Astro Boy. This lad with "100,000 horse power strength and a heart of gold" has come a long way since his early-'50s debut in Osamu Tezuka's black-and-white comics and cartoons, as Sonic Team now brings him to life in full color, and in full 3D.

Luckily for PS2 gamers, Astro Boy's 128-bit makeover leaves intact all of his most famous powers -- they'll need them. Players will make use of the hero's rocket feet, super-human hearing, "digibeam" finger lasers, and other amazing abilities, as they keep the peace in the futuristic metropolis of Metro City. It is here that the hero will face classic villains such as Acheron, Blue Knight, and Atlas. Additional powers are unlocked as Astro Boy accomplishes key objectives.

Many other characters from the Astro Boy pantheon also appear in the game, based on their contemporary, North American incarnations (Astro Boy's mentor is called "Dr. O'Shay," for example, instead of "Elefun" or "Ochanomizu"). Fans can also conquer sub-quests to earn as many as 50 different virtual cards, full of information and trivia on the seminal series that has influenced the evolution of animation for over 50 years. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide