What do you think?
In hindsight, the little blue android had to be a stealthy advance guard. The game bearing his name served to introduce players to the evolving quirks of the Japanese pop culture that would soon overrun the world.
Here was Astro Boy’s spiritual grandson, faithful cyber-servant to humanity borne of yet another earnest scientist. Here was his sacrifice, a plasma cannon where his hand should be. Here were his enemies, robots running wild who didn’t want to do the right thing. Here was his power, to endure danger, learn patterns and wield the abilities of those he defeated against other enemies.
Keiji Inafune’s co-creation was a post-post-Hiroshima hero whose really difficult ordeals ultimately forged him a more powerful and more likable amalgam identity. Who knew a robot could have a coming of age?